REACH Assessment Officer – Area-Based Assessment (ABA) / Climate for South Sudan, based in Juba

We are currently looking for an Assessment Officer to support our climate and area-based assessment work in South Sudan.

Department:                 REACH

Contract duration:        Six months – with opportunities for contract extension up to one year

Location:                     Juba, South Sudan

Starting Date:                  November 2024

Country profile

IMPACT, through REACH, has been implementing programming in South Sudan since 2012 supporting humanitarian decision-making with assessments and information management activities focusing on the needs of displaced, returnees, and conflict-affected populations. Today, data collected and disseminated by REACH aims to provide a baseline for ongoing response planning efforts across South Sudan as well as highlight areas of highest need and concern as crises emerge. Broadly, REACH South Sudan implements assessments across three core pillars:

·        Providing data to prioritise emergency assistance to areas at risk of excess mortality through quarterly assessments covering over 2,000 settlements in South Sudan; the development of a robust real-time monitoring of needs severity across the country as well as the mobilisation of REACH rapid need assessment team to quickly assess needs after specific shocks.

·        Contributing to a detailed understanding of public health challenges to support key actors in responding to emergency situations and structural problems through rapid PH assessments, nutrition surveys, in-depth food security analysis, and active joint analysis such as the IPC.

·        Mainstreaming Accountability to Affected Populations, Resilience, and Climate Change dynamics, including through standalone assessments on community priorities relating to humanitarian needs and perceptions of assistance, contextual analysis of the impact of climate change on community needs, and leading in-depth assessments on cross-cutting topics such as local governance or protection.

position profile

South Sudan is structurally vulnerable to flooding and climate-related disasters. Despite recent advances in establishing institutional and regulatory frameworks for disaster risk management (DRM), government entities at the national, state, and local levels lack the resources and expertise to adequately prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, especially at the local and state levels.

IMPACT is looking for an Assessment Officer to conduct area-based assessments and climate-related analysis in South Sudan, as part of its current grant with FCDO. Area-based assessments (ABA) provide the necessary evidence base to support an area/settlement-based approach, which emphasises localised and people-centred humanitarian assistance. It provides a key understanding of targeted territory needs through the analysis of local communities’ governance structures; social, cultural and environmental context; functionality, availability and capacity gaps of basic services and natural resources; and the subsequent needs of the population. In South Sudan, where multiple identity factors (gender, ethnicity, religion, language, country of origin, etc.) strongly impact access to services and vulnerabilities to shocks, ABA provides a detailed analysis of needs and priorities informed directly by the communities. IMPACT is a key advocate of the ABA approach in South Sudan, participates in coordination structures such as the Durable Solution Working Group, and coordinates with actors such as IOM and the World Bank.

The Assessment Officer is also expected to support technical analysis, including remote sensing, statistical analysis, and secondary data review, on climate-related topics. While the Assessment Officer will work closely with the GIS team, previous experience with GIS software is highly recommended to lead some ad hoc analysis.

Functions

Under the direct supervision of the REACH Research Manager for the Resilience and Accountability Unit, the ABA/Climate Assessment Officer will be responsible for continuing REACH South Sudan’s approach to assessing the effects of climate change and weather-related events on humanitarian conditions, monitoring needs and services at the local level through the area-based assessment approach and engaging both internally and externally on related topics.

He/she works closely with Assessment Officers, GIS/Data Officers, and Field Officers on the content of assessments, ensuring high-quality data collection. In addition, the Assessment Officer will lead the development and implementation of the IMPACT strategy in South Sudan related to climate and area-based assessment.

Summary

In close coordination with the IMPACT South Sudan team, the Assessment Officer is responsible for:

·        Compile and analyse available data related to the project and produce secondary data reviews, assessment reports, situation overviews, and factsheets. 

·        Work closely with project partners in the design, implementation, data cleaning and analysis survey.

·        Ensure that assessment strategies are implemented in a structured and coherent manner in line with project and strategic objectives

·        Provide oversight of data analysis and reporting from the collaborative assessments

·        Ensure the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports and factsheets from collaborative assessments

·        In collaboration with the Research Manager and under the guidance of the Country Representative, developing REACH South Sudan’s approach to monitoring climate change and weather-related events and their effects on humanitarian needs at the local and country levels.

