Country coordinator in Mali, based in Bamako At IMPACT Initiatives

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Experience 5-10

IMPACT & 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). 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, reconstruction and development contexts. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) needs and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; and (c) provision of databases and (web) mapping facilities 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 composed of specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO headquartered in Paris and present in around thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, allowing IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support in its areas of intervention.

COUNTRY PROFILE

As 2024 draws to a close, the crisis in Mali is entering its twelfth year. Amid divisions within ECOWAS that are exacerbating regional tensions, growing access challenges in the central and northern regions of the country, and a continued increase in humanitarian needs, both in volume and severity, Mali’s future remains deeply uncertain. With 42.1% of the population living below the national poverty line in 2020, 68.3% of the population classified as multidimensionally poor in 2021, a stagnant Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.428 (the sixth lowest in the world in 2022), and persistent violence emanating from the central and northern regions that is fueling internal displacement and exacerbating humanitarian needs, Mali remains in dire need of a thorough, comprehensive, and targeted humanitarian response. Yet despite increasing humanitarian needs, funding is consistently lacking, with coverage of the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) reaching only 21.2% as of August 15.

IMPACT IN MALI

In this context, IMPACT, through its REACH initiative, supports the humanitarian response with high-quality data, timely assessments and actionable analyses, in order to facilitate data-driven decision-making in an environment where humanitarian needs abound, while resources remain scarce, making prioritization essential. REACH Mali is composed of two assessment units: the first is multi-sectoral and aims to provide data that allows the prioritization of aid based on needs. The second is focused around the post-RRM (Rapid Response Mechanism) coordination structure. It provides assessments linked to displacement alerts, and supports coordination by taking charge of information management.

We are currently looking for a country coordinator

Department : IMPACT

Title : Country Coordinator / Representative

Contract duration : 2 years

Work location : Bamako, Mali

Start date : April 2025

Deadline to apply : January 28, 2025

Under the direction of the Regional Coordinator in Geneva, the Country Coordinator (CC) is responsible for representing IMPACT, managing and developing IMPACT’s programs in Mali. He or she leads the IMPACT team to achieve program excellence and ensure the highest level of impact and accountability, while ensuring compliance with IMPACT guidelines, policies and standards across the mission.

The CP is in regular contact with headquarters, ensuring that organizational risks are promptly and clearly communicated to the Director General, the Director of Country Programs and Operations, and other relevant managers at headquarters.

She or he will promote the organizational vision and core values through the mission and actively partner with headquarters to contribute to the implementation of IMPACT’s global strategies.

The CP will ensure the implementation of the IMPACT Mali country strategy. This strategy presents the medium-term ambitions of the mission and is based on 3 pillars. First, the mission informs humanitarian prioritization and planning at the national, regional, and circle levels. Second, IMPACT informs emergency prioritization at the strategic level. Second, IMPACT informs emergency prioritization at the strategic level. Finally, IMPACT promotes an effective and efficient response.

As part of his/her mission, the Research Manager will be hosted by Acted, IMPACT’s global partner, and will be under the direct responsibility and management of the Acted Country Director and his/her delegates for all administrative, security, logistics and financial matters. He/she will therefore fully comply with Acted’s rules and regulations regarding security, administration and human, logistics and financial resources.

FUNCTIONS

Under the direction of the regional coordinator, the country coordinator will be responsible for, among other things, the following:

Context analysis

With particular attention to the technical, programmatic and institutional direction of the mission, the CP ensures that IMPACT has an up-to-date understanding of:
The socio-economic situation of the country, the impact of a crisis and the situation of needs
Humanitarian aid planning, coordination and response mechanisms, as well as key response stakeholders 2. Mission Strategy Develop and oversee the implementation of the mission strategy, in alignment with national and global priorities • Consolidate and strengthen ongoing programming and operations
Ensure that mission activities are relevant and have a measurable impact on humanitarian aid/response
Identify funding opportunities to consolidate, strengthen and/or expand mission programs; lead project development and fundraising
Develop proposals, concept notes and budgets in line with country strategies.
Ensure that team members within the mission are aware of the national (as well as global) strategy and their contribution and role within it

