REACH Assessment Officer (Cash and Markets) (Uganda Nationals)

JOB OPPORTUNITY_REACH ASSESSMENT OFFICER_KAMPALA

Department: IMPACT

Position: REACH Assessment Officer (Cash and Markets) (1 Positions)

Direct hierarchy: REACH Senior Assessment Officer

Contract duration: One Year (With possibility of Extension contingent on funding)

Duty Station: Kampala-Uganda

Anticipated Starting Date: October 2020

ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non-discrimination.

ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 38 countries worldwide. ACTED sectors of intervention include emergency relief, food security, health promotion, economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion. For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org.

BACKGROUND ON IMPACT

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization 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.

POSITION PROFILE

REACH is expanding its cash and markets assessment and analysis work in Uganda through supporting commodity price and market functionality monitoring, providing analytical support to the Uganda Cash Working Group, and conducting ad-hoc cash and markets related assessments. This position will work closely with the Uganda Cash Working Group’s Market Analysis Task Force to expand the evidence-base of cash and markets data available to improve coordination and provide regular and timely information to actors implementing market-based responses within the Uganda refugee response.

We are looking for an experienced self-driven and self-oriented professional to fill the position of a REACH Assessment Officer based in Kampala-Uganda.

I. Main Objective

Under the direct/functional supervision of the Senior Assessment Officer in Uganda, the Assessment Officer is responsible for the management of all REACH research cycles relating to the project, including design, implementation, dissemination and evaluation. He/she will work closely with the GIS/Database Officer and Field Officers on the content of assessments, ensuring high quality data collection, and with the Senior Assessment Officer in development and implementation of REACH strategy in Uganda related to cash and markets work. The position will be based in Kampala, with up to 30% travel to the refugee settlements.

II. Duties and Responsibilities

Summary

In close coordination with the REACH Uganda team, the Assessment Officer is responsible for:

· Under the guidance of the Senior Assessment Officer, compile and analyse available data related to the project produce secondary data reviews, assessment reports, situation overviews, and factsheets.

· Responsible for conducting all assessments related to the research cycle

· Working in close collaboration with Senior Assessment Officer and 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

· Coordinate logistical aspects of assessments with partner organisations; manage and direct data collection teams in the field

· 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

· Support the development/revision of assessment / programme strategies, reports or new proposals;

· In coordination with the Senior Assessment Officer, external representation of REACH with donors, partners and the wider aid community through coordination mechanisms and sectoral working groups (if necessary);

· Coordinate timely and accurate reporting to IMPACT/REACH Headquarters.

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 relevant guidelines;
• Ensure that required secondary data analysis has been conducted in preparation of an assessment;
• For each assessment, develop and review ToRs before they are sent to Geneva for validation and ensure that ToRs are validated by HQ before any data collection begins;
• Ensure that ToRs are understood and used by assessment staff and stakeholders, and updated as required; 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 Senior Assessment Officer, and other relevant staff;
• Ensure relevant stakeholders and partners are engaged in assessment design and planning.

1.2 Data collection and management

• Ensure that required enumerators are identified and trained for primary data collection;
• Monitor data collection, ensuring its correct implementation in line with agreed ToRs;
• Ensure that the Senior Assessment Officer and Country Coordinator are alerted to any issues that prevents 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 REACH 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 REACH, 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 data and its analysis are validated by IMPACT/REACH HQ before product drafting stage;
• Ensure that data and its analysis do not contain personal information and are validated by IMPACT/REACH HQ before sharing to external parties.

1.3 Product drafting

• Maintain regular communication with IMPACT/REACH HQ on progress and deadlines for written products, in coordination with the Senior Assessment Officer;
• Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate assessment outputs (i.e. reports, factsheets, etc.), which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines and quality standards;
• Review all products before they are sent to IMPACT/REACH HQ for validation;
• Ensure that all written products are validated by IMPACT/REACH HQ before external release.

1.4 Product dissemination and evaluation

• Under the direction of the Senior Assessment Officer, engage in the dissemination of research products, including through articles, REACH 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/REACH HQ and in coordination with the Senior Assessment Officer, 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 Senior Assessment Officer to conduct monitoring and evaluation as specified in the research ToRs and in line with IMPACT Guidelines

2. External relations

• In coordination with the Senior Assessment Officer, ensure that relevant partners are consulted and involved at all stages of 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;
• In coordination with the Senior Assessment Officer, 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 has been conducted and documented as appropriate;
• In coordination with the Senior Assessment Officer, represent REACH in technical external engagements related to assessments such as in the Cash Working Group or Market Analysis Task Force;

3. Confidentiality and Data Protection

The REACH Assessment Officer 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 REACH.

4. Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries

The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities REACH 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 REACH programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every REACH staff member.

5. Protection mainstreaming

Promoting of and adhering to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and guidelines (for site residents, ACTED staff, partner agencies, casual labours etc.).

Other

Any other tasks as assigned by the Line Manager.

III. Job Qualifications and Experience

• Excellent Bachelor’s degree qualification in a relevant discipline, a Master degree is an added advantage.
• At least 2 years of experience working in humanitarian settings required;
• Experience conducting cash and market-related assessments and fluency in cash-based transfer modalities;
• Experience coordinating interagency assessments or monitoring activities;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting;
• Excellent team management skills, including remote management of staff;
• Ability to implement large-scale assessments, both qualitative and quantitative.
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
• Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;
• Fluency in English required
• Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel (advanced skills) and Adobe Creative Suite Products is required;
• Ability to operate SPSS, Python, R, or related statistical programming preferred
• Ability to operate GIS is an asset;
• High level of autonomy and willingness to spend time in deep field locations during rapid assessments away from ACTED support;
• Ability to work independently.