REACH GIS Officer at IMPACT Initiatives

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 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.

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.

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 Junior Assessment Officer to support our REACH team in Libya.

Position: REACH GIS Officer

Department: REACH

Contract duration: 6 months

Location: Tunis, Tunisia

Starting Date: July 2021

COUNTRY PROFILE

REACH has been present in Libya since 2011, providing assessment and information management services to humanitarian actors. REACH’s intervention in Libya has been divided in two phases: during and in the aftermath of the first conflict in 2011-2012 and since 2015. Since late 2015, REACH established a full time presence in country conducting various assessments such as Multi Sector Needs Assessments, IDP profiling exercises, cash and market assessments.

In 2021 and beyond REACH Libya is looking to expand information support to the humanitarian response in several key areas, including large-scale country-wide household level assessments, market related assessment, protection

monitoring 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.

Our team in Tunisia manages our operations based in Libya.

POSITION PROFILE

Under the line management of the Research Manager, the GIS Officer is responsible for the application of geographic information systems, including relevant aspects of research design, support in designing data collection tools, ensuring (spatial) data quality, geo-spatial analysis, drafting of maps, and (as relevant) production of web maps and information management systems. Detailed requirements below.

The GIS officer will provide technical inputs in all stages of the research cycle. He/she ensures an efficient and transparent use of resources required for project implementation. This can include the direct supervision of GIS teams. The GIS Officer will also be responsible for developing and implementing a continuous capacity building program for national and international team members, and (when relevant) for providing trainings to partners.

Position is open for officer level, but those with more experience will be considered for a senior position, and are encouraged to apply.

FUNCTIONS

1. REACH PLANNING

· In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), support assessment planning in line with project and program objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines;

· Map and analyse secondary data in coordination with the assessment officer(s);

· Contribute to draft assessment ToRs with a specific focus on the analysis plan, and related mapping, as well as data management plan;

· Support the development of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, ensuring GIS requirements of research cycle/assessment are met;

· Anticipates knowledge gaps prior the execution of the Research Cycle ;

· In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), support construction of quantitative sample.

2. RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION

· When relevant, support the training of enumerators for primary data collection;

· When relevant, support oversight of data collection, in line with agreed TORs (including their Annexes), including spatial verification and validation as part of daily assessment checks;

· Ensure that collected data is properly geo-referenced, enabling the production of maps and related products;

3. DATA MANAGEMENT, CLEANING AND ANALYSIS

· Ensure that data is revised and cleaned, and that all revisions are recorded;

· Conduct vector & raster-based spatial analysis on collected data, using appropriate tools for each use-case

· Ensure that data and its spatial analysis are validated by IMPACT HQ before product drafting stage;

· Development and maintenance of country-level databases for the consolidation of all assessment-related and GIS data in country;

4. DRAFTING OF PRODUCTS

· Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate GIS products, which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines;

· Ensure that all GIS products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release;

· When relevant, in close coordination with IMPACT HQ, support the regular maintenance and update of web GIS products;

· In coordination with the CC/CR, liaise with IMPACT HQ on the procurement of UNOSAT services and satellite imagery.

5. EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

· In support of the assessment team, link with relevant partners to consult and involve them in the GIS components of a research cycle;

· Promote an active use of datasets, GIS products and research findings by partners and the broader humanitarian community for their decision making;

· After validation by line manager, support the presentation of research findings through GIS inputs to relevant third parties in order to enhance their use and impact;

6. PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT

· In close coordination with line management, finance and grants colleagues, monitor and regularly update the use of GIS-related assets, financial and human resources, in full compliance with IMPACT’s guidelines; this includes maintaining an oversight of budget availability and expenditure for GIS-related activities;

· Ensure that GIS-related project deliverables and requirements are tracked, met and complied to;

7. DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION

The GIS Officer 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

· Master degree in GIS or a related discipline (Geography, Geomatics, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences). Bachelor’s degree in GIS or related discipline with additional relevant work experience.

· 1 year of experience in GIS/Database/Remote sensing, preferably in humanitarian context;

· Excellent analytical skills;

· Proficient knowledge of QGIS/ArcGIS

· Experience with spatial relation databases (PostGIS)

· Experience with data processing using python (arcpy, numpy, etc.)

· Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

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

· Ability to work independently

· Written and spoken fluency in English required;

DESIRABLE

· Experience with or willingness to learn: ArcGIS Online environment, FME, Google Earth Engine, OpenStreet Map, R, and/or Tableau

· Previous experience with InDesign

· Knowledge of the humanitarian coordination structure

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