IMPACT ET REACH
REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two international NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Program for Operational Satellite Applications (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) assessment of needs and the situation facilitated by REACH teams; b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (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 made up of specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarters is based in Paris and is 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
The Central African Republic (CAR) is subject to a protracted crisis dating back more than a decade. Instability, due in particular to the political context, has created major humanitarian challenges. Nearly three-quarters of the population lives below the poverty line. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) for the year 2023, 3.4 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance.
The CAR continues to face a serious protection crisis, with a steady increase in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law despite the signing of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in 2019. Those who suffer the most, these are the civilian populations. One in four Central Africans is displaced either within the country or in a neighboring country, and the return waves of displaced and repatriated people have slowed considerably. In 2022, 3.1 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection. The impoverishment of households and the deterioration of essential services have considerably impacted their living conditions. Now, two-thirds of the population struggle on a daily basis to care for themselves, feed themselves, find housing, send their children to school or obtain drinking water.
IMPACT has been operating in CAR since 2015 through its REACH initiative supporting the rapid response mechanism in an information management capacity. From 2019 REACH activities have grown exponentially, with the implementation of multi-sectoral needs assessments throughout the territory, including in difficult-to-access areas, with the objective of supporting and informing planning. of the humanitarian response.
We are currently looking for a research manager to supervise our team in the Central African Republic.
Department : REACH
Title : Research Manager – Humanitarian Planning
Contract duration : 12 months
Workplace : Bangui
Start date : As soon as possible
FUNCTIONS
Under the direction of the IMPACT country coordinator in CAR, the Research Manager will be in charge of managing the “Humanitarian Planning” research unit, bringing together the management of activities linked to the planning and prioritization of the humanitarian response. The Unit notably brings together the national-scale assessment of multi-sectoral needs (MSNA): the monitoring of the evolution of humanitarian needs (HSM) and support in terms of information management and rapid response mechanism ( RRM). This unit aims to ensure the relevance and strategic impact of all REACH Initiatives activities on humanitarian actors and response in the CAR.
RESPONSABILITES
MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH CYCLES OF THE “HUMANITARIAN PLANNING” UNIT
Planning and preparing for assessments
- Ensure that all planned evaluations are done in line with programmatic objectives and following REACH guidelines for research cycle development;
- Ensure that secondary data analysis is carried out in preparation for the evaluations;
- For each evaluation, review the research terms of reference (ToRs) before sending them to Geneva for validation, and ensure that these ToRs are validated by headquarters before the start of data collections;
- Ensure that the ToRs are understood and used by evaluation teams and relevant partners, and updated as necessary; ensure the development, in close collaboration with the GIS and database teams, of qualitative or quantitative data collection tools; and ensure the involvement of these GIS and database teams in the evaluations;
- Track assessment progress and timelines as assessments progress.
- Ensure that identified deadlines and challenges are duly
- Ensure that all relevant partners are involved in the development of research cycles.;
Data collection and management
- Ensure the implementation of training for data collection;
- Supervise data collection exercises, ensuring the proper implementation of ToRs, any necessary SOPs and humanitarian and do no harm principles;
- Ensure that the Country Coordinator is alerted of any problem preventing the proper conduct of data collection and methodologies in line with the ToRs; ensure that methodological adjustments are duly documented;
- Ensure the proper implementation of logistics, finance, administrative, security and HR processes directly linked to REACH and in collaboration with ACTED support departments;
- Ensure that regular updates on data collections are circulated to relevant internal focal points and external stakeholders. Provide support and monitoring of challenges identified during collections;
- Ensure that all data collected is stored in line with the IMPACT data management guidelines, and in line with the ToRs. Ensure proper data review and cleaning process. Supervise the data analysis process in line with ToRs, following relevant and methodologically precise techniques;
- Ensure Headquarters validation of the cleaned databases and analysis before starting the process of writing outputs;
Writing outputs
- Maintain regular communication with IMPACT Headquarters on progress and deadlines for activity outputs;
- Ensure the production of evaluation outputs that are fair and within the time limits initially set within the ToRs, and that comply with the IMPACT-REACH guidelines and quality standards;
- Review and revise the outputs before sending to IMPACT Headquarters for final validation;
- Ensure that all outputs produced are validated by IMPACT Headquarters before external dissemination; or in specific cases, ensure you have received a temporary green light for restricted internal release
Dissemination of outputs and internal evaluation
- Under the direction of the IMPACT Country Coordinator, get involved in the dissemination of research outputs, through articles, IMPACT and REACH social media content, email campaigns, presentations, meetings, etc. in line with the ToRs and the IMPACT dissemination and external communication guidelines;
- Under the supervision of IMPACT Headquarters, ensure that research outputs are published on all relevant online platforms, as specified in the ToRs;
- Ensure that lessons learned for each research cycle are collected and duly documented;
- Support the Country Coordinator in the implementation of internal monitoring & evaluation exercises as specified in the ToRs and in line with the IMPACT guidelines.
