REACH Data Officer for South Sudan At IMPACT Initiatives

BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH

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 and GIS. 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, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

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). 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. 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.

We are currently looking for a Data Officer to support our team in South Sudan.

Department: REACH

Position: REACH Data Officer

Contract duration: 6 months (renewable)

Location: Juba, South Sudan

Starting Date: ASAP

COUNTRY PROFILE

IMPACT, through REACH, has been implementing programming in South Sudan since 2012. Responding to the Sudan Border Crisis, REACH initially engaged through coordinated information management support – in the form of refugee camp mapping and service provision analyses, thematic assessments, and multi-sectoral needs assessments – in Maban County, Upper Nile State and Pariang County, Unity State. IMPACT was engaged by DFID to provide a series of impact evaluations of their BRACE programming across Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile States in 2013; a programme with run for two years, included 5 total assessments, and reached a total of more than 20,000 households. Immediately following the conflict of December 2013, REACH expanded its programming to include the IDP response, participating in Initial Rapid Needs.

Assessments of conflict affected areas, providing mapping and monthly service provision analyses for major IDP sites around the country, and running large-scale IDP return intentions assessments. 2018 saw the expansions of both IMPACT and REACH programming to 10 of 10 states, spanning the refugee, IDP and development responses, and covering diverse activities such as cross-border port monitoring, assessments of hard to reach areas, flood mapping and vulnerability analysis, market monitoring and supply chain analysis, analysis of tensions and conflicts over access to natural resources, and third party monitoring of humanitarian and development programming. In 2019, REACH expanded its role within the technical space, increasing involvement in Integrated Phase Classification (IPC), Needs Analysis Working Group, UN technical agencies, and academics. In response, REACH has also expanded into multiple new research cycle streams beyond humanitarian needs monitoring, including sector specific, population movement, and AAP research. Broadly, REACH South Sudan implements assessments across three core units:

· Monitoring of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, through monthly assessments covering over 2,000 settlements in South Sudan, conducting an annual representative Multi Sector Needs Assessment to provide a snapshot of needs, and ad hoc rapid assessments in times of sudden escalations in conflict or natural disasters.

· Monitoring population movement trends in South Sudan, including tracking and analyzing large-scale displacement, returns and seasonal movements, through port and road monitoring, ad-hoc assessments, and a population movement baseline; assessing the perceptions of affected populations of the humanitarian response; engaging with the protection cluster in identifying and filling major information gaps; and mainstreaming a context sensitive approach within REACH South Sudan.

· Providing direct technical support to humanitarian clusters through active engagement with coordination bodies, dedicated assessments and information products, and strategic engagement to promote innovative methods towards understanding sector-related needs in South Sudan.

More information on REACH’s work in South Sudan can be found here: https://www.reach-initiative.org/where- we-work/south-sudan/.

FUNCTIONS

IMPACT is seeking an experienced candidate to support REACH in its technical functions throughout the research cycles including research design, data collection, data analysis and spatial analysis, and output production. Under the supervision of the Research Manager, the Data Officer, in close liaison with the assessment teams, engages with partners to promote their participation in data processing, analysis or relevant topics as designated by the line manager, to maximize the uptake and use of IMPACT research. When relevant, or managing a project, he/she also ensures an efficient and transparent use of resources required for project implementation. This can include the direct supervision of data and assessment teams during data collection, analysis or output production.

In his/her mission, the Data Officer will be hosted by IMPACT’s global partner ACTED and will fall under the direct responsibility and management of ACTED’s Country Director and his/her delegates for all Administrative, Security, and relevant Logistics and Finance issues. S/he will therefore fully abide to ACTED’s Security, Administration, and relevant HR, Logistics and Finance rules and regulations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Data Officer responsibilities include the following:

RESEARCH PLANNING:

• Contribute towards the identification and implementation of effective and adapted data management and analysis solutions for IMPACT research in South Sudan, in line with IMPACT’s relevant research and data guidelines;

• Support (as designated by line manager) sampling design, creation and management of data collection tools (ODK or KoBo), training on data cleaning and management techniques, support for data analysis set up (specifically conducted in the R environment);

• Contribute to draft research ToRs with a specific focus on sampling, data collection tools, the data analysis plan, as well as data management plan;

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

• In coordination with relevant assessment and GIS officer(s), support construction of quantitative sample;

• Keep track of progress and delays of all assigned tasks throughout the research cycle. Ensure that delays or identified problems are reported by writing and orally in a timely manner.

RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION

• When relevant, support the identification and training of enumerators for primary data collection;

• When relevant, support oversight of data collection, in line with agreed TORs (including their Annexes), including data cleaning processes, checks and data cleaning scripts;

• In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), document all changes in data collection that lead to a modification in the agreed TORs, ensuring that the IMPACT CC/CR and IMPACT HQ are informed and agree on the modifications.

DATA MANAGEMENT, CLEANING AND ANALYSIS

• Monitor accuracy of data collected in line with IMPACT’s Data Cleaning Minimum Standards Checklist;

• Cross check data collected in the field, ensure regular updates and solve potential discrepancies;

• When relevant, manage, update and deploy monthly questionnaire;

• Maintain, update and expand R-based systems of data management and analysis for data dissemination and reporting;

• Serve as focal point for statistical analysis and quantitative reporting on all research cycles within unit.

DRAFTING OF PRODUCTS

• Ensure that all IMPACT analysis products contain the requirements of IMPACT and concerned partners;

• In support of the Research Manager or CC/CR, as requested, provide regular communication with IMPACT

HQ on progress and deadlines for analysis outputs;

• Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate data and analysis products (such as factsheets, graphics, webmaps, dashboards), which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines;

• Ensure findings are accurately reported given the data collection and analysis methodology planned in TORs;

• Ensure that all analysis outputs are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release;

• When relevant, in close coordination with IMPACT HQ, support the regular maintenance and update of online products.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• Upon the request of the line manager, support in consulting with partners at all stages of research cycle: assessment preparation; data collection; data analysis; review of research products; product dissemination and lessons learnt;

• After validation by the line manager, represent IMPACT in relevant meetings/ working groups;

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

• After validation by line manager, present research findings to relevant third parties in order to enhance their use and impact;

• More generally, contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of IMPACT’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors.

INTERNAL COORDINATION

• Actively participate in regular team meetings;

• Ensure regular coordination and exchange with relevant colleagues;

• Ensure regular communication with HQ Research Design and Data unit.

• Engage in the development and implementation of IMPACT’s strategy in South Sudan.

DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION

The Data 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

· At least 2 years of relevant working experience working in data analytics, data management, geo- spatial visualization, information management, or a related field. Experience in humanitarian settings highly desirable;

· Excellent academic qualifications, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Geography, Statistics, Economics, or a relevant discipline;

· Strong understanding of sampling methodologies and statistical analysis;

· Advanced knowledge of R, STATA, Python or equivalent statistical software, R is highly desirable;

· Considerable experience using ODK/KOBO for quantitative data collection (questionnaire coding and dataset structures);

· Experience with Tableau, Shiny, or other interactive dashboard software an asset;

· Knowledge of Microsoft office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;

· Knowledge of Adobe Suite platform, particularly InDesign and Illustrator;

· Knowledge of GIS software such as ArcGIS and/or QGIS is an asset;

· Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;

· Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;

· Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles;

· Proven ability to work independently;