Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action โ helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. The Program / Department / Team Mercy Corpsโ Crisis Analysis teams aggregate and analyze data to improve decision making and access in complex crises. The teams support our programming in Syria, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo and other locations. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision making by layering information from primary sources, open sources and respondersโ programmatic data, where it is analyzed by subject matter experts and data scientists. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corpsโ status as an operational NGO, keeping products constructive and relevant. Typical products and services range from informal briefings to weekly products, contributions to risk assessments, in-depth assessment of the political economy of a defined geography, deep-dives on specific thematics, etc., ranging in themes from conflict to market systems to governance, in line with programmatic needs. In response to the complex humanitarian situation in Ukraine as well as the regional implications of this crisis, Mercy Corps established a Ukraine Crisis Analysis team (UACAT). In 2024, UACAT will expand its reach as a broker for operationally relevant analyses. The role of UACAT is one of guiding and influencing 1) decisionmakers at policy and advocacy levels, and 2) those within the development, peacebuilding, and humanitarian sectors who are implementing programs on the ground.The team will provide insight into the national and regional economic and social impacts of the war, as well as the impact on humanitarian operations in contexts that are particularly vulnerable to the economic effects of the war. The Position The Senior Analyst is a member of Mercy Corpsโ Ukraine Crisis Analysis Team reporting directly to the UACAT Manager. The Senior Analyst is responsible for developing and delivering cross-cutting thematic analysis and timely strategic humanitarian and crisis data relevant to the programmatic activities in high and extreme risk areas. The Senior Analyst will have principal responsibility for the drafting of regular, periodic thematic analytical products that improve Mercy Corps operationsโ and programmesโ understanding of this highly complex and dynamic context and inform the broader international aid sector on wartime trends, sudden shifts and future shocks in the context that require adaptive measures. The intent of these products will be primarily set by the Manager, but the Senior Analyst will be required to produce relevant, high quality content that meets the needs of audiences, iterating and improving products based on audience feedback and changing requirements. The Senior Analyst works with the Manager to contribute to briefings to stakeholders and is therefore able to present professionally and distill the ongoing analytical outputs for easy consumption. The Senior Analyst is expected to bring and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of the dynamics of the Ukrainian context, as well as the broader regional dynamics. The Senior Analyst will bring a strong network of contacts and continue to grow this network to strengthen UACATโs analysis output. The Senior Analyst will leverage their understanding of the humanitarian and development sector, and their ability to meaningfully engage with the Mercy Corps programme teams and external stakeholders from the international aid sector to identify trends and issues for the team to monitor and explore. These outputs will improve the ability of Mercy Corps and the wider humanitarian community to operate with impact. The Senior Analyst will have an excellent understanding of the information and analysis space in Ukraine and the region and existing providers including governments, international organizations, aid actors, think tanks, media, universities etc. The Senior Analysis will use this understanding to ensure the competitiveness of UACATโs products and support the Manager in forging collaborations and partnerships to produce joint analytical outputs. The Senior Analyst will adopt a flexible approach and a willingness to use non-traditional tools and diverse information sources in order to generate insights within a dynamic environment. Essential Responsibilities Analysis
- Lead the drafting of periodic and ad-hoc cross-cutting thematic analytical products that meet the current and future information needs of identified audiences.
- Develop bespoke products as directed.
- Inform programmatic and operational decision-making through the production of insightful and concise analysis products.
- Identify new areas of focus based on the understanding of audience needs.
- Design research agendas and analysis methodologies for new products.
- Collaborate throughout the analytical process with all colleagues in the team.
- Provide internal and external briefings to high-level stakeholders, as directed.
- Develop and maintain an awareness of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law and Mercy Corpsโ culture and values.