Reach Assessment Officer

BACKground on impact and reach REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’spurpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, supporting and working within the framework of the humanitarian reform process. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise. IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis, GIS and remote-sensing.  IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, which allows particularly IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention. ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Their interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context. Their 3,300 staff is committed in to responding to emergencies worldwide, to supporting recovery and rehabilitation, towards sustainable development. Country profile REACH was first deployed in Lebanon in May 2013 to facilitate the assessment of the needs and vulnerabilities of displaced Syrians in host communities and informal settlements. REACH teams have conducted a range of data collection and analysis exercises to facilitate evidence-based humanitarian planning. Strategic level interventions include a country-wide community level vulnerability assessment, and data collection and analysis for the inter-agency multi sector needs assessment. Sector level projects include country-wide assessments of Food Security and Livelihoods, and analysis of the situation of out-of-school children. Operational support to coordination was provided through the establishment of an Information Management Hub in Akkar, which facilitated primary and secondary data collection, thematic analysis, mapping, and the development of inter-agency information management products and tools.   position profile   Functions Under the supervision of the REACH Country Coordinator and HQ in Geneva, the REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for the management and implementation of all REACH assessments in country, including theirs preparation, implementation and follow-up. He/she will also be responsible for related logistics, partner coordination, reporting and finance requirements and will be required to provide input to the strategic development of REACH in country and region, if relevant.   Summary The REACH Assessment Officer shall be responsible for: In coordination with the REACH Country Coordinator, design and implement the REACH assessment strategy; Management of REACH assessment field staff to ensure a smooth and timely implementation of activities; Ensuring that assessment strategies are implemented in a structured and coherent manner in line with project and strategic objectives; Coordinate and ensure timely data collection, analysis and, in partnership with GIS/DB team, mapping of datasets, ensure that all collected data are geo-referenced; Works closely with GIS/SB team in country. Ensure the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets; Keep track of all projects and programmes assessment schedules and work with field staff to design and implement REACH assessment procedures; Supporting the development/revision of assessment / programme strategies, reports or new proposals; Liaising with programme staff of ACTED departments to ensure close coordination and information sharing is maintained; In coordination with REACH Country Coordinator external representation of REACH with Donors, Partners and the wider Aid Community through clusters and sectoral working groups; Coordinate timely and accurate reporting to the REACH Country Coordinator.   1. REACH Assessment Management and Coordination   ·         Objective 2.1: Management of assessments process The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for designing the methodology and tools associated with each assessment, according to REACH requirements and principles. He/she will manage the planning, implementation, and follow-up of all REACH and projects specific assessment activities conducted in country. In operations in which REACH is a project component of a wider ACTED intervention, the REACH Assessment Officer is required to contribute to the preparation and follow up of the Project Management Framework and ensure that activities are properly coordinated and implemented as per the Project Cycle Management. The REACH Assessment Officer shall manage logistics, financial, administration and HR processes directly related to REACH and liaise accordingly with the relevant ACTED counterpart. He/she is directly responsible for the implementation of proper ACTED FLAT procedures in all REACH interventions.   ·         Objective 2.2: Implementation The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for contributing to the implementation of assessment projects, providing support to the development of assessment, database and GIS tools with the REACH team. This will specifically include, with the GIS/DB team, designing of data collection tools (household surveys, focus groups, and more); development or review of databases; contributing to GIS data collection procedures and mapping thereof through ARC GIS and other ESRI products in particular; and analysis of spatial and other information to contribute to reports and the like.   ·         Objective 2.3: Coordination The REACH Assessment Officer shall provide technical support to the relevant ACTED department in terms of the preparation of new project proposals, development of programme strategies, implementation of project activities, and any other required REACH input to ACTED projects for added-value.   The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for the timely and accurate preparation of narrative and financial reports related to REACH activities in country through close liaison with the Project Development and Finance departments. The REACH Assessment Officer shall liaise with other REACH Officers in the region and throughout IMPACT Initiatives’ and ACTED’s networks to provide and receive support in the expansion of REACH globally.   2. REACH Reporting The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for consolidating all analyses and conclusions from each assessment into REACH products such as factsheets, reports and briefs using standard formats. He/she will liaise with Geneva and Regional GIS/DB Specialists in order to represent data in interactive web map or static map format, as relevant. The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for following the designated timeline of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors. He/she must ensure the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality and protection 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 the country for all organisations working in the areas. He/she will also manage the drafting of narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow-up. The REACH Assessment Officer will also store, organize and disseminate assessments, project documents and best practices among ACTED and IPs.   3. REACH HR Management Staff Management The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for day-to-day management of project and field staff both directly and remotely. He/she is expected to guide and direct REACH staff and prepare and follow up workplans with each staff member that directly reports to him/her. The REACH Assessment Officer will be required to take the lead in the recruitment of REACH assessment staff in coordination with the ACTED HR Officer. This will include the preparation of ToRs, observation of recruitment procedures by planning recruitment needs in advance, and undertake interviews. The REACH Assessment Officer 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 REACH.     4. Representation   Representation of REACH in working groups in country and follow up on technical issues identified in cluster meetings in other parts of the country. 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 community. The REACH Assessment Officer will further represent REACH vis-a-vis current and potential donors and communicate relevant information to the REACH Country Coordinator. He/she will participate in inter-NGO meetings and those of UN agencies and any other relevant inter-governmental institutions at the national or provincial level.   More generally, the REACH Assessment Officer is expected to contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of REACH’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors.      Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner.  Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about ACTED programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies.  This is the responsibility of every ACTED staff member. REQUIREMEnTS v  Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master degree in relevant discipline; v  Excellent analytical skills; v  At least 1.5 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian settings; v  Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting; v  Excellent team management skills; v  Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility; v  Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements; v  Prior knowledge of the region an asset v  Fluency in English and Arabic required v  Ability to operation Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management Software. v  Ability to operate SPSS or related statistical programming an asset v  Ability to work independently