Senior Assessment Officer

Under the line management of the IMPACT Deputy Country coordinator, the Senior Assessment Officer is responsible for the implementation of IMPACT’s MSNA research cycle in Somalia, including the preparation, data collection, analysis, drafting, dissemination, and evaluation stages. Throughout the MSNA, the Senior Assessment Officer engages with partners and stakeholders to promote their participation and maximize their impact. They also ensure an efficient and transparent use of resources required for project implementation.

This position requires strong research skills (particularly in quantitative and mixed methodology sampling), willingness to work in hardship location, an analytical mind, creativity, independence, and an interest in the national and regional context. Candidates should have strong writing and presentation skills and be able to clearly think through and articulate implications of research findings, as well as engage with external stakeholders in the design and dissemination of the research cycle. The position will regularly require interpreting data, highlighting relevant findings, writing engaging briefs and factsheets, presenting findings to external audiences with varying amounts of data literacy, and guiding colleagues in how to think more analytically about their own research.

Research CYCLE MANAGEMENT

•        Anticipate knowledge gaps prior to the execution of a Research Cycle through strong understanding of the Somali context.

•        Ensure that required secondary data review and/or analysis has been conducted in preparation of an assessment.
Ensure that all research cycles are planned in line with the country strategy, relevant research and project objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines.

•        Design research approaches and methodologies according to IMPACT’s requirements and principles as well as partners’ information needs.

•        Compose and construct, in close coordination with GIS and data teams, qualitative and quantitative data collection tool.

•        Ensure relevant stakeholders and partners are engaged in research design and planning.

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING  

•        Line manage the MSNA Assessment Officer directly and lead the MSNA team throughout the research cycle

•        In close liaison with the Field Manager and Ops teams (field officer and logistics team), manage assessment logistics, including with partner organizations, identifying assessment areas, facilitating design workshops, managing joint data collection processes, and facilitating joint analysis workshops.

•        In close liaison the Ops teams, ensure logistics, financial, administration, security and HR processes directly related to ongoing and upcoming assessments are appropriately planned, implemented and coordinated with the relevant ACTED departments.

•        In close liaison with data colleagues, provide quantitative, qualitative, and spatial data analysis on primary and/or secondary data as per ToRs, ensuring that meaningful techniques are used to analyze the data collected.

•        Promoting capacity building across the IMPACT Somalia mission related to deepening analytical capacities using existing research (capacity building portfolio will depend on level of experience)

•        Providing day-to-day direct and indirect management of the research team within their unit/workstream, and field team during data collection.

Internal Coordination

•        Interacting autonomously with HQ departments and serve as mission focal point for HQ’s HPPU unit and specialists in particular themes or technical areas.

•        Engage in the development and implementation of IMPACT’s strategy in Somalia

•        Conduct regular meetings with relevant national and international assessment staff members to assess progress in relevant research cycles and to review work plan.

•        For all activities, ensure that all assessment and field teams are comprehensively briefed on objectives, expected outputs and that the overall implementation strategy is clearly understood.

•        Ensure that project/field staff are given required training and resources to achieve their tasks in line with IMPACT and project requirements. Support to the line managers and specialists in the development and implementation of capacity training plans for team members.

•        Be available to provide regular support and technical backstopping; regularly debrief team members to receive feedback on the progress of an activity.

•        In coordination with line manager, contribute to conduct induction for new staff members, including training in basic technical competencies for research design, implementation and analysis.

DISSEMINATION MANAGEMENT

•        Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate outputs that consolidate the analyses from each research cycle into relevant products such as factsheets, reports, briefs, presentations, etc which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines and quality standards.

•        Ensure that products accurately reflect the information collected and that information is conveyed in a way that maximizes their impact in line with their intended use for the relevant audiences.

•        Follow the designated timeline of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors. Ensure that delays or identified challenges for specific assessments are reported in writing and orally in a timely manner.

•        Maintain regular communication with country Management and IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for deliverables

•        Ensure that all written products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release.

External Engagement

•        Ensure that relevant partners are consulted and involved at all stages of research cycle: assessment preparation; data collection; data analysis; review of research products; product dissemination; and lessons learnt.

•        After validation by the line manager, represent IMPACT in relevant external meetings/ working groups.

•        Follow up on issues identified by partners or during meetings / working groups.

•        Promote an active use of datasets and research findings by partners and the broader humanitarian community for their decision making.

•        After validation by line manager, disseminate research findings to relevant third parties in order to enhance their use and impact.

•        Ensure that all partner engagement and all external relations are clearly documented and communicated with the line manager and relevant colleagues.

•        More generally, contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of IMPACT’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors.