Consultant – Quantitative Analyst – Syria (Remote/Home Based) At Mercy Corps

Background:

Mercy Corps’ has developed a Crisis Analytics function to support our programming in the most complex contexts. The Humanitarian Access Team, (HAT) supports Mercy Corps’ in-country programming as well as the wider humanitarian response in the region through the provision of quality, timely and relevant analytical products.

Purpose / Project Description:

The quantitative analyst will work closely with the all-source and contextual analysts within the team, supporting them to enhance products with data-driven insights. They will also be given the freedom to develop their own innovative data-led products that ask new questions of, and give better answers to, key decision makers responding to the crisis.

Consultant Objectives:

In this role, the Data Analysis Specialist will contribute to Mercy Corps’ partnership with AWS to pilot and scale up projects utilizing cloud, artificial intelligence technology and data analytics for the purposes of increasing the capacity of Crisis Analysis Teams to conduct quantitative and geospatial analysis.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Assist the Lead Quantitative Analyst on elaborating descriptive and predictive analyses of aggregated datasets as per HAT priorities.
• Map external and internal data sources and develop appropriate ETL processes.
• Identify appropriate use cases of AWS technologies, then coordinate with T4D to pilot and scale up.
• Assist HAT analysts in the interpretation and presentation of data for HAT products
• Work closely with the team’s geospatial focal point to build and maintain dashboards hosted on the external website
• Participate in technical working groups related to IM and statistical methodologies for data collection and representation
• Assist the lead Quantitative Analyst develop predictive models and Anticipatory Action methodologies.
• Deliver reports based on quantitative findings for the HAT
• Develop Indexes and other quantitative measurements for program teams based on issues of economics, humanitarian need, and security.
• Assist the lead analyst with remote sensing analysis

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Masters qualifications in a relevant field (quantitative analysis, geospatial analysis, economics, mathematics)
• Demonstrated experience in innovative approaches to data analysis and presentation
• Understanding of the drivers of conflict and humanitarian need in the Middle East
• Knowledge of advanced statistical analysis, and ability to set up data workflows
• Experience producing written analysis to complement data-driven insights
• Expertise using a data analysis language including R
• Experience in project management and workflows
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills
• Experience working in the MENA region an asset
• Excellent written English- Arabic is a plus.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

Assist with the development of GiS mapping for specific HAT weather and climate models

Assist with econometric analysis for Monetary policy and price modelling

Timeframe / Schedule:

• Develop two quantitative reports (one every 3 months)
• Assist the lead quantitative analyst with econometric modelling on an ad-hoc basis (ongoing)
• Assist the development of one Anticipatory Action model (6 months)
• Assist with other ad hoc data analysis tasks as requested by the HAT Director or the Lead Quantitative Analyst

The Consultant will report to:

Michael Chohaney – Lead Quantitative analyst

The Consultant will work closely with:

HAT Syria Team, Program teams

Please note: Acronyms must be spelled out at first mention. E.g. Training of Trainers (ToT) or Multi-Year Assistance Program (MYAP).