HR management of the Humanitarian Planning unit team
- Hold regular meetings with international and national staff of the multisectoral unit to check the progress made for each research cycle and to review schedules;
- Bilateral HR management of international staff and senior national staff, including (with consultation of the Country Coordinator) conducting performance evaluations to take part in the management of the career of these staff;
- In coordination with the Country Coordinator, conduct inductions for new team members; including training to ensure technical skills in research cycle development, and their implementation and analysis;
- Support the Country Coordinator in the development and implementation of training plans for members of the multi-sectoral unit, and members of the IMPACT team in general, in the capital and in the field;
- When relevant, take part with the Country Coordinator in the process of recruiting international staff.
External relations
- In coordination with the Country Coordinator, ensure that all relevant partners are consulted and included in all stages of the research cycles: cycle development, data collection, joint data analysis, review of outputs if planned , dissemination of outputs, and discussions on lessons learned; ensure that this involvement of partners is documented;
- In coordination with the Country Coordinator, present the results of the research cycles to partners and external stakeholders, to ensure the use and impact of these activities;
- Ensure positive, coherent and strategic communication with key partners and stakeholders, including national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, UN agencies, national agencies, local and national authorities, etc.; and that this communication is duly documented;
- In coordination with the Country Coordinator, represent IMPACT and REACH in strategic and/or technical external engagements in relation to the assessments of the multi-sectoral unit;
- Support the Country Coordinator in external engagements in relation to fundraising efforts for the IMPACT-REACH activities of the multi-sectoral unit, and in the management of current grants.
Strategy development and implementation
In support of the IMPACT Country Coordinator, the REACH Research Manager will actively contribute to the development of the REACH strategy in the Central African Republic. In particular, he or she will support strategic development efforts:
- On evaluation needs, linked to identified humanitarian priorities;
- On synergies with other assessments and efforts implemented by humanitarian and key partners;
- On strategic partnerships with key operational and/or decision-making partners/actors;
- On key events and processes that should be informed by REACH assessments; • On advocacy and dissemination and external communication strategies to strengthen the impact of REACH activities;
- On support in the preparation and monitoring of seminars and strategic plans at the CAR level, in coordination between IMPACT and ACTED;
- On engagement with IMPACT Headquarters on overall strategic priorities.
Others
- Support the Country Coordinator in the production of project proposals for donors, interim and/or final narrative and/or financial reports on projects involving activities of the REACH multi-sectoral unit;
- Maintain an overview of budgetary availability for the evaluation activities of the REACH multisectoral unit; and participate in the monthly financial monitoring of the aforementioned projects;
- Other tasks as requested and jointly discussed with superiors
CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION
The REACH Research Manager will maintain the strictest confidentiality over all data collected and associated processes, and will actively take measures to prevent unauthorized sharing of information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during its mission with IMPACT.
ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARDS AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS
The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relationships with IMPACT targeted communities and partner work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Care should be taken to ensure that communities are properly consulted and informed of the objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria and methodologies of the IMPACT programme. This responsibility lies with every IMPACT staff member.
REQUIRED CONDITIONS
- Academic: Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree in a relevant discipline (international relations, political science, social research, economics, development studies or similar)
- Years of professional experience: At least 3 years of relevant professional experience or proven progression within IMPACT
- Management Experience: Previous experience in a management, coordination, planning and prioritization role in an INGO in the field required, including the ability to manage large tasks, supervise multiple teams and complete projects within expected deadlines. Proven experience in successfully managing international and national teams in humanitarian contexts;
- Experience in external engagement: Experience in external engagement and communication required (funders, partners, other key stakeholders);
- Communication/Reporting Skills: Excellent communication and writing skills for effective reporting, including proven experience contributing to high-level presentations/briefings.
- Research skills : Excellent research and analytical skills are an asset. Experience with evaluations. M&E, field research is an asset.
- Computer skills : Proven knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Knowledge of R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software is an asset
- Multi-tasking skills: Ability to perform multiple tasks under tight deadlines, over numerous research cycles in a complex environment;
- Degree of independence: A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently
- Intercultural work environment: Ability to work in an intercultural environment requiring flexibility;
- Experience in the geographic region: Previous experience in the Central African context or in the region is desirable;
- Language skills Fluency in French, proficiency in English is an asset;
- Security Environment Ability to operate in a complex security environment.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- For this position, the salary is between 3,240 CHF and 3,480 CHF per month (before income tax), etc. as well as a monthly subsistence allowance of USD 300.
- NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary scale based on the grade of the position and the level of education of the staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied to account for the fact that some staff must work in difficult locations where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
- Accommodation in a guest house.
- This base is not a family duty station
- Membership in a Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approximately 9.975% of gross staff salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
- Airfare every 6 months and visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and business expenses are fully covered)
- R&R after 3 months (airfare up to $500 + $200 living allowance) if the duty station allows it.
- 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 induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives headquarters in Geneva + one week of pre-departure training at ACTED headquarters in Paris, including 4 days on-site security training;
- Registration in the IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Program within the first 3 months following the start of the contract.
- IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among other things, up to €1000 per year in psychosocial counseling costs.