Senior Evaluation Officer for Mali, based in Bamako At IMPACT Initiatives

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IMPACT ET 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 approximately 30 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 looking for a Senior Assessment Officer to support our team in Bamako, Mali.

Title: Senior Assessment Officer

Contract duration : 9 months

Start date : 15.10.2025

Work location : Bamako, Mali

COUNTRY PROFILE

Mali is facing a protracted humanitarian crisis, fueled by escalating armed violence, mass population displacement, and the recurring impact of climate shocks. According to the November 2024 Harmonized Framework analysis, approximately 2.4 million people (nearly 11% of the total population) were acutely food insecure (phases 3 and 4) between October and December 2024. For the 2025 lean season (June-August), the CH projects that more than 3.3 million people could find themselves acutely food insecure (phases 3+), or approximately 15% of the national population.

Regional disparities are particularly pronounced in the center and north of the country—particularly in the regions of Mopti, Gao, Timbuktu, and Ménaka—where insecurity, forced displacement, and limited access to arable fields and pastures exacerbate vulnerabilities. In several districts, households are facing livelihood losses, fodder deficits, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access. The CH also indicates that a significant proportion of the populations projected to experience acute food insecurity during the lean season live in areas that are difficult to access due to insecurity and mobility constraints.

Beyond the overall data, this situation reveals a major structural challenge: the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the most affected areas remains limited, while needs persist in multiple sectors, particularly in food, nutrition, health, water, hygiene, sanitation and protection.

JOB PROFILE

The Senior Evaluation Officer (SAO) will lead a small research team and act as the focal point for the Malian chapter of a regional study funded by the FHRAOC and covering four countries. The SAO will report directly to the Research Manager based in Bamako and will receive thematic supervision from the Associate Research Manager dedicated to the FHRAOC, based in Niamey, Niger. This position requires both an analytical and managerial profile, with responsibilities ranging from coordination with external partners (INGOs and FHRAOC-funded NNGOs) to analytical oversight of research products, as well as contribution to logistics, reporting, and financial planning.

The position requires strong research and analytical skills, proven experience in difficult environments,

Creativity, autonomy, and the ability to work closely with partners in a collaborative environment. Candidates should demonstrate excellent writing and presentation skills, and be able to clearly interpret and communicate the implications of research findings. The SAO will regularly engage with data: identifying key insights, writing impactful briefs and fact sheets, presenting findings to external audiences with varying levels of data literacy, and supporting colleagues to strengthen the analytical approach in their own research.

RESEARCH CONTEXT
Although the responsibilities of the Senior Assessment Officer (SAO) may evolve as IMPACT’s research footprint in Mali expands, the initial focus will be on the 12-month FHRAOC-funded research project, scheduled to start in October 2025. This project covers Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad.

The overall objective of the project is to assess the contribution of FHRAOC-funded interventions to affected populations. More specifically, the research will focus on (i) the evolution of multi-sectoral and sectoral needs, and (ii) the needs, priorities and expectations of affected populations regarding Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).

The project is structured around three research components:

A baseline and closing assessment of evolving needs;

A mixed-methods RPA evaluation;

A synthesis of lessons learned from partners, community leaders and beneficiaries.

The study will take place between 2025 and 2026 in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, and the results will be aggregated to provide a central Sahel-wide analysis.

RESPONSABILITES

The Senior Evaluation Officer is responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation and monitoring of the research cycles to which he/she is assigned, in close coordination with other team members and with relevant external partners. In doing so, the Senior Evaluation Officer will ensure effective management of projects and related resources, including (where applicable) national and international evaluation staff responsible for line management.

More specifically, the Senior Assessment Officer is responsible for the following tasks:

Research planning and implementation

  • Ensure the quality and smooth running of the entire FHROAC research cycle and support links with other existing projects.
  • Analysis of the context and identification of existing information gaps;
  • Ensure that the research cycle is implemented according to REACH standards;
  • Technical proposals on the choices and practices of research methodologies and their implementation (creation of questionnaires, participation in the creation of collection monitoring tools, etc.);
  • Production of FHRAOC products (Terms of Reference, final products).
  • Ensure coordination of the FHRAOC project, with all the Data, GIS, Operations, Security teams as well as the Country Coordinator.
  • Monitor all data collection, including supporting the data team in cleaning certain data.
  • Work closely with FHRAOC funded partners and liaise with them on harmonization of tools, data collection from beneficiaries.

Participate in the identification of logistical, HR and financial needs

  • Frequent participation in IMPACT internal meetings;
  • Identification of HR, logistical and financial needs for the FHRAOC project;
  • Monitoring of deliverables and the schedule of colleagues under his responsibility.

External engagement and capacity building

  • Ensure regular engagement with humanitarian coordination structures as well as capacity building
  • Provide training to external partners (technicians, government, NGOs, etc.) when necessary (e.g. on FHRAOC data);
  • Participation in meetings of the different clusters and identification of potential needs of the clusters, as well as project opportunities;
  • Representation of REACH with external partners: local and international NGOs, government actors;
  • Presentations of IMPACT project results at relevant workshops.

Team management, capacity building and country strategy

  • Ensure the research strategy of IMPACT projects and the hierarchical management of an evaluation officer and a field officer:
  • Ensure the distribution of tasks within the team of evaluation managers;
  • Develop skills, implement capacity building methods for all evaluation, GIS and data officers in research;
  • Preparation of training materials;
  • Identification of internal and external training potential for the team;
  • Ensure the development and monitoring of the country strategy for the research team.

REQUIREMENTS

  • 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).
  • Management Experience: Previous experience in a management role in an INGO field setting. Proven experience in managing international and national teams in humanitarian settings.
  • Security Environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment or previous experience in high security challenge contexts an asset;
  • Familiarity with the help system Familiarity with the help system and with search methods;
  • Communication and Report Writing Skills Excellent communication and effective report writing skills, including proven experience in contributing to high-level presentations/briefings.
  • Years of professional experience At least 3 years of relevant professional experience or proven progression within IMPACT.
  • Research Skills : Excellent research and analytical skills are an asset. Experience in evaluations. Monitoring and evaluation, field research and assessments are an asset.
  • Software Skills Proven knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Advanced skills in R or other statistical analysis software are an advantage. Experience with InDesign, Tableau, or Power BI is a strong asset;
  • Diverse Task Management Skills Ability to multi-task under tight deadlines, across multiple research cycles in a complex environment;
  • Level of Independence A self-reliant individual with a proven ability to work independently;
  • Intercultural work environment Ability to function in an intercultural environment requiring flexibility;
  • Language skills Fluency in French required; knowledge of English would be an asset.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • For this position, the salary ranges from CHF 2,640 to CHF 2,880 per month (before income tax), plus a monthly subsistence allowance of USD 300. NB – Salaries at IMPACT are strictly determined by the salary scale based on the position grade and the staff’s education level. A security and/or isolation adjustment, depending on the location of assignment, is then applied in recognition of the fact that some staff members work in contexts where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
  • Accommodation in a guest house.
  • Affiliation to 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 costs covered (internal travel costs and business expenses are fully covered).
  • R&R leave after 2-3 months (airfare up to USD 500 + USD 200 subsistence allowance), if the duty station allows.
  • 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. 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 a 4-day on-site safety training.
  • IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff. The health insurance offered covers up to €1,000 per year in psychosocial support costs.

How to apply

Please apply directly on the website: Senior Research Officer for Mali, based in Bamako (Link For External Applicants Only) | Impact