BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH

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, 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.

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.

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 3,300 staff is committed in to responding to emergencies worldwide, to supporting recovery and rehabilitation, towards sustainable development.

We are currently looking for a REACH Research Manager to lead our Emergency Sectors Unit in South Sudan.

Department: REACH South Sudan

Position: REACH Research Manager Contract duration: 12 months

Starting Date: May 2021

Location: Juba, South Sudan but with 25% of the time in field and deep field settings

COUNTRY PROFILE

IMPACT, through REACH, has been implementing programming in South Sudan since 2012. Responding to the Sudan Border Crisis, REACH initially engaged through coordinated information management support – in the form of refugee camp mapping and service provision analyses, thematic assessments, and multi-sectorial needs assessments – in Maban County, Upper Nile State and Pariang County, Unity State. IMPACT was engaged by DFID to provide a series of impact evaluations of their BRACE programming across Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile States in 2013; a programme with run for two years, included 5 total assessments, and touched a total of more than 20,000 households. Immediately following the conflict of December 2013, REACH expanded its programming to include the IDP response, participating in Initial Rapid Needs Assessments of conflict affected areas, providing mapping and monthly service provision analyses for major IDP sites around the country, and running large-scale IDP return intentions assessments.

2018 saw the expansions of both IMPACT and REACH programming to 10 of 10 states, spanning the refugee, IDP and development responses, and covering diverse activities such as cross-border port monitoring, assessments of hard to reach areas, flood mapping and vulnerability analysis, market monitoring and supply chain analysis, analysis of tensions and conflicts over access to natural resources, and third party monitoring of humanitarian and development programming. In 2019, REACH expanded its role within the technical space, increasing involvement in Integrated Phase Classification (IPC), Needs Analysis Working Group, UN technical agencies, and academics. In response, REACH has also expanded into multiple new research cycle streams outside of its traditional Area of Knowledge approach – including sector specific, population movement, and AAP research.

Broadly, REACH South Sudan implements assessments across three core units:

· Monitoring of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, through monthly assessments covering over 2,000 settlements in South Sudan, conducting an annual representative Multi Sector Needs Assessment to provide a snapshot of needs, and ad hoc rapid assessments in times of sudden escalations in conflict or natural disasters.

· Monitoring population movement trends in South Sudan, including tracking and analyzing large-scale displacement, returns and seasonal movements, through port and road monitoring, ad-hoc assessments, and a population movement baseline; assessing the perceptions of affected populations of the humanitarian response; engaging with the protection cluster in identifying and filling major information gaps; and mainstreaming a context sensitive approach within REACH South Sudan.

· Providing direct technical support to humanitarian clusters through active engagement with coordination bodies, dedicated assessments and information products, and strategic engagement to promote innovative methods towards understanding sector-related needs in South Sudan.

POSITION PROFILE

The Emergency Sector Unit Research Manager leads the final one of these work streams, focusing on improving data availability and analysis in five core sectors (FSL, WASH, Health, Nutrition and Cash), as well as monitoring the impact of climatic shocks and increasing humanitarian needs in general. The Emergency Sector Unit regularly engages with both internal and external assessment teams, technical agencies, and key analysis forums to identify information gaps and provide technical support as needed.

FUNCTIONS

The Research Manager will be responsible for overseeing the development of the Emergency Sector Unit, under the supervision of the IMPACT Country Coordinator and IMPACT HQ in Geneva.

They will be responsible for the implementation and completion of the various work streams within the Emergency Sector Unit. They will work with the Assessment Officers in the unit to develop new research cycles, reviewing data collection tools, methodologies, and any related outputs. They will engage with cluster partners, as well as with technical forums and workshops, including the Needs Analysis Working Group, IPC Technical Working Group, logistics, partner coordination, reporting, grants management, and finance requirements and will be required to provide input to the strategic development of REACH in the country and region.

