Background On Impact And Reach

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IMPACT Initiatives is a Geneva-based humanitarian NGO, aimed to improve the impact of humanitarian, stabilization, and development action through data, partnerships and capacity building programmes. With over 400 staff members, including assessment, data analysis, GIS experts, and field professionals, IMPACT teams are present in over 20 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. IMPACT is a sister organisation of ACTED, an NGO with headquarters in Paris. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

The work of IMPACT is done through collaborative initiatives, to ensure research and analysis is actionable and context relevant. The main initiative of IMPACT is the REACH Initiative.  

REACH was founded in 2010 as a joint initiative of IMPACT and ACTED, in partnership with the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to develop and promote information that enhances the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction, and development contexts. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.

We are currently looking for an Associate Research Assistant Manager to lead our Intersectoral Research Team in Ethiopia.

Department: REACH

Contract duration: 6 months

Starting Date: 01/07/2024

Location: Addis Abeba, or other locations in Ethiopia

Country Profile

Since 2018, Ethiopia has witnessed an escalation in unrest including large-scale displacement, killings, and destruction of property following domestic political changes. Such unrest has exacerbated the impact of climate-related crises, including the most devastating desert locust infestation in 25 years, which has damaged crops and fostered food insecurity. In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic infiltrated Ethiopia leading to lockdowns and transport bans in many regions that restricted access to markets. Then in November 2020, conflict erupted in the northern Tigray region, displacing many Ethiopians, and contributing to an approximate 1.1 million additional people needing assistance in Amhara, Afar and Tigray regions. In August 2023, conflict in Amhara resulted in a state of emergency declaration and restricted movement for citizens across the region. All of these events have severely disrupted livelihoods, affected the availability of staple market commodities, and threatened to sharply escalate humanitarian need for vulnerable populations across the country.

Function

The Associate Research Manager (ARM) represents a key position in the oversight of IMPACT research activities and staff management. Leading a research team, within a wider unit and/or country set-up, the ARM is accountable for the strategic development and timely implementation of the team’s assessment cycles, in line with global IMPACT standards and the country/unit strategy. 

In addition to research oversight, the ARM is responsible for the professional development for members of their team as well as stakeholder management, ensuring IMPACT activities are both informed by and inform humanitarian response priorities. In support of a Research Manager and/or Country Coordination, the ARM will oversee and implement the relevant program portfolio, as well as support logistics, reporting, fundraising, and financial planning tasks as required. Finally, the ARM holds an internal and external representation function, upholding IMPACT’s mission, objectives, and values. 

In her/his mission, the ARM will support the implementation of the humanitarian situation monitoring (HSM) and the Multisectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA) in Ethiopia. The HSM is a research approach and humanitarian information system designed to provide timely and regularly updated information on humanitarian needs and conditions in crisis-affected areas, with the aim of informing emergency humanitarian planning. conditions in crisis-affected areas. The MSNA is a high profile multisectoral household survey implemented in multiple zones with a view to inform the Humanitarian Needs Overview. This project will require in-depth external engagement stakeholders and internal coordination with all units operating within the Ethiopia team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Staff Managment

• Provide clear strategic direction to the Team staff, in line with the Unit- or Country Strategy Plan.

• Manage dedicated team staff, including recruitment, appraisals, and career progression.

• Oversee daily team operations, crafting work plans, performance metrics, and enhancing capabilities.

• Maintain regular communication with staff, fostering a cohesive, productive environment.

2. Managment Of Research Cycles

• Assessment preparation and planning: 

• Ensure assessments are aligned with project objectives and global guidelines;

• Facilitate a shared team understanding of timelines and expected deliverables, including a prior secondary data review; 

• Review and secure HQ validation for assessment ToRs;

• Oversee the team’s coordination with GIS and Data officers, for the design of relevant data collection tools;

• Ensure relevant partners are consulted and involved at all stages of research cycle.

Data collection 

• Coordinate with Field Teams for identification and training of enumerators for primary data collection.

• Provide regular updates on data collection to key ACTED, IMPACT, and external stakeholders and address challenges as they arise.

• In coordination with Country Coordination / Research Manager, collaborate with the FLATS team for logistical, financial, administrative, and HR processes, 

• In coordination with ACTED security as well as Country Coordination / Research Manager; monitor the security situation on the ground and conduct regular check-ins with staff in the field.  

Product development

• Ensure regular communication with IMPACT HQ on timelines for project outputs;

• Oversee and implement the development of assessment outputs, ensuring they comply with IMPACT's guidelines and quality standards. 

• Review all assessment products before they are sent to IMPACT HQ for validation and ensure that all written products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release. 

Product dissemination and evaluation

• Upload research products to the appropriate data portals under IMPACT HQ guidance.

• Document lessons learned after each research cycle.

• Disseminate research outputs via various channels – articles, social media, emails, presentations, meetings – in alignment with IMPACT guidelines and Research ToRs. 

• Support the monitoring and evaluation of outputs/impact, as per Research ToRs and IMPACT guidelines.

3. External Engagement

• Represent REACH/IMPACT in meetings and technical groups; including with donor focal points. 

• Coordinate and document the team’s external communication & engagement strategy. 

• Ensure partners are involved at all stages of research cycle, including lessons learnt. 

4. Cross-Cutting Functions

• Ensure appropriate information management within the team, according IMPACT standards;

• Help foster collaboration across units and teams, to enhance efficiency and avoid redundancy; 

• Support Country Coordination and/or Research Manager in developing new research proposals that (i) respond to information needs and (ii) leverage existing and potential team capacities;

• Strengthen monitoring and evaluation processes throughout the team’s research cycle 

5.   Accountability To Communities And Beneficiaries 

• The ARM must ensure all interactions with communities and respondents are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. It is imperative to keep communities and respondents informed about IMPACT's objectives, activities, beneficiary criteria, and methodologies. Every IMPACT staff member shares this responsibility.

6. Confidentiality And Data Protection 

• The ARM will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

 Job Requirements

Qualification:

• Years of work experience: At least 3-5 years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian setting, such as programme management, evaluation and assessments; 

• Research skills: Excellent quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, and data analysis experience required; 

• Familiarity with aid system: Good understanding of the aid system and the research community. Prior experience with humanitarian coordination forums preferred; 

• Management experience: Demonstrated staff management skills is desirable, including remote management; 

• Thematic experience: Prior experience with large scale surveys and remote data collection methods is desirable; 

• Experience in geographical region: Knowledge of humanitarian priorities in Ethiopia, including in northern regions is desirable ; 

• Communication/reporting skills: Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting and reviewing;

• Cross-cultural work environment: Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility and work independently; 

• Academic qualifications: Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree in a relevant discipline; 

• Software skills: 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 

• Security environment: Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment. 

• Language skills: Fluency in English required, competency in Ethiopian languages is an asset.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply online using THIS LINK