Research Manager for Burkina Faso, based in Ouagadougou At IMPACT Initiatives

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CONTEXT ON IMPACT AND REACH

REACH was established 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 objective is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance 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, mapping (web-based) 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, as well as GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO headquartered in Paris and present in some 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.

We are currently seeking a Research Manager to join our team in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Position: Research Manager and Focal Point

Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Contract duration: 6 months

Work location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Start date : April 15, 2026.

COUNTRY PROFILE

IMPACT Initiatives has been present in Burkina Faso since 2019, where the organization provides applied humanitarian research and analytical support to inform crisis response planning and operational decision-making. Burkina Faso remains at the heart of the humanitarian crisis affecting the central Sahel, with persistent insecurity, mass displacement, limited humanitarian access, and severe strain on basic services, which continue to fuel needs across the country. The Humanitarian National Response Plan (HNRP) 2026 estimates that 4.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 2.7 million of the most vulnerable targeted for the response. At the same time, acute food insecurity and protracted displacement continue to affect millions of people, particularly in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas. In this context, IMPACT supports humanitarian actors by providing evidence and analysis to help ensure that assistance reaches the populations most in need and that response modalities are adapted to the context and the severity of the needs. This support has included annual multi-sectoral needs assessments (MSNA), humanitarian situation monitoring (HSM), area-based assessments (ABA), and a range of sector assessments, particularly in the areas of nutrition and health.

JOB PROFILE

Under the supervision of the Multi-Country Representative (MCR) based in Dakar, the Research Manager and Focal Point (RM) leads IMPACT’s mission in Burkina Faso, with overall responsibility for the implementation of the research portfolio in the country. This position oversees a team based in Ouagadougou and ensures the effective management, coordination, and implementation of research activities, in accordance with IMPACT’s global standards, mission priorities, and partners’ information needs.

The Research Manager is responsible for leading the implementation of the mission’s research agenda, ensuring that assessments and analytical products are methodologically sound, operationally feasible, and delivered to high quality standards. This includes overseeing research design, planning, implementation, analysis, and dissemination, while ensuring that products are developed in a timely manner and in accessible, usable, and useful formats for partners and stakeholders.

In addition, the Mission Leader (ML) acts as IMPACT’s main focal point in the country, maintaining close engagement with humanitarian coordination mechanisms, operational partners, and other stakeholders. While this role contributes, alongside the Mission Coordinator (MC), to the co-creation of the mission’s strategic direction, its primary focus is on leading implementation, managing the team, and effectively translating research findings into evidence to support humanitarian planning and decision-making.

RESPONSABILITES

Supervision of research deliverables

  • Oversee the planning, implementation and timely delivery of IMPACT’s research cycles and analytical products in Burkina Faso.
  • Delegate the day-to-day technical management of research activities to the relevant team members, while retaining overall responsibility for quality assurance and consistency.
  • Ensure that research design, tools, methodology, analysis and reporting meet IMPACT’s global standards and are aligned with partners’ information needs.
  • Review and validate key deliverables at all stages of the research cycle, ensuring methodological rigor, relevance and usability.
  • Ensure that products are developed in a timely manner and in clear, usable formats that can be directly used by humanitarian partners and decision-makers.

Supervision of the operational implementation of the research

  • Oversee the operational planning and implementation of research activities, in close coordination with relevant colleagues from the operations and support teams.
  • Delegate daily operational monitoring to appropriate team members, while maintaining overall visibility on schedules, risks, constraints, and mitigation measures.
  • Ensure that fieldwork preparation, logistics, procurement, travel planning and data collection arrangements are in place to support high-quality research implementation.
  • Working closely with operations and support teams to ensure that research activities are feasible, have sufficient resources and are implemented in accordance with organizational procedures and safety requirements.
  • Monitor the progress of implementation and ensure that operational bottlenecks affecting the conduct of research are identified quickly and addressed in a timely manner.

Daily management of the team

  • Provide direct hierarchical management of the research team based in Ouagadougou, fostering a collaborative, responsible and supportive work environment.
  • Define clear objectives and priorities for team members and monitor performance against agreed work plans and deliverables.
  • Supporting staff development through regular monitoring, constructive feedback, capacity building and identification of professional development needs.
  • Ensure effective internal coordination between team members and different functions to support the smooth implementation of the research portfolio.
  • Promote respect for IMPACT’s values, policies and standards in the team’s daily operations.

Liaison with partners and external stakeholders

  • To serve as IMPACT’s main focal point in the country with humanitarian partners, coordination mechanisms, donors and other external stakeholders in Burkina Faso.
  • Maintain and strengthen relationships with relevant stakeholders to ensure that IMPACT’s work remains aligned with key information gaps and decision-making needs.
  • Support regular engagement with partners throughout the research cycle, particularly with regard to priorities, methodological approaches, validation and dissemination of results.
  • Represent IMPACT in relevant meetings, technical discussions and coordination forums, in close coordination with and under the supervision of the Multi-Country Representative.
  • Contribute to strengthening and maintaining IMPACT’s credibility and positioning in the response through professional, timely and constructive engagement with stakeholders.

Contribution to the strategy and direction of the mission

  • Under the guidance of the Multi-Country Representative, contribute to the development and refinement of the strategic direction of the mission in Burkina Faso.
  • Supporting the translation of strategic priorities into a research agenda that is both operationally realistic and analytically coherent.
  • Contribute to adjusting the mission’s work direction according to the evolving context, humanitarian priorities, partner needs and organizational capacities.
  • To provide analyses and recommendations to inform decision-making on the direction, scope and prioritization of research activities.
  • Ensure that the implementation of the research portfolio remains aligned with the broader mission strategy and objectives.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, are required;
  • At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian, development or similar contexts;
  • Experience in external engagement (donors, partners and other key stakeholders) is required;
  • A good understanding of the humanitarian coordination system is required;
  • An understanding of the processes involved in conducting assessments is required;
  • Excellent communication and writing skills are required to ensure effective reporting;
  • Excellent analytical and research skills are required;
  • The ability to work independently is required;
  • A demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet competing deadlines is required;
  • A solution-oriented, flexible and open-minded profile is required, including the ability to thrive in an intercultural environment;
  • A good understanding of the West and Central African context is required; prior experience in the region is desirable;
  • Fluency in French is required; fluency in English is desirable;
  • Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office is required;
  • A spirit of curiosity, a willingness to contribute to the improvement of the humanitarian sector, and the ability to maintain a broad perspective.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • For this position, the salary ranges from CHF 3,420 to CHF 3,480 per month (before income tax), plus a monthly living allowance of USD 300. Note: Salaries at IMPACT are strictly determined by the salary scale based on the position grade and the staff member’s level of education. A security and/or isolation adjustment, depending on the duty station, is then applied in recognition of the fact that some staff members work in environments where living and working conditions are significantly more challenging than elsewhere.
  • Accommodation in a guest house.
  • Membership in a Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
  • Airfare every 6 months and visa fees covered (internal travel expenses and business expenses are fully covered).
  • R&R leave after 2 to 3 months (airfare up to USD 500 + subsistence allowance of USD 200), if the duty station permits.
  • Contribution to baggage transport: between 20 and 100 kg depending on the duration of the contract (+ baggage and personal belongings insurance).
  • 36 days of annual leave per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave where 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 of on-site safety training.
  • IMPACT prioritizes the psychological well-being of its staff. The health insurance offered covers up to €1,000 per year for psychosocial support costs.

How to apply

Please apply directly on the website via the following link: Research Manager for Burkina Faso, based in Ouagadougou (Link For External Applicants)