SUMMARY

The REACH Research Manager (RM) shall be responsible for:

· Under the guidance of the Country Coordinator, developing the Emergency Sector Unit’s strategy, engagement and involvement with various technical forums.

· Overseeing the Emergency Sector Unit Research Cycles, including reviewing ToRs, methodology notes, products and dissemination strategies.

· Overseeing the development of sector-specific rapid assessments, including assessment design, logistical planning, external engagement, and management of data collection and analysis.

· Providing sector-specific technical guidance for other research cycles within REACH South Sudan.

· Ensuring that assessment strategies are implemented in a structured and coherent manner in line with project and strategic objectives

· Ensure the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets from collaborative assessments.

· In coordination with the Country Coordinator external representation of REACH with donors, partners and the wider aid community through clusters and sectoral working groups;

· Working with key clusters and partner organizations to understand the various information gaps within South Sudan, and how the Emergency Sector Unit can fill these gaps.

· In collaboration with the other Research Managers and the Country Coordinator, engaging with the Needs Analysis Working Group.

· Engaging with the IPC Technical Working Group and overseeing REACH’s participation in IPC workshops, including the usage of REACH data.

· Under the guidance of the Country Coordinator, management of grants in the Sectors Unit, including initial discussions with donors, conceptualisation of new projects, drafting proposals, reporting, and M&E.

· Advocating for and overseeing the harmonisation of Emergency Sector Unit related indicators/assessments between common tool and other critical, nation-wide assessments (REACH AoK, IOM VAS, ICWG IRNA, FSNMS, SMART).

· Coordinate timely and accurate reporting to IMPACT Headquarters.

OBJECTIVES

ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING

The RM is responsible for overseeing all research cycles within the Emergency Sector Unit, ensuring that they are implemented effectively and in line with REACH’s quality standards. The RM will work with Assessment Officers and Specialists within the Emergency Sector Unit to develop methodologies, oversee data collection, and produce timely and accurate assessment reports and other outputs. They will contribute to the development of proposals for new and existing research cycles, and they will be responsible for drafting timely donor reports. Finally, the RM will ensure that the Emergency Sector Unit’s work is disseminated to relevant partners, so it can be used for aid coordination and planning.

COORDINATION

The RM will engage with a range of external coordination mechanisms to support evidence-based decision making, and to ensure that REACH data is used accurately and effectively. This includes regular attendance and participation in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Technical Working Group and leading REACH’s engagement at the biannual IPC workshop. The RM will also attend and feed into the Needs Analysis Working Group (NAWG) and other relevant technical agencies and units.

HR MANAGEMENT

The RM is responsible for day-to-day management of Emergency Sector Unit staff. They will ensure that all staff members have a clear view of the expectations for their work, and that work plans are aligned with internal and external deadlines and strategies. The RM will conduct regular check-ins with staff, and act as the main pastoral focal point for the team. The RM will support the team’s professional development and ensure that their work is in line with REACH’s standards for quality and accountability to affected populations.

REQUIREMENTS

· A good sense of humour about bugs and bucket showers required;

· Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master degree in relevant discipline;

· At least 3 years’ experience working in humanitarian settings required;

· At least 6 months’ experience leading assessments in one of the sectors covered by the Sector Unit (FSL, Nutrition, WASH, Health, Cash, Climate) required;

· Ability to implement multi-sectoral assessments, both qualitative and quantitative required;

· Excellent analytical skills required;

· Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting required;

· Excellent team management skills required;

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

· Familiarity with the aid system required;

· Understanding of donor and governmental requirements an asset;

· Familiarity with early warning systems an asset;

· Familiarity with the IPC – level 1 certification an asset;

· Prior knowledge of the region an asset;

· Strong skills in Microsoft Excel required;

· Experience with R, SPSS an asset;

· Ability to operate GIS an asset;

· Fluency in English required;

· High level of autonomy and willingness to spend time in deep field locations away from IMPACT/ ACTED support;

· Ability to work independently.

CONDITIONS

  • 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.

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