ACTED Job Vacancy Announcement for

REACH GIS officer in ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

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 Program (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose 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 organization manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO headquartered in Paris and present in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementary formalized in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its field intervention.

We are currently looking for a REACH GIS Officer to support our team in Ethiopia.

Position: REACH GIS Officer

Supervisor:  REACH Research Manager

Contract duration:  6 months

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Starting Date:  Immediately 

 Country profile

Ongoing conflict, crisis-level food insecurity, flooding, drought, locust infestation and COVID-19 are some of the multiple and often overlapping crises that continue to strain the lives and livelihoods of an estimated 12.8 million people across multiple regions in Ethiopia. Nearly 3.95 million people are currently displaced across Ethiopia. Issues of security and humanitarian access are preventing access to basic services, including telecommunications, fuel, electricity and banking services. The poor macroeconomic conditions are driving a high annual inflation rate and depreciation in the Ethiopian Birr (ETB) in the whole country. According to the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSAE), the national inflation rate increased to 24.5 percent in June from 19.7 percent in May. Price spikes together with significant population displacements, lost harvests, depletion of food stocks, and market dysfunctions disrupts significantly the food security and livelihood in the country, as well as threatening to sharply escalate humanitarian need for vulnerable populations.

 In 2021 and beyond, REACH is looking to expand information support to the humanitarian response in several key areas, including: 1) a Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI) to develop an evidence base for the wider use of Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA), 2) a Supply Chain Assessment to map supply chains and assess barriers and market integration throughout Ethiopia, 3) a Humanitarian Situation Monitoring to improve the understanding of hard-to-reach areas, and 4) a thematic monitoring activity focused on food security and nutrition conditions.

 position profile

Under the direct supervision of REACH Research Manager and with technical input from the national or regional GIS/Data Specialist, the GIS Officer will be responsible for the processes and outputs related to REACH GIS, products and data, across multiple REACH Research Cycles in Ethiopia.

 Functions

The REACH GIS Officer will fulfil the following functions:

Contribution of GIS technical support to the entire research cycle

• Identification of available data to inform secondary data review in coordination with the assessment team, with an aim of actively proposing spatial analysis and/or remote sensing activities that can provide additional information to enrich the assessments;
• Ensure GIS requirements of research cycle/assessment are met and all required geo-referenced data will be collected to allow accurate analysis and visualization of findings
• Develop sampling frames through geo-spatial analysis of assessment areas and subsequently develop statistically representative samples. Related support to operations teams in developing maps and reference guides for daily assessment plans and field movement plans
• In close collaboration with field and data teams, support data collection daily checks including spatial verification and validation with two-way feedback between internal departments
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as accurate linkages between spatial databases and assessment data.

Development of GIS Analytical Products (including static maps and web-products)   

• Contribute to a deeper understanding of survey findings and identify the best visualization technique for selected indicators, including choropleth maps, network or cluster analysis, dot maps, etc.;
• Create static maps for use in published outputs - nationwide supply routes map, monthly fact sheets, reports, profiles etc.;
• Establish one project’s interactive online dashboard and ensure monthly update;
• Ensure that the GIS products meet the requirements of IMPACT and concerned partners;
• Maintain regular communication with IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for GIS products;
• Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate GIS products, which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines;
• Ensure that all GIS products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release;
• Liaise with IMPACT HQ on the procurement of UNOSAT services and satellite imagery as needed.

Product dissemination and evaluation

• Support IMPACT Research Manager in the dissemination of GIS products in line with IMPACT Guidelines and Research ToRs;
• Maintain the strictest confidentiality of data and related processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of information and data;
• Under supervision of IMPACT HQ, ensure that GIS products are uploaded in relevant data portals, as specified in Research ToRs;
• Under the supervision of the IMPACT Research Manager and in coordination with assessment specialist(s), ensure that lessons learned are gathered and documented at the end of each research cycle.

External relations

• Under the supervision of IMPACT’s Research Manager, contribute to consultations with relevant partners for the preparation and dissemination of GIS products;
• At the discretion of the IMPACT Research Manager, the GIS Officer may be tasked with attending relevant technical fora in country (e.g. IM/GIS working groups).

Others

• Other tasks as requested by supervisors.

 Accountability To Communities And Beneficiaries

The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities REACH and partners work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about REACH program objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every REACH staff member.

Job Requirements

• Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master degree in GIS, Information Systems, Geography, or relevant discipline;
• Proven experience with industry standard mapping tools, mapping and analytics software, especially ESRI products;
• Experience in data processing and/or analysis (using either python or R preferably);
• Excellent team working skills
• Good organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Advanced excel skills
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility
• Fluency in English required
• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting
• Ability to think creatively and use initiative to develop new tools and processes

 DESIRABLE

An interest in web-visualization tools (such as d3.js, Javascript, HTML, etc)

How to Apply

Application Procedure:

Qualified national persons with the required skills are invited to submit their applications accompanied by detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter as a single document i.e. with the cover letter being on the first page and the CV starting on the second page, detailing three work related referees and contacts to ethiopia.jobs@acted.org and received on or before 5.00PM on 27^TH October 2021 with the subject line “REACH GIS Officer_Addis Ababa”

Please do not attach any other documents while sending your applications, if required they will be requested at a later stage. Please note that ACTED reserves the right to shortlist on ongoing basis. Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. ACTED will at no stage of recruitment process request candidate to make payments of any kind. Further, ACTED has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. ACTED is committed to protecting beneficiaries within our programs from exploitation and abuse and any kind of misconduct. ACTED has specific policies, including PSEA and Child Protection, which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, beneficiaries, consultants and other stakeholders and has zero tolerance towards misconducts. Any candidate offered a job with ACTED will be expected to sign ACTED’s organizational Policies and Code of Conduct as an annex to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

ACTED is an Equal Opportunity Employer.