(Reference: 20/UKR/AODRR02)
REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations 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. 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 organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. 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, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.
We are currently looking for an IMPACT Assessment DRR Officer to support our IMPACT team in Ukraine.
Department: IMPACT
Title: IMPACT DRR Assessment Officer
Location: Slovyansk, Ukraine
Contract duration: 12 months
Start date: March 2020
The conflict in Ukraine is in its fifth year, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the consequences of this crisis. Since April 2014, more than 3,000 persons have died, and 9,000 have been injured (UNOCHA). As a result of the conflict, there are 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Today, despite the Minsk agreements, the conflict continues to affect 5.2 million people, of whom 3.5 million are in urgent need of protection and humanitarian assistance (HNO 2019). UNOCHA estimates that 3.2 million people are in need of humanitarian WASH assistance. In parallel, the population remains vulnerable to pre-existing natural hazards such as extreme weather events, esp. during the harsh winters common to the region. Dilapidation/destruction of systems or infrastructures which could otherwise cope with these hazards have heightened vulnerability, alongside limited local capacity to plan and prepare.
The conflict compounds pre-existing natural hazards. Ukraine experiences severe winters (notably, extreme weather events can block access to settlements) and, in 2010, the Luhansk region experienced a 24-day heatwave which triggered more than 1,200 wildfires. In 2006, some 60,000 residents of the city of Alchevsk (now NGCA) were left without heating for weeks during a severe cold spell due to heating system failure, and the child population had to be evacuated until heating was restored. This scenario was repeated to a lesser extent in February 2017 when military exchanges around Avdiivka led to a significant decrease in heating temperatures for several weeks, prompting local authorities (LAs) and humanitarian actors to set up heating points.
Utility cuts are particularly dangerous during winter. Damage to the electricity network, and the stoppage of water supply and of water filter stations, can jam heating systems that hundreds of thousands of people rely on in winter – presenting a threat to their lives. There is a risk of mass displacement during winter if utility cuts lead to the interruption of the water supply system (Inter-Agency and WASH Contingency Plans; also see ECHO HIP 2019) – a scenario that is poorly if ever planned for.
Probability of and vulnerability to disaster caused by extreme weather events is increased by conflict: systematic military exchanges around critical utility infrastructure including water, gas, heating and electricity networks increase the likelihood of system breakdown, and severe security impediments in the ability of Civil Protection (CP) entities to service conflict areas reduces LA capacity to respond to system failures. This has affected tens of thousands of people since 2014 and puts millions at risk, challenging the achievement of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, especially targets 1, 2 & 4.
People in living conflict-affected areas – especially those living close to the Line of Contact (LoC) – are at significant risk of forced displacement/evacuation, but local capacities to plan and execute these scenarios remain limited. Almost 95% of conflict-related incidents take place within 5km of the LoC, where an estimated 270,000 people live.
In response to this issue ACTED created the 3P (Prepare, Prevent and Protect) consortium with IMPACT, the Red Cross and R2P to implement disaster risk reduction activities in eastern Ukraine. IMPACT as a specialized GIS and data analysis agency is responsible for strengthening the understanding of risks in line with Sendai commitments number 1. Under this activity IMPACT has to develop local level risk assessments looking at a mix of natural, industrial and environmental hazards. For this program, IMPACT is looking for an IMPACT DRR Assessment Officer for a duration of 12 months based in Sloviansk.
We currently have an open position for an Assessment DRR Officer in Ukraine, seeking an established professional with knowledge and technical expertise in conducting disaster risk assessments at the local level using GIS data and tools. The ideal candidate will already have experience in conducting disaster risk assessments at the local level using a mix of global and national level geospatial date to inform disaster risk management programs. A good understanding of current disaster risk discourse on the linkages between natural and man-made hazards and cascading consequences of risks is preferred. The role will allow a motivated GIS professional to apply geospatial analysis in a challenging context while working in close collaboration with a consortium of NGOs aiming to reduce disaster risk in eastern Ukraine.
Under the functional supervision of the IMPACT Assessment Manager in Ukraine and IMPACT HQ in Geneva, the IMPACT DRR Assessment Officer is responsible for the coordination and implementation of the area based risk assessments in 5 municipalities of eastern Ukraine.
In his/her mission, the Assessment DRR Officer will be hosted by ACTED and will fall under the responsibility of ACTED’s Country Director and his/her delegates. S/he and will fully abide to ACTED’s Security, HR, Administration and Logistics rules and regulations.
Under the supervision of the IMAPCT Assessmment Manager based in Kyiv, Ukraine, the IMPACT DRR Assessment Officer will be responsible with the support of the GIS team in-country:
A. To coordinate implementation of area-based risk assessment in all geographical units targeted under the 3P programme and contribute to strategy development of the DRR portfolio in Ukraine
B. Draft risk assessment reports and tools documenting the key steps of the risk assessment methodology
C. Share assessment results to key stakeholders
D. Provide project management, M&E capacity to the assessment component of the REACH programme
A. To coordinate implementation of area-based risk assessment in all geographical units targeted under the 3P programme and contribute to strategy development of the DRR portfolio in Ukraine
Support consultations with all critical partners including the United Nations, oblast authorities, raions authorities and hromada authorities
Adjust research design based on inputs from partners and the country coordinator accordance with IMPACT tools and templates
Adjust data collection and data analysis based on global best practice
Consolidate inputs from partners, HQ and the team on all key assessment documents
Adjust products as required by local authorities and project partners
Work closely with the GIS/DB Specialist and the Country Coordinator to develop the DRR portfolio in country through advocacy and project development inputs
B. Draft risk assessment reports and tools documenting the key steps of the research cycle
Manage a team of two local GIS officers responsible for supporting development of GIS products
Ensure overall quality of outputs and adherence to standard IMPACT processes
Draft and proofread assessments and other key products to be released by IMPACT
Support the development of webmap platforms to visualize assessment data in an interactive way
Provide suggestions in terms of data visualization and data communication
Ensure regular communication with Geneva HQ at critical steps of the assessments
Ensure tracking of all feedback provided on products
C. Share assessment results to key stakeholders
Draft presentations of assessments results
Present key findings in different forums such as local level meetings, partner meetings and national level forums
Suggest derivative products to communicate assessment results to wider audiences
D. Provide project management and M&E capacity to the assessment component of the REACH programme
Support close compliance to M&E procedures of ACTED and IMPACT
Provide suggestions for improving of programme monitoring practices
Provide inputs into programme reports and project management tools (PMF, Monthly Coordination Reports)
Conduct local staff appraisals and HR reviews
Key performance indicators
o Mapping guidelines are systematically followed, in particular:
o Map templates consistently used
o Map validation process respected
o GIS products support the research as designed and align to the analysis plan envisioned
o Data is handled according to the arrangements specified in the data management plan
o Regular communication is maintained with IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for GIS products
Problems related to specific assessments are reported by writing and orally in a timely manner
o Average number of days between draft product and internal product validation
o Total number of maps receiving final validation
o Retention rate among supervised national and international staff
o Progression in performance of supervised staff
The Assessment DRR Officer 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 or collected during his/her assignment.
Salary defined by the IMPACT salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
Additional monthly living allowance
Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment)
Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package
This vacancy is archived.