Vacancies at IMPACT Initiatives

RESPONSIBILITIES

RESEARCH PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Support the Senior Management team in identifying and materializing opportunities, in line with strategic directions of the mission;
• Ensure a streamlined, coordinated approach across all relevant research cycles to research design, methodology and tool development, data collection and analysis, and product drafting;
• Support in accurately estimating research cycle timelines and resources needed for research cycle implementation;
• Support Assessment teams in designing and implementing research cycle methodologies, tools, ToRs, data collection and analysis, product drafting;
• Ensure that research design, data collection and analysis and product drafting for all relevant research cycles comply to IMPACT’s requirements, guidelines and strategic direction;
• Monitor implementation of research cycles, identifying any major risks or issues, support team to resolve these challenges in line with IMPACT research standards and in close coordination with IMPACT HQ as relevant.
  • Ensure that the applied methodology, analysis and products maximize the impact of the research cycles in line with the intended objectives;
• Support the identification, trainings and follow up of enumerators resources for primary data collection;
• Review of information products to ensure accuracy;
• Liaise with relevant assessment, GIS and data colleagues to ensure that their joint research benefits from a multi-disciplinay approach is effective spatial representation of assessment findings in maps or interactive web-portals, as relevant.

TEAM FUNCTIONAL AND LINE-MANAGEMENT

• Provide technical leadership throughout all IMPACT research cycles and represent IMPACT in relevant working groups in the country in line with organization core value and principles;
• Provide functional oversight to relevant assessment staff, and produce joint skill development- and work plans with the relevant Research Manager(s) who are line-managing the staff in question;
• Where relevant, directly line-manage assessment, data or GIS staff that provide cross-cutting support to the entire mission;
• For staff under his/her functional responsibility, support to line managers by contributing to conduct of appraisals, provision of regular feedback, and participation in career management;
• For staff under direct line management, prepare and follow up work plans; conduct of appraisals, provision of regular feedback, and career management;
• For staff under direct line management, conduct regular team meetings to assess progress in relevant research cycles and to review work plan; ensure that all are comprehensively briefed on their objectives and expected outputs;

INTERNAL KNOWLEDGE SHARING, LEARNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

• Identify capacity gaps, and resolve to bridge these through targeted capacity building, training, performance monitoring, and backstopping where needed;
• Support to the line managers and specialists in the development and implementation of capacity training plans for assessment and field team members;
• Conduct and support regular training to [country/regional] teams, including regular updates on IMPACT guidelines, adapted (to context) training modules, learning on the job; Complement in house training material with external resources, if and as relevant;
• Ensure impact of trainings and progression of staff is monitored;
• Pro-actively provide regular technical support and backstopping to assessment teams;
• Support to Assessment / unit teams to systematically review the efficiency and quality of research cycles and information products;
• Support monitoring and evaluation for relevant Research Cycle, as specified in the research ToRs and in line with IMPACT Guidelines;
• Contribute to generating and documenting robust lessons learned at the end of relevant Research Cycle;
• Ensure knowledge and learning processes are shared across the [mission/region] and with HQ;
• Able and available to engage with Global Units and global learning processes, such as methodology notes, lessons learn, Communities of Practice, etc;
• Continuously seek to improve and innovate IMPACT assessments, information products and processes to identify and meet information gaps in the humanitarian response in order to support in the facilitation of an evidence-based response;
• Work closely with other specialists in the region to develop, implement and monitor a multi-disciplinary training and learning plan for IMPACT teams;
• More generally, contributes to creating a culture of rigour, innovation and learning within IMPACT’s operations.

STRATEGY, PROGRAM AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

• Contribute to country, regional and unit strategies development with relevant technical and thematic contents;
• Ensure that assessment strategies are implemented in a structured and coherent manner in line with project and strategic objectives;
• Support the development/revision of assessment/programme strategies, reports, or new proposals.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• Support the IMPACT Somalia team primarily but also the Kenya team as required in providing stakeholders within the humanitarian coordination system with reliable and accurate technical advice and support;
• Delivers inter-agency, multi-stakeholders knowledge sharing / lessons learned exercise.
• Support country management in representing IMPACT among external actors for technical/thematic discussions, including with stakeholders in the humanitarian coordination system, such as OCHA representatives, clusters, as well as technical working groups and various NGO fora and information management groups;
• Participates, contributes to and delivers inter-agency, multi-stakeholders knowledge sharing / lessons learned exercise;
• Contributes to the dissemination of IMPACT’s products to maximize their impact.
• More generally, contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of IMPACT’’s mandate, ethics, values and stand- point with regard to other actors and by contributing to creating a culture of rigorous use of evidence and learning among humanitarian responders.

INFLUENCING - DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION

The (Senior) Assessment Specialist 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.

REQUIREMENTS

• Academic Excellent academic qualifications, preferably including a Master degree in relevant discipline;
• Research skills Excellent research and analytical skills required, including a sound understanding of sampling frameworks and their application, an ability to analyse large data sets, as well as conduct temporal or spatial trend analysis.
• Software skills Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Advanced skills in R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software are required. Experience with InDesign an asset.
• Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system and with the research community;
• Years of work experience At least 4 years of relevant working experience
• Experience in the FSL sector IPC experience specifically an asset;
• Training skills Ability to conduct trainings and mentor IMPACT teams and partners on assessment skills;
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;
• Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles;
• Level of independence Strong existing ability to work independently in support of colleagues and partners;
• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in East Africa is desirable;
• Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in Somali an asset;
• Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment

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RESPONSIBILITIES

The Deputy Country Coordinator responsibilities include the following:

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

1. Context analysis: Ensure IMPACT has an up-to-date understanding of the aid/humanitarian situation, the impact of a crisis and the aid/humanitarian planning, coordination and response mechanisms, as well as key aid/humanitarian stakeholders in Kenya and Somalia.
2. Support the regional CC in the development of a detailed regional strategy for IMPACT (specifically the strategic objectives related to Kenya and Somalia). Oversee the implementation of this regional strategy and take a lead role in identifying strategic opportunities for strengthening IMPACT’s work in the his/her countries.

