Research Manager, based in Niamey, Niger At IMPACT Initiatives

IMPACT AND REACH

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two international NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Program for Operational Applications by Satellite ( UNOSAT ). The objective of REACH is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that improve the decision-making and planning capacity of the humanitarian community in emergency contexts, reconstruction and development. REACH facilitates the management of information for aid actors through three complementary services: ( a ) the assessment of needs and the situation facilitated by REACH teams; b ) situation analysis using satellite imagery; c ) provision of databases and mapping facilities ( Web ) and related expertise.

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization manages several initiatives, including the REACH initiative. The IMPACT team is made up of specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched on the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO headquartered in Paris and is present in around thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, allowing IMPACT to benefit from the operational support of ACTED in its areas of intervention.

COUNTRY PROFILE

Since 2012, Niger has experienced several consecutive crises. Among the poorest countries in the world, Niger has been highly impacted by conflicts and population displacements at its borders with Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Chad. In addition, the country is at the forefront of climate change. He was confronted with episodes of heavy rain causing floods and causing massive displacement in several regions of the country. The combination of structural difficulties, security issues and climatic hazards has severely tested an already fragile humanitarian situation.

In the country since 2012, IMPACT is today implementing several structuring projects to support the humanitarian response : the multisectoral assessment of needs ( MSNA ) carried out across the country with non-displaced, displaced, refugee and returned households, a humanitarian monitoring program ( HSM ) in the three-border region ( Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger ), territorial assessments, particularly in the Diffa and Tillabéri region, and flood susceptibility assessments carried out by remote sensing. IMPACT is also involved in the consortium of the rapid response mechanism ( RRM ) in Niger by providing support for information management.

FUNCTIONS

The Research Manager is responsible for directly piloting the MSNA 2024, an essential initiative which positions REACH at the heart of humanitarian planning in Niger. To do this, it coordinates with all of IMPACT partners in Niger ( OCHA, ICCG, clusters and sectoral working groups ) as well as with IMPACT headquarters in Geneva, it contributes directly to the preparation of collection and analysis tools, ensures the quality of data and analyzes and ensures coordination with the operation team for data collection across the country. Finally, it directly disseminates data and analyzes to partners through publications and presentations.

In addition, the research leader coordinates, with the support of dedicated’ evaluators, several other projects related to planning and humanitarian response : namely a project of’ support for humanitarian coordination at the local level through participatory’ evaluations and’ territorial evaluations as well as a project of’ support to the management of’information within the framework of the mechanism of quick response (RRM – rapid response mechanism).

Under the direction of the Country Coordinator, the/the Research Manager is responsible/e for (non-exhaustive) :

1. ’team management, capacity building and country strategy : Ensure the research strategy of IMPACT projects and the hierarchical management of two to three’ evaluation officers
   • Ensure the distribution of tasks within the team of evaluation officers
   • Develop skills, set up capacity building methods for all evaluation officers, GIS and data in research ;
   • Ensure the development and monitoring of the country strategy for the research team
   • Support the country coordinator and the regional project development manager in the search for funding and opportunities
   • Support of the country coordinator in the recruitment, training and monitoring of teams
2. Planning and implementing research : Ensure the quality and smooth running of all IMPACT project cycles and identify opportunities for potential projects
   • Context analysis and identification of existing information gaps ;
   • Ensure that research cycles are implemented according to REACH standards ;
   • Technical guidelines on the choices and practices of research methodologies ;
   • Design or coordinate the design of approaches, research methodologies and tools in accordance with IMPACT requirements and principles as well as the information needs of partners ;
   • Coordinate with data analysis officers and GIS officers to guarantee the quality of analyzes and meeting deadlines
   • Identification of opportunities for potential new projects
   • Write precise and timely supports such as information sheets, reports, presentations, etc. who comply with IMPACT quality guidelines and standards and contribute to a more appropriate and better informed humanitarian response
   • Pre-validate products and guarantee their quality.
3. Participate in the identification of logistical, HR and financial needs
   • Participate in the coordination meeting of the IMPACT mission ( SMT – senior management team ) ;
   • Identify HR, logistics and financial needs for the research team
   • Monitoring of contractual obligations, deliverables and chronogram
4. Commitment and strengthening of external capacities : Ensure regular engagement with humanitarian coordination structures and donors as well as capacity building
   • Ensure that the partners concerned are consulted and involved at all stages of the research cycle: preparation of the evaluation, data collection, data analysis, review of research products, dissemination of products and lessons learned ;
   • Represent IMPACT in relevant meetings and working groups ( intercluster coordination group, sectoral clusters, information working group ), possibly as long as co-lead; Representation to external partners : local and international NGOs, government actors ;
   • Provide training to external partners ( technicians, government officials, NGOs, etc ) when necessary ( e.g. on MSNA ) data ;
   • Presentations of the results of IMPACT projects at relevant workshops.

CONDITIONS REQUIRED

• University training : Excellent university qualifications, including a Master in a relevant discipline ( international relations, political science, social research, sociology, economics, development studies, or similar ).
• Years of professional experience At least 3 years of relevant professional experience or a proven progression within IMPACT.
• Research skills : Excellent research and analysis skills. Experience in monitoring and evaluation, field research; basic knowledge in sampling, quantitative data analysis
• Management experience : Prior experience in a management role in an NGOI in the field.
• Communication and reporting skills Excellent communication and effective reporting skills, including proven experience in contributing to high-level presentations / briefings.
• Familiarity with the help system Familiarity with the help system and with research methods ;
• Safety environment Ability to operate in a complex and difficult security environment or previous experience in contexts with a high security challenge an asset ;
• Software skills Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite, notably Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Advanced R skills, or other statistical analysis software are an advantage. An experience with InDesign, Table or Power Bi is a strong asset ;
• Independence level An independent person with proven ability to work independently ;
• Intercultural working environment Ability to operate in an intercultural environment requiring flexibility ;
• Language skills Master of French and English required ;

REMUNERATION AND ADVANTAGES

• For this item, the salary is between 3,240 CHF and 3,480 CHF per month ( before income tax ), etc. as well as a monthly living allowance of $ 300.
  • NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid according to the grade of the position and the level of education of the staff. A security adjustment and/or location-dependent isolation is then applied to take into account that some staff members have to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
• Accommodation in a guest house.
• Membership of a Swiss private pension fund ( Swisslife – around 9.975% of the gross salary of staff ), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
• Air tickets every 6 months and visa fees covered ( travel expenses in the country and professional expenses are fully covered )
• R&R after 3 months ( aircraft ticket up to 500 $ + 200 $ subsistence allowance ) if the place of employment allows.
• Contribution to the transport of luggage: between 20 and 100 kg, depending on the duration of the contract ( + baggage and personal property insurance )
• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Day holidays in the country of assignment. Leave for family or compassionate reasons, if applicable.
• Initiation before departure – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives headquarters in Geneva + one week of training before departure at ACTED headquarters in Paris, including 4-day in situ safety training ;
• IMPACT gives priority to the psychological security of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among other things, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counseling costs.