·        Lead external representation of IMPACT with donors, partners and the wider aid community through coordination mechanisms and sectoral working groups;

1. Management of all Research Cycles

1.1 Assessment Preparation and Planning:

·        Ensure that all assessments are planned in line with relevant project and program objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other applicable guidelines;

·        Keeping abreast of significant developments in the field of climate within the South Sudan context, and staying informed of the programs and strategies of pertinent stakeholders;

·        Ensure that required secondary data analysis has been conducted in preparation for an assessment;

·        For each assessment, develop and review ToRs before they are sent to Geneva Headquarters for validation and ensure that HQ validates ToRs before any data collection begins;

·        Compose and construct, in close coordination with GIS and data management team, qualitative and quantitative data collection tools; ensure engagement with GIS teams on GIS requirements of research cycle/assessment;

·        Track progress and delays of all assigned assessments throughout the research cycle. Ensure that delays or identified challenges for specific assessments are reported in writing and orally in a timely manner to the Field Manager and other relevant staff;

·        Providing technical support to the wider REACH South Sudan mission through expertise on climate-related issues, ABA approaches, and a general understanding of and insights into humanitarian needs and dynamics.

1.2   Data collection and management

·        Monitor partner and IMPACT team data collection, ensuring its correct implementation in line with agreed TORs;

·        Support the Assessment Officer and Field Officers to ensure that required enumerators are identified and trained for primary data collection;

·        Ensure that the IMPACT Country Representative is alerted to any issues that prevent full implementation of the methodology in line with the agreed ToRs; ensure that all changes to the methodology are documented throughout implementation;

·        Ensure logistics, financial, administration, security and HR processes directly related to IMPACT have been appropriately implemented and coordinated with the relevant ACTED departments.

·        Ensure regular situation updates on data collection have been produced and circulated to relevant IMPACT, ACTED, and external counterparts. Provide support and follow up on identified challenges during the data collection process;

·        Ensure that all collected data is stored in line with IMPACT’s Data Management Guidelines, and with the ToRs (data management plan Annex);

·        Ensure that data is revised and cleaned, and that all revisions are recorded;

·        Oversee analysis on collected data as per ToRs;

·        Ensure that tested and accurate techniques are used to analyze the data collected;

·        Ensure that IMPACT HQ validates data and its analysis before product drafting stage;

1.3   Product drafting

·        Maintain regular communication with IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for written products;

·        Manage assessment staff toward timely drafting of timely and accurate assessment outputs (i.e. reports, factsheets, etc.), which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines and quality standards;

·        Review and lead revision of all products before they are sent to IMPACT HQ for validation;

·        Ensure that IMPACT HQ validates all written products before external release.

1.4   Product dissemination and evaluation

·        Under the direction of the IMPACT Country Representative, engage in the dissemination of research products, including through articles, IMPACT social media contents, targeted e-mails, presentations, meetings, etc., in line with IMPACT Dissemination and External Communication Guidelines and Research ToRs;

·        Under supervision of IMPACT HQ, ensure that research products are uploaded in relevant data portals, as specified in Research ToRs;

·        Ensure that lessons learned are gathered and documented at the end of each research cycle;

·        Support the IMPACT Country Representative to conduct monitoring and evaluation as specified in the research ToRs and line with IMPACT guidelines

2. External relations

·        Ensure that relevant partners are consulted and involved at all stages of the research cycle as necessary: the preparation of the assessment; data collection, data analysis; review of research products; product dissemination; and lessons learnt; ensure that partner engagement is documented;

·        Present research findings to relevant third parties to enhance their use and impact;

·        Ensure that external communications with partners and key stakeholders, including relevant UN agencies, local and national government, and NGOs, have been conducted and documented as appropriate;

3. Confidentiality and Data Protection

The Assessment Officer will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorised sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

4. Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries

The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities IMPACT and partners 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 programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies.

REQUIREMENTS

·        Excellent academic qualifications, including a degree in any relevant discipline;

·        At least 1-2 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian or development settings, previous experience in other IMPACT/REACH missions is preferred;

·        Experience conducting climate-related assessments;

·        Experience coordinating interagency assessments or monitoring activities;

·        Excellent analytical skills;

·        Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;

·        Fluency in English required;

·        Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Adobe Creative Suite Products is required;

·        Ability to design tools in Kobo, ODK, or similar mobile data collection tools an asset;

·        Ability to work independently and manage team members remotely.

·        Experience using GIS software for map creation an asset;

Desired

·        Familiarity with the humanitarian system: Knowledge of the humanitarian program cycle (HPC) and the humanitarian coordination structure.

·        Thematic expertise: Expertise and knowledge in climate analysis, DRR programming and area-based initiatives.

·        Management skills: Team management experience and skills are highly desirable.

·        Software skills: Knowledge of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite (e.g., InDesign) is an advantage. Knowledge and experience in R or other statistical analysis software and GIS software are assets.

·        Experience in geographical region: Past work experience in South Sudan or East Africa is desired.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

·        For this position, salary between 2’400 CHF and 2’520 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. NB – IMPACT is hosted by Acted in this country

·        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

·        Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered)

·        R&R after 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