More Information
- Experience 2-5
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). 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 heightening regional tensions, growing challenges to access 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 a
urgent need for 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 15 August.
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 decision-making based on accurate data 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 Research Manager for the multi-sector unit.
Unit : Multisectoral
Title : Research Manager
Contract duration : 1 year
Work location : Bamako, Mali
Start date : May 1, 2025
Deadline to apply: January 28, 2025
Reporting to the IMPACT Country Coordinator in Mali, the Research Officer will be in charge of the Multi-Sectoral Research Unit. This unit aims to support the prioritization of humanitarian assistance based on needs, and brings together activities related to the assessment of multi-sectoral needs. The unit notably brings together two research cycles: the Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA) and the Humanitarian Situation Monitoring (HSM). The MSNA is the most robust multi-sectoral needs study in Mali. It is a key element of the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Response Planning (HNRP) process. Managing this cycle involves collaboration with many partners, including national and international NGOs, UN agencies, humanitarian coordination, strategic audiences and extensive collaboration with IMPACT headquarters. The HSM aims to provide insight into humanitarian needs in hard-to-reach areas to a programmatic audience. Given the volatile security situation, data is collected on a quarterly basis. The management of the multi-sectoral unit will include external engagement with clusters and humanitarian coordination, contract partners, cooperation partners; management of staff responsible for the above-mentioned research cycles; collaboration and coordination within IMPACT with other relevant teams, including technical and field teams; supervision of each stage of the research cycle and ensuring the quality of the research produced. In 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 on security, administration, and human, logistics and financial resources.
FUNCTIONS
Context analysis
With particular attention to the technical, programmatic and institutional orientation of his unit, and in coordination with the CR, the RM 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
- Mechanisms for planning, coordination and response of aid/humanitarian assistance, as well as the main stakeholders in the response
Unity Strategy
Develop and oversee the implementation of a unity strategy aligned with national and global priorities, and fully integrated into the country strategy
- Consolidate and strengthen ongoing programming and operations within the unit
- Ensure that the unit’s activities are relevant and have a measurable impact on humanitarian aid/response
- In coordination with the CR, identify funding opportunities to consolidate, strengthen and/or expand the unit’s programs and support the CR in project development and fundraising
- Develop proposals, concept notes and budget in close coordination with the IMPACT CR, in line with unit and country strategies.
- Ensure that team members within the unit are aware of the unit strategy (as well as national and 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
- Monitor progress and delays of all assigned evaluations throughout research cycles. Ensure that delays or challenges identified for specific evaluations are reported to the CR and HQ Research Department in a timely manner
- Ensure that relevant stakeholders and partners are involved in the design and planning of the evaluation.
- Ensure that logistical, financial, administrative, security and human resources processes directly related to the work of the unit and the ongoing evaluation have been properly implemented and coordinated with the relevant departments
- Ensure that the implementation of collections and management of sensitive data complies with the terms of reference
- Check that data processing and generated analyses comply with quality standards
- Plan, supervise and review the analytical products written
Project Cycle Management
- Grant management by monitoring contractual obligations (deliverables, reports, etc.) and contractual indicators with the CR, 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, in collaboration with the CR
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 CR 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
- Under the direction of the CR, engage in 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 unit 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 management role in an NGO in the field. Proven experience in 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 3 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 is desirable
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- For this position, the salary is between CHF 3,000 and CHF 3,240 per month (before income tax) etc. plus a monthly living allowance of USD 300. 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.
How to apply
Please apply by following the link below. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Research Manager for the Multi-Sector Unit based in Bamako, Mali | Impact