Mission Strategy

Develop and oversee the implementation of the mission strategy, in alignment with national and global priorities
Consolidate and strengthen ongoing programming and operations
Ensure that mission activities are relevant and have a measurable impact on humanitarian aid/response
Identify funding opportunities to consolidate, strengthen and/or expand mission programs; lead project development and fundraising
Develop proposals, concept notes and budgets in line with country strategies.
Ensure that team members within the mission are aware of the national (as well as global) strategy and their contribution and role within it

Planning and implementation of research

Ensure that all research is planned in accordance with relevant objectives and unit or country strategy
Ensure that relevant stakeholders and partners are involved in the design and planning of the evaluation
Ensure that logistics, financial, administrative, security and human resources processes are correctly implemented and coordinated with the relevant departments

Project Cycle Management

Grant management by monitoring contractual obligations (deliverables, reports, etc.) and contractual indicators, and where applicable the competent Acted services
Financial management through the anticipation of financial risks and the control of project budgets in order to avoid under- and over-spending of the mission

Team management

Leadership: Provide leadership within the unit and promote IMPACT values
Staff Management: Ensure that staff understand and are able to carry out their roles and responsibilities; promote team spirit, well-being and productivity; build team and mission capacity; provide regular updates to the Regional Coordinator on staff career management; ensure regular performance evaluation

External engagement

Ensure that external communications with partners and key stakeholders, including relevant UN agencies, local and national government, and NGOs have been conducted and documented as appropriate for each research cycle
Orchestrate and lead the dissemination of research products, including through articles, targeted emails, presentations, meetings, etc., in accordance with IMPACT’s dissemination and external communication guidelines and the research ToR
External strategic engagement and dissemination of results with key stakeholders, as well as coordination of external engagement by all staff

REQUIRED CONDITIONS

Academic background: Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (international relations, political science, social research, sociology, economics, development studies, or similar)
HR Management Experience: Previous experience in a senior management role in an INGO in the field. Proven track record in successfully managing international and national teams in humanitarian contexts
Familiarity with the help system and the research community
Communication and Writing Skills: Excellent communication and effective report writing skills, including proven experience in contributing to high-level presentations/briefings
At least 5 years of relevant professional experience or proven progression within IMPACT
Language skills: Fluency in French required. English a strong asset.
Research Skills: Excellent research and analytical skills. Proven experience and skills in quantitative analysis.
Software skills: Proven knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word and PowerPoint). Skills in R, or other statistical analysis software an advantage. Experience with InDesign is an asset.
Diverse Task Management Skills: Ability to multi-task under tight deadlines, across multiple research cycles in a complex environment
Independence: A self-reliant individual with a proven ability to work independently
Intercultural work environment: Ability to function in an intercultural environment requiring flexibility
Experience in the West Africa/Sahel region desirable

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

For this position, the salary ranges from CHF 3,720 to CHF 4,080 per month (before income tax), etc. as well as a monthly living allowance of USD 500. NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary scale based on the grade of the position and the education level of the staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied to account for the fact that some staff members have to work in difficult locations where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
Accommodation and food in a guesthouse. NB – IMPACT is hosted by ACTED in this country.
Membership in a Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approximately 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
Airfare every 6 months and visa fees covered (in-country travel and business expenses are fully covered).
R&R after 3 months (airfare up to $500 + $200 living allowance)
Contribution to baggage transport: between 20 and 100 kg, depending on the duration of the contract (+ baggage and personal property insurance)
Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Leave for family or compassionate reasons, if applicable.
Pre-departure initiation – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives headquarters in Geneva + one week of pre-departure training at ACTED headquarters in Paris, including a 4-day on-site security training
Enrollment in the IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months of contract start.
IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among other things, up to €1,000 per year in psychosocial counseling costs.