ACTED Assessment Specialist - Kenya / Somalia

Department: REACH/AME
Position: REACH Country Assessment Specialist
Contract duration: 6 months Location: Kenya / Somalia Starting Date : ASAP

I. Background on ACTED

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 32 countries worldwide, with over 250 international and 3000 national staff. In 2012, ACTED has a 110 million € budget for over 350 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including 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

II. Country Profile

ACTED, in partnership with IMPACT Initiatives and its REACH Initiative is currently conducting assessment programming in Mogadishu and South-Central Somalia aimed at mapping IDP population concentrations and the assets contained within the settlements, tracking IDP returns and assistance provided, and collecting data on food security indicators to contribute to larger food security monitoring systems. ACTED has been active in Somalia for 4 years, while the REACH Initiative began work in Somalia last year as part of a global partnership with the Global Shelter Cluster.
(See www.acted.org, www.reach-initiative.org).

III. Position Profile

The REACH Country Assessment Specialist, Somalia, will be responsible for managing all aspects of REACH assessments in Somalia, including design, data collection, analysis and reporting. The position will be based 50% in Nairobi and 50% in Mogadishu and will be responsible for managing field teams both directly and remotely.

1. Manage Field Teams
   • Responsible for the day-to-day management of project and field staff both directly and remotely.
   • 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.
   • Ensure that project/field staff are given training and complete all the necessary documentation in line with program requirements set by REACH.
2. Assessment Design
   • Responsible for designing the methodology and tools associated with each assessment, according to REACH requirements and principles.
   • Engage technical experts and other agencies, as appropriate on the format and content of any tools and the methodological approach to ensure highly effective assessments as well as buy-in and understanding of the assessments by the larger humanitarian community.
   • Field test all tools and methodologies before finalizing and conducting the assessment.
3. Data Analysis
   • Responsible for using REACH databases created by REACH GIS/DB Specialist and data entry staff to conduct assessment analyses.
   • Ensure data quality through standard verification techniques in partnership with REACH GIS/DB Specialist.
4. Reporting
   • Consolidate all analyses and conclusions from each assessment into REACH products such as factsheets, reports and briefs using standard formats.
   • Liaise with Geneva and Regional GIS Specialists in order to represent data in interactive webmap or static map format, as relevant.
   • Deliver all products to external entities (donors, humanitarian community, beneficiary communities), as appropriate.
5. External Relations
   • Engage external bodies in conducting assessments and/or providing technical/logistical/human resources for assessments in-line with REACH’s aim for interagency cooperation. Represent REACH and ACTED to donors and field actors, understanding objectives and means for both organizations and able to convey the message clearly.

IV. Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in relevant topic (e.g. humanitarian aid, development, M&E, statistics, field research).
• 2-5 years of experience working in the field in a development or humanitarian context.
• Experience managing field teams directly and remotely in highly insecure and challenging contexts.
• Some knowledge of applicable data management and database computer software (ESRI JavaScript APIs, Flex, Microsoft Excel/Access, SQL, Oracle).
• Highly developed assessment design skills, including tool creation and methodology design.
• Strong writing skills.
• GIS knowledge and abilities would be consider as a plus.
• Experience working in Somalia would be considered a strong plus.
• Ability to work independently with little external support. Strong English communication skills; Somali a benefit.

V. Conditions:

• ACTED salary according to the internal salary grid and profile
• Living allowance
• Flying tickets in and out covered by ACTED
• Accomodation and food covered by ACTED
• Social and health insurances + repatriation assistance

How to apply:

VI. Submission of applications:

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org Ref : RAS/SOM/SA

ACTED Att: Human Resources Department 33, rue Godot de Mauroy 75009 Paris FRANCE

Fax. + 33 (0) 1 42 65 33 46

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