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Position: REACH Assessment Assistant
Line manager: REACH Senior Assessment Officer
Duty Station: Nairobi
Starting Date: Feb 2026
Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Duration: 3 Months
About ACTED/REACH
Since 1993, as an international non-governmental organization, ACTED has been committed to immediate humanitarian relief to support those in urgent need and protect people’s dignity, while co-creating longer term opportunities for sustainable growth and fulfilling people’s potential. ACTED endeavours to respond to humanitarian crises and build resilience; promote inclusive and sustainable growth; co-construct effective governance and support the building of civil society worldwide by investing in people and their potential. We go the last mile: ACTED’s mission is to save lives and support people in meeting their needs in hard-to-reach areas. With a team of 7000 staff, ACTED is active in 42 countries and implements more than 550 projects a year reaching over 20 million beneficiaries. More on www.acted.org
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. REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of 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 & (web)-mapping facilities & expertise.
Country profile
In Kenya, Acted has been present since 2007 to meet the humanitarian and development needs of communities affected by natural calamities, population displacement and inadequate access to basic services. Acted has a capital office in Nairobi and operational bases in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties in Rift Valley and Northern Kenya. The teams work with local governments and partners to support the most vulnerable households through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), food assistance and disaster preparedness programmes.
REACH has been operational in Kenya since 2016, providing information management support to humanitarian actors on the needs and intentions of refugees and vulnerable populations as well as the needs and vulnerabilities of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands counties of Kenya. REACH Kenya is looking to expand information support to the humanitarian response in several key areas, including IDP settlement profiling and monitoring, multi-sector needs assessments, durable solutions 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.
ACTED is seeking a professionally confident, self-motivated, experienced, and committed team player to fill the position of REACH Assessment Assistant, based in Nairobi.
Preference will be given to candidates with proficiency in Somali.
Job objective
The REACH Assessment Assistant (RAA) supports the planning, implementation, and follow-up of REACH research cycles in Somalia, with a particular focus on qualitative data collection and analysis. Based in Nairobi and working in close coordination with the REACH Somalia team and external partners, the RAA will support the timely and high-quality delivery of research outputs. A key component of the role is supporting and piloting remote qualitative data collection, including phone-based interviews with Somali-speaking respondents in Somalia, and contributing to qualitative analysis and narrative reporting. Although based in Nairobi, the role will require travel to Somalia to support with in-person data collection when needed.
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
COORDINATION
Support internal coordination with:
REACH Field, GIS, Data, and Assessment colleagues; and
relevant Acted departments (finance, logistics, etc.),
2. RESEARCH DESIGN
Support research design tasks, particularly for qualitative and mixed-methods components such as;
Contributing to the development of qualitative methodologies and tools (e.g. interview and FGD guides);
Supporting the drafting of Terms of Reference, workplans, and data analysis plans.
Supporting operational planning for qualitative data collection, including remote or phone-based approaches.
Contributing to the preparation of training materials or guidance for enumerators or interviewers, where relevant.
3. IMPLEMENTATION
Support the implementation of assigned research cycles. This includes:
Conducting qualitative data collection, including in-person interviews or facilitation in Somalia or remote interviews or discussions by phone with Somali-speaking respondents.
Applying strong probing techniques to ensure depth and clarity of responses.
Producing accurate and detailed transcriptions and translations (Somali–English), as required.
Supporting data cleaning, organization, and qualitative coding or categorization;
Supporting qualitative and mixed-methods analysis in close coordination with Assessment, Data, GIS, and Field colleagues.
4. OUTPUT PRODUCTION
Contribute to output production. This may include:
Drafting qualitative findings and narrative analysis sections for reports, factsheets, or situation overviews.
Supporting the preparation of cleaned qualitative datasets or coded data matrices (e.g, DSAGs);
Contributing to presentations or briefing materials for internal and external audiences.
5. DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION
The RAA will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes, ensuring full compliance with Acted data protection policy and SOPs. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to Acted and its partners or collected during his/her assignment with Acted.
Necessary skills
Analysis skills
Qualitative analysis skills, including the ability to identify key themes, patterns, and divergences across interviews or focus group discussions.
Ability to synthesize qualitative findings into clear, structured narrative analysis.
Data literacy and basic proficiency in Excel for organizing and reviewing data.
Ability to think analytically and critically, and to assess data quality, bias, and limitations.
Process skills
Strong attention to detail, particularly for transcription, translation, and data management.
Planning and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Ability to operationalize research plans into concrete activities and deliverables.
Effective written and verbal communication, particularly in English.
Human qualities
Personal values align with Acted organizational values,
Curiosity and openness to learning, with a willingness to test and adapt new approaches.
Flexibility and adaptability to different work situations and access constraints.
High level of motivation, self-commitment, and reliability.
Ability to work autonomously with appropriate supervision.
Teamwork and professional skills
Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a multicultural and cross-functional environment.
Willingness to take initiative while respecting guidance and quality standards.
Problem-solving mindset and ability to raise challenges proactively.
Requirements:
Academic: Excellent academic qualifications, preferably including a bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline.
Research and Analysis skills: Proficiencyand proven experience with research and analysis; demonstrated experience with qualitative data collection methods, including conducting interviews or focus group discussions, effective probing, and producing detailed transcriptions.
Analysis and writing skills: Ability to analyze qualitative data and draft clear, well-structured narrative outputs in English;
Language skills: Fluency in Somali and English is required.
Software skills: Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with qualitative analysis software (e.g. NVivo, Atlas.ti, MAXQDA) is an asset; experience with InDesign is an asset;
Remote data collection: Experience with phone-based or remote qualitative data collection is an asset;
Multi-tasking skills: Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles is required.
Level of independence: Proven ability to work independently with appropriate guidance and supervision.
Cross-cultural work environment: Ability to operate effectively in a cross-cultural work environment.
Security environment: Ability to travel to and operate in a complex and challenging security environment is required.
Work experience: Demonstrated interest or foundational skills in research, assessment, or analysis through academic training, internships, or other practical experience. Previous professional experience is desirable but not mandatory.
Experience in humanitarian setting: Experience in humanitarian settings is highly desirable.
How to apply
Interested Kenyans with the required skills are invited to submit their applications accompanied by detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter as a single document i.e. with the cover letter being on the first page and the CV starting on the second page, detailing three work related referees and contacts to [email protected] and received on or before 5.00PM on 13th February 2026 with the subject line REACH Assessment Assistant_Nairobi
ACTED is committed to equality and diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunities employer. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please do not attach any other documents while sending your applications, if required they will be requested at a later stage.
Please note;
Shortlisting will be conducted on a rolling basis.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
ACTED reserves the right to fill this position before the advert deadline.
ACTED will not request any payment at any stage of the recruitment process. Furthermore, ACTED has not engaged any agent or third party in connection with this recruitment.
ACTED is committed to protecting beneficiaries within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and any kind of misconduct. ACTED has specific policies, including PSEA and Child Protection, which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, beneficiaries, consultants and other stakeholders and has zero tolerance towards misconducts. Any candidate offered a job with ACTED will be expected to sign ACTED’s organizational Policies and Code of Conduct as an annex to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.
ACTED is an Equal Opportunity Employer.