BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH
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.
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.
BACKGROUND ON INTER-AGENCY ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORKS
The Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework (JIAF) is the main methodological approach for assessing the needs of populations during humanitarian crises and guiding inputs to the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC). Since 2020, nearly all countries engaged in the HPC have adopted this approach to inform their country-specific Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNOs).
The JIAF provides the following analytical outputs:
- Magnitude Estimation: It quantifies the scale of a crisis by assessing the number of impacted individuals.
- Severity Estimation: It gauges the severity of impact on affected populations.
- Vulnerability and Geography Analysis: It identifies the most affected population groups and geographic areas.
- Drivers and Impact Analysis: It investigates the drivers of the crisis and how populations have been affected, emphasizing the interconnectedness of their needs at the area-level.
In 2021, an independent review of the JIAF methodology led to the approval of an 18-month plan to revamp the JIAF methodology. This plan aimed to revise, strengthen, and lighten the existing JIAF methodology. The resulting analytical approach was globally disseminated to all Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) countries as part of the 2024 HPC guidance released in June 2023.
Following the initial roll-out, JIAF partners have committed to an iterative process of refinement, drawing lessons from the 2023 roll-out and addressing methodological gaps identified by humanitarian stakeholders, including UN Agencies, NGOs, and donors.
IMPACT plays a pivotal role in supporting JIAF development. As a key partner, IMPACT provides technical assistance and support to the Methodology Working Group, the Advisory Group, and the Steering Committee
Missions
We are currently seeking an Assessment Specialist to support with the ongoing development of tools to support inter-agency planning and prioritization at the global level.
Title: Assessment Specialist
Contract duration: 6 months
Location: Geneva with travel (up to 20% field deployment)
Starting Date: ASAP
POSITION PROFILE
Under the supervision of the manager of the Humanitarian Planning and Prioritization Unit (HPPU) within the Global Programmes Department, the AS will lead and support on various initiatives contributing to inter-agency analysis and to its complementarity with the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) work stream.
The assignment will consist of two parts—a) supporting in the ongoing technical development of the JIAF in collaboration with the Methodology Working Group and OCHA, and b) supporting MSNA country teams in the uptake, tracking, and implementation of JIAF in-country.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Assessment Specialist is responsible for.
1. Technical Development Support for JIAF (40%)
• Collaborate actively with the JIAF Methodology Technical Working Group (M-TWG).
• Lead IMPACT’s contributions to the technical development and deployment of JIAF 2.0, in partnership with the Methodology Working Group.
• Offer technical support and guidance for R&D activities around new/additional JIAF technical modules.
• Update and refine JIAF 2.0 methodology guidance, in consensus with the Methodology Working Group, to direct country teams in the application of developed modules.
• Assist OCHA country offices in implementing JIAF 2.0, as part of the JIAF “Global Experts Group,” which may include field assignments to support HPC workshops.
• Conduct JIAF methodology training sessions globally or at the country level as needed.
• Promote adherence to data standards, the use of shared platforms, and the open sharing of information in inter-agency analysis.
2. Country Support and Engagement (40%)
• Guide REACH MSNA country teams throughout the research cycle, ensuring MSNA practices align (to the extent possible and strategic) with JIAF standards, covering areas such as research design, data collection, data management, analysis, and reporting.
• Create and implement training programs to update REACH country teams on the latest skills required for supporting clusters/OCHA with JIAF analysis.
• Participate in country missions at crucial HPC moments (up to 20%) to provide adequate to REACH teams in their support to national clusters and OCHA. Tasks may vary between country missions but potentially involve information management support and workshop facilitation.
3. Support to R&D of the MSNA in alignment with JIAF (20%)
• Evaluate MSNA data and analytical methods in relation to JIAF, advising on improvements to the MSNA toolkit.
• Record instances where JIAF and MSNA results align or differ and explore the drivers of any discrepancies.
• Formulate suggestions for MSNA methodologies to optimize their value for HPC analysis.
Profil
REQUIREMENTS
• Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar).
• External engagement experience Previous experience of engaging with humanitarian clusters/sectors an asset; excellent coordination and organisational skills required.
• Years of work experience at least 4 years of working experience of research in complex humanitarian settings.
• Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community.
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings.
• Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills. Experience in assessments, M&E, field research, or evaluations.
• Software skills: Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset.
• Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous tasks in complex environment.
• Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently.
• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility.
• Language skills Fluency in English and French and/or Spanish is required.
Compensation and Benefits
• For this position, gross salary between 5’800 CHF and 6’050 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 450 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
How to apply
Please apply on the following link: Assessment Specialist – Inter-Agency Analytical Frameworks based in Geneva, Switzerland | Impact (impact-initiatives.org)
