Organization
IMPACT Initiatives / Acted
Join REACHโs efforts to investigate durable solution concerns in Ukraine!
REACH is currently looking for a Senior Assessment Officer (SAO) to join its Durable Solutions Unit.
CONTEXT
Following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, military hostilities have caused widespread damage to infrastructure and houses, hundreds of civilian deaths, disrupted markets and essential services, and precipitated massive displacement within Ukraine and into neighbouring countries. Present in Ukraine since 2014, IMPACT is working across the country to provide humanitarian and early recovery/development actors with rigorous data and in-depth analysis to ensure aid interventions are timely, appropriate, and relevant.
The Collective Site Monitoring and CCCM thematic assessments are funded by UNHCR to provide critical Information Management (IM) services to the CCCM cluster, to fill information gaps and provide partners with data required for planning and programming of an effective response. To this end, the unit is conducting a continuous mapping of collective sites in Ukraine, the monthly Collective Site Monitoring (CSM) survey and as well as in-depth Durable Solutions Assessments in the collective sites. The CSM survey aims to provide the CCCM and other relevant partners with regularly updated information on the number, needs and intentions of displaced households living in collective sites across Ukraine. The CCCM thematic assessments aim to provide a holistic understanding on the progress and barriers for access to durable solutions for people living in the collective sites.
FUNCTIONS
IMPACT is seeking an experienced candidate, who should be comfortable representing IMPACT with a range of senior external partners. The Senior Assessment Officer will be responsible for overseeing all research cycles of the CSM and CCCM thematic assessments, under the supervision of the Durable Solutions Unit Research Manager.
The overall goal of the Senior Assessment Officer will be to ensure the smooth running of activities, and he/she will be responsible for the implementation and completion of the various work streams within the unit. This will include operational and programmatic oversight, management of assessments, including line-management of the 2 โ 3 Assessment Officers who lead the CSM, and CCCM thematic workstreams, and 2-3 Data Officers.
- ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION
1.1. Management of assessment processes
The Senior Assessment Officer (SAO) is responsible for designing the methodology and tools associated with each assessment, according to IMPACT requirements and principles. He/she will manage the planning, implementation, and follow-up of all IMPACT and project specific assessment activities conducted under the work stream of their responsibility.
1.2. Implementation
The SAO is responsible for contributing to the implementation of assessment projects, and providing support to the development of assessment, database and GIS tools with the IMPACT team. This will specifically include, designing of data collection tools; development or review of databases; contributing to GIS data collection procedures; and analysis of information to contribute to reports. The SAO is also responsible for investigating information gaps across Ukraine, and will coordinate and conduct assessments in Ukraine according to identified needs.
1.3. Coordination
The SAO is responsible to support the Research Manager for the timely and accurate preparation of narrative and financial reports related to IMPACT activities in country through close liaison with the Project Development and Finance departments.
1.4. Reporting
The SAO is responsible for consolidating analysis and conclusions from each assessment into IMPACT products such as factsheets, reports and briefs using standard formats.
He/she will liaise with Geneva HQ and with Ukraine GIS/Data Specialists in order to represent data in static map formats, as relevant. The SAO is responsible for following the designated timeline of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors. He/she must ensure writing of timely assessment reports and factsheets, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality of collected information.
He/she will ensure that assessment reports contribute to aid coordination and planning and add to the general base of field knowledge in Ukraine for all organisations working in the region. The SAO will also store, organise and disseminate assessments, project documents and best practices among partners and potential partners. He/she will coordinate timely and accurate reporting to IMPACT.
2. STAFF MANAGEMENT
The SAO is responsible for day-to-day management of project staff both directly and remotely. This could include up to six hired staff across Ukraine. He/she is expected to guide and direct IMPACT staff and prepare and follow up work plans with each staff member that directly reports to him/her. Weekly bilateral check-ins should be conducted with all managed staff.
The SAO will ensure that all field teams are comprehensively briefed on the objective, expected outputs and that the overall implementation strategy of any given activity is clearly understood. He/she will ensure that project/field staff are given training and complete all the necessary documentation in line with program requirements set by IMPACT. He/she will also be responsible for capacity building and staff development of Field Officers, Junior Assessment Officers, and Assessment Officers.
3. EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
The SAO is responsible for the representation of IMPACT in cluster and multi-sector meetings/technical working groups, and is expected to follow up on technical issues identified in cluster meetings. This specifically will include liaising with external partners to identify potential for data sets to be integrated into existing databases and mapped to support the coordination of the broader humanitarian and early recovery/development community. More generally, the SAO is expected to contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of IMPACTโs mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors.
4. ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMUNITIES AND BENEFICIARIES
The SAO is responsible for ensuring that all interactions with Ukrainian communities are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about IMPACT programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every IMPACT staff member.
Qualifications
Education:
- Excellent academic qualifications, including a Masterโs degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Economics, Development Studies, or similar);
Technical requirements:
- Previous experience of team management, ideally in an INGO at field level;
- Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community;
- Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings;
- At least 3 years of relevant working experience;
- Excellent research and analytical skills. Experience in assessments, M&E, field research, or evaluations;
- Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset;
- Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment;
- A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently;
- Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
- Fluency in English is required;
Additional capacities:
- Good organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to think creatively in terms of process development and optimization.
- Flexibility and adaptability to ever-changing needs and responsibilities.
- Ability to work independently.
- Attention to detail.
- Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.