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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 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 a (Senior) Assessment Officer (SAO) to lead our Emergency Assessment Team in South Sudan.
Department:REACH
Position: REACH (Senior) Assessment Officer
Contract duration:6 months or 12 months (depending on seniority)
Location: Juba, South Sudan
Starting Date: ASAP.
COUNTRY PROFILE
IMPACT, through REACH, has been implementing programming in South Sudan since 2012 supporting humanitarian decision-making with assessments and information management activities focusing on the needs of displaced, returnees, and conflict-affected populations. Today, data collected and disseminated by REACH aims to provide a baseline for ongoing response planning efforts across South Sudan as well as highlight areas of highest need and concern as crises emerge. Broadly, REACH South Sudan implements assessments across multiple core pillars:
Monitoring of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, through ad hoc rapid assessments in times of sudden escalations in conflict or natural disasters, monthly humanitarian needs monitoring and coordination of the Needs Analysis Working Group and market monitoring including Joint Market Monitoring.
Informing Emergency Prioritization in the response through providing direct technical support to humanitarian clusters through active engagement with coordination bodies, dedicated assessments and information products, and strategic engagement to promote evidence-based understanding and identification of emergency and catastrophic needs in South Sudan.
Mainstreaming Accountability to Affected Populations and Conflict Sensitivity, including through standalone assessments on community priorities relating to humanitarian needs and perceptions of assistance, contextual analysis of the impact of aid on community dynamics; as well as providing a critical AAP and CS lens to all REACH SSD research.
FUNCTIONS
REACH South Sudan is currently seeking an (Senior) Assessment Officer (SAO) with a background in research to support the Emergency Assessment Portfolio. The (S)AO will support the implementation of emergency-related workstreams, including the production and development of ad hoc and rapid needs assessments and analysis in collaboration with external partners and the technical leads and unit research managers. The (S)AO will also be responsible for producing regular context updates based on primary and secondary data. At a minimum, independence, strong coordination and communication skills as well as experience working on needs assessments are required for this position.
The (S)AO will be required to regularly present findings of these assessments and engage externally with staff from the UN, NNGOs, and INGOs to ensure findings are received and understood by key stakeholders. Finally, the (S)AO will be expected to adapt and improve qualitative and quantitative assessment methodologies to ensure they remain relevant and responsive to the rapidly changing context.
The (S)AO will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes, ensuring full compliance with IMPACT’s data protection policy and SOPs. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.
The ideal candidate will be someone who has previous experience operating in high-security contexts and has a high degree of demonstrated autonomy and decision-making in the field.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The (S)AO’s responsibilities include the following:
ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION
Objective 1.1: Management of the Assessment Process
The (S)AO is responsible for designing the methodology and tools associated with Emergency Assessments, according to IMPACT requirements and principles. He/she will manage the planning, implementation, and follow-up of all assessment activities conducted in country. This will include going on frequent field missions to oversee and conduct data collection exercises in-person. Additionally, the (S)AO will manage security, logistics, financial, administration and HR processes directly related to the activities they oversee and liaise accordingly with the relevant ACTED counterparts as needed. He/she is directly responsible for the implementation of proper IMPACT and ACTED FLATS procedures in all IMPACT interventions.
Objective 1.2: Implementation
The (S)AO is responsible for leading the implementation of assessments and providing support to the development of assessment, database and GIS tools with the assessment team. This will specifically include designing data collection tools (household surveys, focus groups, and more); development or review of databases; contributing to GIS data collection procedures and mapping through ARC GIS and other ESRI products; and analysis of spatial and other information to contribute to reports.
REACH REPORTING
The (S)AO is responsible for consolidating all analyses and conclusions from each assessment into IMPACT products such as factsheets, reports and briefs using standard formats. Timeliness of reporting is key to Emergency Assessments, and the (S)AO will manage designated timelines of reports for project partners. He/she must write and/or oversee timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality and protection of collected information. He/she will ensure that assessment reports contribute to aid coordination and planning and add to the general base of field knowledge in the country for all organisations working in the area.
HR MANAGEMENT
The (S)AO is responsible for day-to-day management of project and field staff when in the field. He/she is expected to guide and direct IMPACT staff and ensure that all field team members are comprehensively briefed on the objective, expected outputs, and overall implementation strategy of each activity. He/she will ensure that project/field staff are given training and complete all the necessary documentation in line with program requirements set by IMPACT.
REPRESENTATION
The (S)AO is responsible for representing IMPACT in cluster and multi-sector meetings/technical working groups in country and following-up on technical issues identified in such meetings. This will include liaising with external partners to identify potential areas to conduct rapid needs assessments, as well as engaging with operational partners as needed or data collection purposes.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMUNITIES AND BENEFICIARIES
The SAO is responsible for ensuring that all interactions with South Sudanese communities are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about IMPACT programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every IMPACT staff member.
Data Confidentiality and Protection
The (S)AO will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes, ensuring full compliance with IMPACT’s data protection policy and SOPs. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.
REQUIREMENTS
Academic Excellent academic qualifications, preferably including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Policial Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar);
Research skills higher education degree, and proven experience with complex research methods. Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to synthesise information, draw conclusions, and relate research back to the broader humanitarian response;
Software skills Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience with InDesign an asset.
Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system is required; programmatic humanitarian experience is an asset.
Years of work experience At least 3 years of relevant working experience;
Experience in multi-sectoral work Experience conducting multi-sectoral research and field work in a complex political and security environments an asset;
Management skills Proven team management experience and skills; ability to build assessment capacity of team through training and mentoring;
Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;
Level of independence Proven ability to work independently;
Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
Experience in geographical region Past experience in South Sudan is an asset;
Language skills Fluency in English required;
Security environment Experience and ability to operate in a complex and highly challenging security environment.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
For this position, salary between 2’460 CHF and 2’880 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 300 USD NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
Accommodation and food provided in the guesthouse.
Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered).
R&R after 3 months (flight ticket up to 500$ + 200$ of living allowance)
Contribution to the transportation of luggage: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)
Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.
Predeparture induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’ HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training.
IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees.
How to apply
Please apply directly on te website via the following link: (Senior) Assessment Officer for South Sudan, based in Juba (Link For External Applicants) | Impact