Senior Assessment Officer - MSNA for HQ, based in Geneva (Internal Applicants Only)
Vernier, 1219
CDD
01/04/2026- 30/09/2026
5300CHF- 5430CHF
Description
BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH
REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations 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. 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.
IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. 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.
BACKGROUND ON MULTISECTORAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT (MSNA)
REACH has supported the facilitation of independent, crisis-wide Multi-sectoral Needs Assessments (MSNAs) since 2016 to provide impartial, unbiased, comprehensive, context-sensitive, timely and up to date data to inform humanitarian decision-making. MSNAs promote a shift in how humanitarian needs are measured and how response is planned, contributing to a change in the approach to planning, prioritization and decision making, by promoting needs-based, evidence-based and people-cantered decision making. At a time of sharply reduced humanitarian funding and hyper-prioritisation and re-focusing of humanitarian assistance, the MSNA is a highly visible assessment, coordinated with humanitarian planners and a range of stakeholders to ensure assistance continues to reach the most vulnerable.
We are currently looking for a Senior Assessment Officer to join the Research Systems Unit (RSU) in HQ.
Title: Senior Assessment Officer (SAO)
Location: Geneva with potential travel (up to max 20%)
Contract duration: 6 months, temporary position
Start date: ASAP
Please note that this is a link for internal applicants only and applications of external candidates will be automatically rejected.
POSITION PROFILE
Under the supervision of the Research Systems Unit (RSU) Manager, the Senior Assessment Officer (SAO) will support RSU Specialists in scaling-up the implementation of MSNAs by providing direct country support and coordinating capacity-building activities throughout the early and middle-stages of the 2026 cycle. This is a temporary support role requiring strong knowledge of principles of research design, humanitarian indicator selection, coordination architecture and, preferably, the IMPACT/REACH MSNA Programme. By supporting the design and implementation of the 2026 MSNA cycle, this position plays a critical function in providing strategic, programmatic and technical support to a high profile and impactful IMPACT workstream. The position is temporary for an initial period of 6 months, with the possibility of extension if funding allows.
Missions
RESPONSIBILITIES
The SAO will support the RSU in scaling up the MSNA across all stages of the cycle. This includes country support and capacity building, as well as supporting global cross-crisis analysis and outputs. More specifically, the SAO will support the below areas of work:
Country support and capacity building
Support the dissemination and uptake of learning materials (training sessions, guidelines, case studies, etc.), to equip and empower country teams to consistently improve the quality and effectiveness of their MSNAs.
Support the Specialists in management of the MSNA Community of Practice (COP) by coordinating agenda items, preparing slide decks, and gathering country-level inputs for discussion on lessons learned and best practices.
Promote the uptake of the training materials developed and provide capacity-building of REACH assessment teams (and where relevant external audiences) implementing MSNAs through in-country deployments or remote support.
Contribute to the development and iterative improvement of online training courses and training materials.
Coordinate sessions of the training calendar by liaising with country teams and other HQ departments and thematic experts.
Actively support MSNA Country Teams throughout the early and mid-stages of the MSNA research cycle, ensuring they have the resources needed to produce high-quality data and analysis. That support can take various shapes and will vary between countries.
For the countries under their review, the SAO will ensure alignment with IMPACT Global Minimum Standards and operability with other analytical frameworks such as the HPC/ IPC and IMPACT Acute Needs Analysis and Multi-Sector Needs Index.
Diligently review country outputs such as research designs and data collection tools to ensure high quality and full alignment with IMPACT minimum standards and strategic objectives.
Supporting global cross-crisis analysis
Support the Specialist in creating the conditions that enable consistent, streamlined cross-crisis analysis, such as by testing and supporting the implementation of the Kobo template and the HUMIND package.
Provide backstopping to countries in preparing and running analytical tools for the MSNI analysis.
Together with the Specialist and the RSU Manager, support the design of the MSNA webpage and Global Overview Dashboard.
Together with the Analysis Unit, explore complementarities and opportunities for integration of IMPACTS MSNI and Acute Needs Analysis (ABA) into cross-crisis analytical outputs.
Support the design of a cross-crisis needs overview report to be disseminated alongside the MSNI Dashboard.
Profil
REQUIREMENTS
Excellent academic qualifications, including Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. development, humanitarian studies, international relations, research methods, social sciences).
At least 3 years of experience in the humanitarian sector and/or field-based roles in fragile or development contexts.
Experience with designing and implementing primary research, in particular large-scale quantitative surveys and/or humanitarian needs assessments. Knowledge of the IMPACT’s Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment programme is a strong asset.
Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting.
Strong interpersonal skills, include good external engagement and coordination skills.
Familiarity with the humanitarian system and global humanitarian policy frameworks, in particular the JIAF.
Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility.
A self-starter with proven ability to work independently.
Fluency in English required, proficiency in French, Spanish, Arabic, or another relevant language an asset.
Ability to operate InDesign & Kobo is required.
Ability to operate PowerBI, Tableau and/or R-Shiny a strong asset.
Ability to operate R, or a related statistical programming a strong asset.[MD1]
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
For this position, gross salary between 5’300 CHF and 5’430 CHF monthly (before income tax). NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education and experience of staff. A contribution to medical insurance of 489 CHF per month is already included in the salary figure.
Insurance covering professional and non-professional accidents throughout the period of employment with IMPACT
Health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance in case of field visits/temporary deployments.
Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.
Applicants must hold a valid work permit for Switzerland or be EU/EFTA citizens
Up to 40% of remote work on a weekly basis.