BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH
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.
Mission
We are currently looking for an Associate Research Manage to oversee our team in Somalia.
Position: Associate Research Manager – Displacement to Durable Solutions (DDS)
Contract duration:12 months
Location: Hargeisa, Somalia
Starting Date: August 2024
Country profile
Somalia has been experiencing a multi-layered, complex, and protracted crisis over the past three decades, in particular, due to periodic disasters and climate-driven shocks, such as droughts and flooding. This has led to much internal displacement resulting in large IDP populations in urban areas. IMPACT began working in Somalia/Somaliland in 2012 in order to fill information gaps and provide timely data on the humanitarian needs of displaced and vulnerable populations. The compound and complex nature of the crisis continues to influence displacement patterns and constrain the availability of resources, while the presence of armed groups severely impedes the level of access and support provided by humanitarian actors.
Currently, the Horn of Africa is experiencing the third drought episode in a decade, following three consecutive failed rainy seasons. The drought is compounding existing food insecurity among both pastoral and farming populations, and needs are spiking across the region – between 12 and 14 million people are currently estimated to be facing high levels of food insecurity and water shortages. Historically rare climate variability, climate change, vulnerability, and exposure are creating an exceptional and extremely concerning level of risk for food security and livelihoods, which could drive rising levels of acute malnutrition and mortality through mid-to-late 2022.
Climate shocks and insecurity continue to affect Somali populations, frequently resulting in their displacement. With an estimated 2.9 million people displaced in Somalia , there are currently 2,777 (as per the CCCM (Camp Coordination and Camp Management) Quarter 2 Master Site List for 2023) IDP sites in the country because of converging causes of conflict, drought, floods, and insufficient development. Following decades of conflict and recurrent climatic shocks leading to the protracted displacement of around 1.1 million people, the 2016/2017 drought and floods in 2018 triggered the internal displacement of an additional 1.5 million Somalis. In 2023 alone, Somalia recorded 1.6 million flood-induced displacements and 600,000 displacements due to flooding. The Detailed Site Assessment (DSA), led by REACH, was started in coordination with the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster to give the humanitarian community up-to-date information on the location of IDP sites, the conditions and capacity of the sites, and an estimate of the severity of the humanitarian needs of residents. This was done to provide more evidence for the humanitarian actors to understand the needs of those populations residing in IDP sites. Nevertheless, given the protracted displacement experienced in Somalia, more sites need to be identified to be considered for durable solutions rather than just emergency needs. The combination of internal displacement and refugee return is exacerbating Somalia’s demographic shift from a rural to an urbanized country. IDPs and vulnerable returnees tend to join existing, congested settlements or establish temporary sites in urban and peri-urban areas seeking safety and assistance. The categorization of various conditions and site preparedness supports the IDP sites that are on course for more development-focused activities while still prioritizing IDP sites that require urgent interventions (through the site prioritization matrix). It also aligns with the fourth objective of the CCCM Cluster to “support opportunities for displaced people to achieve durable solutions.”
FUNCTIONS
IMPACT is seeking an experienced candidate, who has previously managed teams and implemented projects in a complex humanitarian setting. The candidate should be comfortable representing IMPACT externally and be able to coordinate and liaise with a range of external partners. With support and under the supervision of the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator, the Associate Research Manager (ARM) will be responsible for overseeing all research cycles of the DDS Team. The position is based in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The Associate Research Manager (ARM) represents a key position in the oversight of IMPACT research activities and staff management. Leading the DDS Team, 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 also expected to provide strong management within the DDS, and is responsible for the professional development and direct line management of the Assessment Officer(s) (AOs), and supportive management and development of the Field Officers (FOs), GIS Officers (GISOs), and Data Officers (DOs) supporting on workstreams within the team. The ARM is further responsible for stakeholder management, ensuring DDS Team activities are both informed by and inform response priorities. In support of DCC/CC, the ARM will oversee and implement the activities of the DDS Team, 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, and supporting the DCC/CC on partnership management and cross-unit collaboration.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. STAFF MANAGEMENT
- Provide clear strategic direction to the Team staff, in line with the Team – or Country Strategy Plan.
- Manage dedicated team staff, including recruitment, appraisals, and career progression.
- Oversee daily team operations of the DDS Team, crafting work plans, performance metrics, and developing and implementing capacity training plans to improve efficiency and performance.
- Maintain regular communication with staff, fostering a cohesive, productive environment.
2. MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH CYCLES
Strategy development:
- Design and implement the DDS Team strategy, in line with the Country Strategy Plan
- Ensure contextual information is regularly shared with SMT members relating to DDS workstreams
- Maintain a stakeholder mapping and building relationships with key actors in the DDS research areas (displacement, durable solutions)
- Engage Acted and IMPACT staff on AGORA possible projects within the context
Assessment preparation and planning:
o Ensure assessments are aligned with project objectives and global guidelines.
o Ensure that all AOs are comprehensively briefed on objectives and expected outputs of research cycles, and that the overall implementation strategy of any given activity is clearly understood.
o Review and ensure (S)AOs secure HQ validation for assessment ToRs.
o Oversee the team’s coordination with GIS and Data officers, for the design of relevant data collection tools;
o Ensure relevant stakeholders and partners are consulted and involved at all stages of research cycle.
Data collection
o Ensure the Field/Assessment Team have identified and trained enumerators for primary data collection.
o Ensure regular updates on data collection are provided to key ACTED, IMPACT, and external stakeholders and address challenges as they arise.
o In coordination with the DCC/CC and Senior FLATS Manager, collaborate with the FLATS team for logistical, financial, administrative, and HR processes.
o In coordination with ACTED security as well as Country Coordination / Senior FLATS Manager; monitor the security situation on the ground and conduct regular check-ins with staff in the field.
Product development
o Ensure regular communication with IMPACT HQ on timelines for project outputs.
o Oversee and support in the implementation of the development of assessment outputs, ensuring they comply with IMPACT’s guidelines and quality standards.
o 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
o Ensure that research products are uploaded to the appropriate data portals under IMPACT HQ guidance.
o Document lessons learned after each research cycle.
o Under the direction of the DCC/CC, engage in the dissemination of research products, including through articles, IMPACT social media contents, targeted e-mails, coordination body presentations, and bilateral meetings, in line with IMPACT Dissemination and External Communication Guidelines and Research ToRs.
o 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.
- Seek opportunities to advance the DDS workstreams by presenting key findings or potential areas of interest
- In coordination with the Country Coordination and other SMT members, including RMs, present research findings to relevant partners, to enhance their use and impact.
- Coordinate and document the team’s external communication & engagement strategy.
- Ensure partners are involved at all stages of research cycle, including lessons learnt.
- Develop and manage contractual relationships with external service providers and partners, with support from the Field Manager and Senior FLATS Manager, to ensure research objectives are achieved using the appropriate technologies and databases.
4. CROSS-CUTTING FUNCTIONS
- Ensure appropriate information management within the team, according IMPACT standards.
- Act as a cross-unit liaison to identify complementarities between research cycles to avoid the duplication of efforts and identify opportunities for cooperation.
- Help foster collaboration across units and teams, to enhance efficiency and avoid redundancy.
- Support Country Coordination and other RMs where relevant 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.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
• For this position, salary between 2’600 CHF and 2’800 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 300 USD
· NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
• Accommodation and food provided in a guesthouse.
• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance
• This base is not a family duty station
• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered)
• R&R after 2-3 months (flight ticket up to 500$ + 200$ of living allowance) if duty station allows
• Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)
• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.
• Predeparture induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’s HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training;
• Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.
• IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees