Reach GIS Specialist at ACTED

Background on IMPACT and REACH

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two INGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (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.

Department: REACH

Contract duration: 9 months

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Starting Date: April 2018

Country profile

REACH has been operational in Somalia since 2012, providing information management support to humanitarian actors in a complex environment through assessment capacity, GIS services and support to Cluster IM practices. Projects have included tri-cluster assessments in support of the WASH, Shelter and Education Clusters, support to Food Security response analysis, and development of a Shelter Cluster M&E Framework.

Throughout 2017 REACH Somalia expanded information support to the humanitarian response in several key areas, including IDP settlement profiling, multi-cluster needs assessment and improved remote data collection. Moving forward, key strategic aims are to increase geographic and sectoral coverage and to enhance advocacy capacity through strengthened data collection and information targeting.
Position profile

Under the supervision of the REACH Country Coordinator, the REACH GIS Specialist is responsible for the management, implementation and support of REACH assessments and operational framework of the GIS Unit and provide GPS technical support to partner Agencies.

The REACH GIS Specialist shall be responsible for:

• GIS Activities
  • Preparation, conception and production of maps
  • Identify map information needs;
  • Identify and access map information sources;
  • Ensure accurate linkages between spatial databases and assessment data,
  • Ensures that the produced maps meet the requirements of REACH and concerned partners.
• Supervision and monitoring of mapping related data collection
  • Conceptualize methodologies for collecting data in the field, as according to need;
  • Organize and supervise GIS field missions;
  • Monitor accuracy of data collected.
  • Cross check data collected in the field, ensure regular updates and solve eventual discrepancies;
  • Acts as focal point for acquisition for satellite imagery (from IMPACT HQ and UNOSAT)
• Project development support
  • Co-developing GIS components in proposals and supervising the implementation of these GIS components in approved projects;
  • Contribute to the strategic and programmatic development of the country team
• GIS Staff Management
  • Supervising the activities of subordinate GIS/DB staff, including GIS officers, assistants and interns;
  • Development of capacity building and training plans for subordinate staff
  • Conducting appraisals and HR activities for GIS/DB staff
  • Integrating workplans of the GIS/DB team with the overall mission workplans; ensuring follow up for completion of tasks by the whole GIS/DB team
• GIS capacity training
  • Develop training packages for the training of external GIS users (such as Government, UN and NGO staff) on ARC and QGIS
  • Develop internal training for assessment, and where relevant ACTED staff on data management, GIS and mapping
• Database/Data Management Activities
  • The REACH GIS Specialist will manage the maintenance of database(s) for the consolidation of all assessment-related and GIS data in country.
  • He/she will ensure the capitalization of tools and procedures related to mapping and databases. Furthermore, he/she will support the assessment team in the collection and management of spatial datasets, verification and update of the collected data.
  • He/she will monitor the accuracy of collected data.
    Technical Support
• The REACH GIS Specialist will contribute towards the identification and implementation of effective and adapted technical solutions and partnerships. The REACH GIS Specialist will provide technical backstopping of database to GIS/DB team and provide capacity-building to GIS/DB team related to database maintenance and advanced GIS techniques. He/she will also support the collection of spatial datasets and integration with REACH activities.
• External Relations
  • The REACH GIS Specialist will respond to information requests from REACH and its partners. In order to support the development of joint database tools and processes with REACH partners in country, the REACH GIS Specialist will maintain regular interactions and reporting with key IM partners including cluster lead agencies, UN agencies, NGOs and technical partners. He/she will respond to information requests from REACH partners in country related to MIS data and mapping as well as solicit information from partner organizations to be incorporated into database. Furthermore, he/she will liaise with these partners to ensure the data is shared with REACH MIS team when required.
• Internal Communication Processes
  • The REACH GIS/DB will liaise with IMPACT in Geneva to guarantee a quality product that suits the needs of the field office. He/she will respond to information requests from IMPACT Initiatives and keep Geneva informed of the MIS activities in the field.
• Confidentiality and Data Protection

Requirements

• Masters or Bachelor’s degree in GIS or other related fields will be an added advantage
• Excellent analytical skills of qualitative, quantitative and geo-spatial data
• Experience using ODK for quantitative data collection, or the ability to rapidly master the process
• 5 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian settings a benefit;
• Experience working in the Humanitarian sector; Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;
• Prior experience working in IDP displacement locations
• Excellent communication and time management skills
• Excellent team management skills;
• Flexibility and willingness to travel;
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility
  Fluency in English; professional working fluency in Somali beneficial
• Prior experience of mobile data collection tools
• Ability to work independently.