Technical Coordinator GIS- GAVI REACH

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

In partnership with Gavi, IRC leads the REACH (Reaching Every Child in Humanitarian Setting) project, a consortium aimed at identifying and vaccinating Zero-Dose Children (ZDC) in Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan. Launched in June 2022, REACH is focused on negotiating access to hard-to-reach locations, vaccinating children under five, and ensuring no child is left behind, particularly in areas affected by conflict, displacement, and weak infrastructure. The project is currently in Phase 2 and runs until December 2025, with potential for extension.

The REACH project uses geo-spatial analysis to optimize vaccination coverage in underserved communities. This involves estimating populations near existing vaccination sites and identifying optimal locations for new mobile and outreach services. Geo-spatial data is integrated into local microplans to assist vaccination planners at all levels, ensuring efficient and precise service delivery. In addition, geo-spatial mapping helps locate population concentrations in hard-to-reach areas, enabling outreach teams to verify the presence of Zero-Dose Children. In collaboration with the Geospatial Analyst (GCA, EHAU) based in Nairobi and Climate Analyst (GCA, EHAU) based in Jordan there is opportunity to use GIS analysis for mapping conflict and access and impact of climate change in REACH focus areas.

Since the inception phase, geo-spatial work for the REACH project has been supported by Flowminder (UK). For Phase 2, IRC aims to build in-house geo-spatial capacity to support the project, reducing reliance on external providers. Flowminder will support the transition of the GIS role by working alongside the Technical Coordinator – GIS for three months.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Technical Coordinator – GIS for the Gavi REACH Program will be responsible for leading the program’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map, analyze, and visualize conflict, access, climate change impact and immunization data that will facilitate data-driven decision-making in the program. The role will involve working closely within the REACH team mainly with Humanitarian Access Adviser and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Lead and collaborate with REACH Project Coordinators and other members of PMU/ country program technical teams, partners, and stakeholders to integrate spatial data into immunization strategies, especially in hard-to-reach areas. The role also involves collaboration with the IRC Geospatial Analyst and Climate Analyst on conflict, access and climate change impact mapping respectively. The position will be based in Nairobi with extensive travel to field locations as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Spatial data collection & analysis

• Coordinate, the acquisition of spatial data relevant to immunization coverage, site locations, population demographics, and zero-dose/under-immunized populations and supervise data integration into existing GIS and information analysis products developed for the GAVI REACH project.

• Provide quality control in GPS data collection and evaluation of data collected from country programs and outside of the organization.

• Use GIS tools to analyze geographical patterns, health service access, and equity gaps in immunization coverage.

• Use GIS tools to analyze and map conflict and access data and climate change impact data for REACH focus areas.

2. Mapping & visualization

• Develop detailed, clear, and informative maps to visualize immunization data for stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Create thematic maps and dashboards to support the identification of priority areas for interventions.

• Present spatial data insights through reports and visual presentations tailored to diverse audiences, including policymakers, health workers, and international partners.

3. Data integration & management

• Integrate spatial data with program monitoring systems to enhance the tracking of program progress and impact in hard-to-reach areas.

• Maintain GIS databases and ensure that all geospatial information is up to date, accurate, and securely stored.

• Coordinate the use spatial data within the REACH project M&E system and contribute learning to inform immunization service delivery.

4. Capacity building

• Design and deliver training to local staff, partners, and health officials on the use of GIS tools for immunization planning and monitoring.

• Coordinate local capacity development by organizing training sessions on GPS data collection and basic GIS operations.

5. Collaboration & partnerships

• Collaborate with IRC measurement Unit, Data Excellence and other GIS teams, international organizations, and government agencies to share data and insights.

• Participate in relevant meetings and working groups to represent the GIS function and share key spatial analysis insights.

• Provide input into proposals and reports where spatial data or GIS expertise is required.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team by incorporating spatial analysis into the immunization data.

• Lead spatial visualization of immunization coverage and support MEL team for real-time data tracking to allow for quicker identification of gaps and more responsive program adjustments.

• Support IRC Advocacy teams upon request with use of spatial data to advocate for more targeted immunization interventions, funding, or resources in under-served geographic regions, presenting evidence-based recommendations to decision-makers.

• Leverage spatial data to create case studies or success stories, comparing immunization rates in various regions and highlighting best practices. This will help in scaling successful approaches across different settings.

Experience & Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in GIS, Geography, Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.

• Certification in GIS techniques or geospatial technologies is a plus.

Experience

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in GIS, spatial data analysis, or geospatial mapping, preferably in health or development or humanitarian programs.

• Experience in working with health data, particularly related to immunization or health services, is an advantage.

• Familiarity with mobile data collection tools (e.g., OpenDataKit, KoboToolbox) and GPS technologies.

• Proven experience in creating maps, spatial analysis, and presenting spatial data to non-technical audiences.

Skills & competencies

• Technical skills

• Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar platforms.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and visualize large geospatial datasets.

• Knowledge of spatial data modeling, spatial statistics, and geospatial data management.

• Experience with GPS data collection, cleaning, and integration into GIS systems.

• Familiarity with web-based mapping platforms and dashboard development (e.g., Google Earth Engine, Tableau, Power BI) is an asset.

• Communication & collaboration

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.

• Experience working in multi-cultural environments and demonstrating cultural sensitivity.

• Project management

• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• Experience in project planning, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Problem-solving

• Ability to think critically and use spatial data to solve complex problems, particularly in low-resource and hard-to-reach settings.

Desirable competencies

• Experience working in fragile or humanitarian settings, particularly on health or immunization projects.

• Understanding of global health initiatives and familiarity with interventions to improve access to vaccines.

• Proficiency in programming languages for geospatial analysis (e.g., Python, R, or similar) is a plus.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.