FUNDRAISING

1. In close coordination with the Regional Programme Development & Grants Officer, the different Research Managers, IMPACT HQ and in consultation with ACTED country teams, approach donors to identify funding to support IMPACT’s programs (including, as relevant, REACH, PANDA and, with ACTED, AGORA).
2. Oversee project proposal conceptualization (problem statement, logframe, budget/contract design…) within the framework of the country, regional and global strategy, review with ACTED and/or other relevant country partners as relevant, and submit proposal to HQ Grant Management Unit for validation.

PROGRAMME PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

1. Ensure that all IMPACT programs are aligned with IMPACT global and country strategies, are conducted in coordination with and, when relevant, undergo the validation by IMPACT HQ, and are planned in line with relevant project objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines/standards.
2. Supervise all stages of program implementation, any progress and delays, receiving regular updates from team members providing inputs when required.
3. Maintain regular link with ACTED (as relevant) to facilitate the provision of logistic, administrative and security support to facilitate program implementation, as well as ensuring that IMPACT teams comply to ACTED’s security and other relevant FLAT regulations during program implementation.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND LEARNING PROCESS

1. Ensure the application of the M&E framework for each program, in line with IMPACT’s M&E guidelines.
2. Ensure learning and knowledge is shared across units and country programmes.

PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT

1. Grant Management: Monitor output achievement and ensure a timely completion of projects. Ensure that contractual obligations are met in terms of deliverables as well as narrative and financial reporting requirements.
2. Finance Management: Ensure accurate budget expenditure tracking, cash burn rates and forecasting to anticipate financial risks and avoid under/over spending in close coordination with the Finance Officer, the Country Coordinator, (Senior) PD and Grants officer and (as relevant) with the IMPACT Finance Control Unit and ACTED PD and finance departments.
3. Assets and IT Management: Ensure proper asset management in collaboration with the Senior FLATs Officer and ACTED logistics and IT departments.

TEAM MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

1. Leadership: Provides leadership across the mission, as well as within the Regional Senior Management Team.
2. Staff Management: Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities. Ensure that all staff have clear and regularly updated TORs, workplans and Key Performance Indicators against which their performance will be appraised. Promote team building, productivity and staff welfare. Mentor and support the team to build capacities, and improve efficiency and performance, and follow career management of international and national staff working in IMPACT programs.
3. Unit Model: In close collaboration with the Regional Country Coordinator ensure, organizational units are established within overall mission and regional set-up. Ensure all staff within a given a unit is provided clarity on their roles and responsibilities.
4. Administration and HR management: Ensure timely recruitment of staff working in IMPACT programs (in coordination with ACTED where relevant) and contribute to international staff recruitment upon HQ identification; proactively adapt the staffing structure to needs and funding. Ensure timely attendance sheets, leave plans, as well as exit forms for departing staff.

INTERNAL COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION

1. Internal communication: Facilitate internal communication within the team and information sharing for a positive working environment. Contribute to the regional Monthly Coordination Report. Ensure that any risk to IMPACT programming, projects or staff is as soon as possible communicated to and understood by Country Coordinator and relevant HQ head of departments.
2. Coordination with ACTED: Regularly coordinate with ACTED’s Country Director and the Somalia Area Coordinator through weekly meetings. Ensure regular coordination with ACTED’s Project Development, Finance and other FLAT departments at all stages of project development and implementation, including donor discussions, participation in project kick off and lessons learnt meetings, joint drafting of monthly internal updates (BFU, RFUs, allocation tables, etc), and drafting of donor reports or amendment requests. Ensure compliance of all staff to ACTED FLAT, HR and security procedures.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

1. Establish, maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with coordination and aid decision-making forums (clusters, sectors, working groups, NGO forum, HCT, etc), UN agencies, donors, NGOs, consortia, academia, etc. Ensure that IMPACT and its programs are well understood by key aid stakeholders and that potential partnership options have been explored when relevant. This responsibility will be vital in Mogadishu where the majority of the Somalia Aid Coordination is centralised.
2. Capitalize and strengthen relationships with key IMPACT global partners at country level; ensure any issues that may impact on global partnerships are communicated to and understood by IMPACT directors.

DISSEMINATION OF PRODUCTS AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION

1. Support the Research Managers and Assessment Officers in the dissemination of research/program products/outputs, including through in country presentations, website articles, journal articles, IMPACT social media contents, targeted e-mails, meetings, etc, in line with IMPACT Dissemination and External Communication guidelines;
2. Support IMPACT HQ in global-level dissemination related to the country mission, including through provision of updated information for website and social media, organization/attendance to HQ level events, briefings and panel discussions;

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 IMPACT’s programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every IMPACT staff member.

DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

The IMPACT DCC 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.

REQUIREMENTS

• Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar)
• Management experience Previous experience in a senior management role in a INGO at field level . Proven track record in successful management of international and national teams in humanitarian contexts
• Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community;
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings.
• Years of work experience At least 5 years of relevant working experience or proven progression within IMPACT
• Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills an asset. Experience in assessments. M&E, field research, evaluations an asset.
• 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
• Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment;
• Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently;
• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the region is desirable;
• Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in French and/or Spanish an asset;
• Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment