Job Vacancy at ACTED

Context / Country

REACH Somalia established its presence in Somalia in 2012, partnering with UN-OCHA and the cluster system. Its aim was to provide surge capacity and technical support contributing to the formulation of countrywide needs analysis and response strategies.

REACH Somalia stemmed on the focus of geographic identification of internally displaced peoples (IDPs) living in settlements through collecting a core baseline of household specific information focused on the shelter, WASH and education sectors that enables the preparation of situational and gap analyses; thus enabling better planning, coordination and traceability of aid. The team has quickly expanded its connectivity to other clusters (namely Food Security) and the overall coordination mechanism of OCHA.

The project coordinates its actions through the cluster system to define locations for assessment and mapping activities working through a large network of local partners operational in each assessment region. To date the project has mapped IDP settlements in Doolow, Mogadishu, Baidoa, Kismayo, North Galkayo, Hargeisa, Burao, Bossasso, Qardho and Garowe

Assignment

Under the supervision of the REACH Country Coordinator, the REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for the management and implementation of all REACH assessments in country, including their preparation, implementation and follow-up, if relevant. S/he 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.

Functions

• Under the supervision of REACH Country Focal Point, the REACH Assessment Officer shall be responsible for:
• Designing and implementing REACH assessment strategy and methodology and corresponding analytical frameworks;
• Provide information management support through in-depth data analysis, technical training development, macro development, IM platform management, and/or geo-referencing, when possible.
• Ensuring the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets with integration of cluster and/or partner feedback;
• Manage project timeframes and 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 other ACTED departments to ensure close coordination is maintained;
• Under the supervision of REACH Country Focal Point, external representation of REACH with Donors, Partners and the wider Aid Community through clusters and sectoral working groups;
• Coordinate timely and accurate reporting to REACH Country Focal Point
• Managing 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;
• Coordinating and ensuring timely data collection, analysis and, in partnership with GIS/DB team, mapping of datasets and ensuring that all collected data are geo-referenced

Reporting

• The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for supporting the consolidation of all analyses and conclusions from each activity into REACH products such as factsheets, profiles, reports and briefs using standard formats.
• S/he will liaise with the REACH GIS/Database (DB) team in order to represent data, as relevant.
• The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for following the designated timeline of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors.
• S/he 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.
• S/he 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.
• S/he will also manage the drafting of narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow-up.

Representation

The REACH Assessment Officer will store, organize and disseminate assessments, project documents and best practices among ACTED and Implementing Partners (IPs). S/he will coordinate timely and accurate field-level information, when needed, and support Nairobi-level dissemination activities. The REACH Assessment Officer should be well-versed in the Somalia context, project activities and outcomes. More generally, the REACH Assessment Officer is expected to have well developed communication skills to contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of ACTED’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors

Representation of ACTED/REACH in cluster and multi-sector meetings/ technical 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 ACTED/REACH vis-a-vis current and potential donors and communicate relevant information to the ACTED Project Development Officer and Country Director. S/he will participate in inter-NGO meetings and those of UN agencies and any other relevant inter-governmental institutions at the national or provincial level.

Project Support and Coordination

Objective 3.1: Management of assessments process

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, and ; contributing to GIS data collection procedures.

The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for supporting the design of the methodology and tools associated with each assessment, according to REACH requirements and principles. S/he 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 Liaison 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 may need to support logistics, financial, administration and HR processes directly related to REACH and liaise accordingly with the relevant ACTED counterpart. S/he is directly responsible for the implementation of proper ACTED FLAT procedures in all REACH interventions.

Objective 3.2: Implementation

The REACH Assessment Officer is responsible for the preparation of project ToRs, observation of field-level procedures. 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. S/he will ensure that project/field staff are given training and complete all the necessary documentation in line with program requirements set by REACH.
IV. Overall Coordination
The REACH Assessment Officer may be required to 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.
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.

Qualifications/Skills/Profile Required

• Excellent academic qualifications including a Masters Degree in relevant Discipline
• 5 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian settings;
• Experience managing large data collection teams;
• Experience developing assessment methodology and analytical frameworks;
• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;
• Excellent team management skills;
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
• Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;
• Prior knowledge of the region an asset
• Ability to operation Microsoft Word, Excel and Data visualization and analysis software.
• Fluency in English requiredExcellent analytical skills;
• Ability to work independently.