JOB OPPORTUNITY

REACH ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST: HARGEISA

14/07/2020

ACTED

HR Department

Last Update

July 2020

BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, supporting and working within the framework of the humanitarian reform process. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis, GIS and remote-sensing. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, which allows particularly IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Their interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context. Their 4,700 staff is committed in to responding to emergencies worldwide, to supporting recovery and rehabilitation, towards sustainable development.

We are currently looking for a REACH Assessment Specialist to support our REACH team in Somaliland.

Department: REACH

Position: REACH Assessment Specialist **

Location: Hargeisa. Please note whilst this position is Hargeisa based, the Assessment Specialist will be expected to travel to other locations in Somaliland and Somalia. Willingness to travel is essential for this position.

Starting Date: September, 2020

Country profile

REACH has been operational in Somalia since 2012, providing information management support to humanitarian actors in a complex environment through assessment capacity, GIS services and support to Cluster IM practices. Projects have included tri-cluster assessments in support of the WASH, Shelter and Education Clusters, support to Food Security response analysis, and development of a Shelter Cluster M&E Framework.

In 2017 and beyond REACH Somalia is looking to expand information support to the humanitarian response in several key areas, including IDP settlement profiling, multi-cluster needs assessment and improved remote data collection. Key strategic aims are to increase geographic and sectoral coverage and to enhance advocacy capacity through strengthened data collection and information targeting.

Position Profile

Under the functional supervision of the REACH Research Manager, the Assessment Specialist is responsible for the technical backstopping of REACH research cycles, including implementation, management, partnership framework, dissemination and evaluation. He/she plays a key role in the development and implementation of REACH strategy in Somalia.

Under the supervision of REACH Assessment Manager, the REACH Assessment Specialist shall be responsible for:

I. Management of Somalia research cycles:

a. Assessment Preparation and Planning:

· Ensuring that all assessments are planned in line with relevant project and program objectives and with REACH’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines;

· Ensure that required secondary data analysis has been conducted in preparation of an assessment;

· For each assessment, review ToRs before they are sent to Geneva for validation and ensure that ToRs are validated by HQ before any data collection begins;

· Ensure that ToRs are understood and used by assessment staff and stakeholders, and updated as required;

· Compose and construct, in close coordination with GIS and data management team, qualitative and quantitative data collection tools; ensure engagement with GIS teams on GIS requirements of research cycle/assessment;

· Keep track of progress and delays of all assigned assessment throughout the research cycle. Ensure that delays or identified challenges for specific assessments are reported in writing and orally in a timely manner;

· Ensure relevant stakeholders and partners are engaged in assessment design and planning.

b. Product dissemination and evaluation

· Under the direction of the Country Coordinator, engage in the dissemination of research products, including through articles, IMPACT social media contents, targeted e-mails, presentations, meetings, etc, in line with IMPACT Dissemination & External Communication Guidelines and Research ToRs;

· Ensure that lessons learned are gathered and documented at the end of each research cycle;

· Support the Research Manager to conduct monitoring and evaluation as specified in the research ToRs and in line with IMPACT Guidelines.

II. Project Implementation Follow-up

· Oversee and monitor the implementation of REACH assessment and capacity development projects, ensuring that technical quality and standards are considered and respected during project implementation;

· Support the Assessment officers and Field Officers of to implement all aspects of the project;

· Conduct regular follow-up of work plans, identify and address any delays in a timely and effective manner;

III. External relations

· In coordination with the Research Manager, ensure that relevant partners are consulted and involved at all stages of research cycle: the preparation of the assessment; data collection; data analysis; review of research products; product dissemination; and lessons learnt; ensure that partner engagement is documented;

· In coordination with the Country Coordinator, present research findings to relevant third parties, to enhance their use and impact;

· Ensure that external communications with partners and key stakeholders, including relevant UN agencies, local and national government, and NGOs has been conducted and documented as appropriate;

· In coordination with the Country Coordinator, represent REACH in technical external engagements related to assessments;

IV. Strategy Development and Implementation

In support to the Country Coordinator, the Assessment Specialist will actively contribute to the development of the REACH strategy in Somalia. In particular s/he will support in identifying and concretising:

· The need for assessments, in line with humanitarian priorities

· Synergies with other assessment and knowledge management actors

· Strategic partnerships with key humanitarian stakeholders and decision makers

· Key events / milestones that should be informed

· Advocacy and dissemination strategies to strengthen the impact of our work

· Support in the preparation and follow up of country level internal strategic workshops and plans

V. Confidentiality and Data Protection

The Assessment Specialist will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to REACH and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with REACH.

VI. Protection Mainstreaming

· Promoting of and adhering to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and guidelines (for site residents, ACTED staff, partner agencies, casual labors)

· Perform other tasks as requested by ACTED Management

VII. To perform any other duties as requested.

REQUIREMENTS

· Excellent academic qualifications, including a bachelor degree in relevant discipline (Economics, Humanitarian affairs, Statistics, Engineering, Geography); Master degree completion will be an added value.

· At least 5 year of relevant working experience in humanitarian or development settings such as research, analysis, evaluation and assessments;

· Proven experience in the humanitarian sector, in monitoring and evaluation, NGOs, or other similar relevant responsibility;

· Demonstrated ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles;

· Excellent English skills.

· Excellent ability to operate Microsoft Word and Excel

· Advanced skills in SPSS and/or R, or other statistical analysis software is required;

· Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage more junior staff.

· Demonstrated ability to interact with donors and coordination-level partners

· Excellent analytical skills;

· Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;

· Excellent team management skills;

· Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;