Kenya: REACH Assessment Manager - Somalia

Department:REACH

Position: REACH Assessment Manager - Somalia

Contract duration:6 months

Location: based in Nairobi - KENYA

Starting Date ASAP

ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Our interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context. Our 4,000 staff is committed in to responding to emergencies worldwide, to supporting recovery and rehabilitation, towards sustainable development.

Our teams in the field implement some 380 projects in 34 countries covering the following sectors emergency relief, food security, access to health, education and training, economic development, microfinance, advocacy, institutional support, and regional dialogue, cultural promotion.

Based on considerable experience addressing the needs and situations of vulnerable communities, ACTED contributes to the international agenda towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals, through a wide range of partnerships, innovative initiatives, and campaigns.

II. Country Profile

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.

REACH Somalia established its in-country presence 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 focuses on the geographic identification of internally displaced peoples (IDPs) living in settlements and collects 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 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.

Functions

Summary

The REACH Assessment Manager shall be responsible for:

· The implementation of REACH components under the ACTED project outlined under the “Assignment header”

· In coordination with ACTED Country Director and REACH Global Coordinator, implement REACH assessment strategy and methodology;

· Follow up with REACH Surveyors / teams to ensure proper management and a smooth and timely implementation of activities;

· Keeping track of all activities and assessment schedules and work with field staff to implement REACH assessment procedures;

· Providing technical support in assessment methodologies, including the preparation of sampling methodologies, designing of data collection tools, monitoring / evaluation frameworks, data analysis (both qualitative and quantitative), and reporting thereof;

· Coordinating and ensure timely data collection, analysis and, in partnership with GIS/DB team, mapping of datasets, ensure that all collected data are geo-referenced;

· Ensuring the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets;

· Identifying opportunities and information gaps to support project development;

· Liaising with programme staff of other ACTED departments to ensure close coordination and information sharing is maintained;

· In coordination with REACH Global Coordinator and ACTED Country Director and if relevant, external representation of REACH with Donors, Partners and the wider Aid Community through clusters and sectoral working groups;

· Coordinating timely and accurate reporting to IMPACT Headquarter.

1. Assessment Management and Coordination

Objective 1.1: Management of assessments process

The REACH Assessment Manager is responsible for designing the methodology and tools associated with each assessment, according to REACH requirements and principles. He/she will manage the planning, implementation, and follow-up of all REACH assessments. The REACH Assessment Manager 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 Manager shall manage logistics, financial, administration and HR processes directly related to REACH and liaise accordingly with the relevant ACTED counterpart. He/she is directly responsible for the implementation of proper ACTED FLAT procedures in all REACH interventions.

Objective 1.2: Implementation

The REACH Assessment Manager is responsible for coordinating the implementation of all REACH components and assessments under the specific project, 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; contributing to GIS data collection procedures and mapping thereof through ARC GIS and other ESRI products in particular; and analysis of spatial and other information to contribute to reports and the like.

Objective 1.3: Coordination

The REACH Assessment Manager shall provide technical support to the relevant ACTED department in terms of development of programme strategies, implementation of project activities, and any other required REACH input to ACTED projects for added-value.

The REACH Assessment Manager shall liaise with other REACH Officers in the region and throughout IMPACT Initiatives’ and ACTED’s networks to provide and receive support in the expansion of REACH globally.

2. REACH Reporting

The REACH Assessment Manager is responsible for consolidating all analyses and conclusions from each assessment into REACH products such as desktop reviews, factsheets, reports and briefs using standard formats. This will include the finalization of external documentation to be reviewed internally. He/she will liaise with IMPACT HQ in Geneva in order to represent data in interactive web map or static map format, as relevant.

The REACH Assessment Manager is responsible for following the designated timeline of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors. He/she 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. He/she will ensure that assessment reports contribute to aid coordination and planning and add to the general base of field knowledge and for all organisations working in there.

He/she will also manage the drafting of narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow-up.

The REACH Assessment Manager will also store, organize and disseminate assessments, project documents and best practices among ACTED and IPs. He/she will coordinate timely and accurate reporting to IMPACT Headquarters.

3. REACH HR Management

Staff Management

The REACH Assessment Manager is responsible for oversight of the day-to-day management of project and field staff both directly and remotely. He/she is expected to guide and direct REACH staff and prepare and follow up on workplans with each staff member that directly reports to him/her. The REACH Assessment Manager will be required to take the lead in the recruitment of REACH surveyors in coordination with the ACTED HR Officer. This will include the preparation of ToRs, observation of recruitment procedures by planning recruitment needs in advance, and undertaking interviews.

The REACH Assessment Manager 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. He/she will ensure that project/field staff are given training and complete all the necessary documentation in line with program requirements set by REACH.

4. Representation

In coordination with REACH Global Coordinator and ACTED Country Director and if relevant, 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 Manager will further represent ACTED/REACH vis-a-vis current and potential donors and communicate relevant information to the ACTED Project Development Manager and Country Director. He/she will participate in inter-NGO meetings and those of UN agencies and any other relevant inter-governmental institutions at the national or provincial level.

More generally, the REACH Assessment Manager is expected 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.

5. Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries

As staff member, the REACH Assessment Manager is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities in which ACTED works 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.

IV. Qualifications:

Excellent analytical skills;3 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian settings;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 assetFluency in English requiredAbility to operation Microsoft Word, Excel and Data Visualization Software.Ability to work independently.

V. Conditions:

Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonusAdditional monthly living allowanceFree food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment)Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowanceProvision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org with the job offer reference as object of your email.

Ref : RAM/SOM /SA

For more information, visit us athttp://www.acted.org/