POSITION PROFILE

The Assessment Specialist will be responsible for leading a critical new research cycle in the Sudan mission focused on identifying and filling the most critical data gaps in Public Health (FSL, WASH, Health, Nutrition). Under the supervision of the Deputy Country Director, the Senior specialist will lead the development and timely implementation of the following:

1.         Conducting a comprehensive mapping of existing data sources in Public Health and operational coverage of localities by INGO and UN actors to identify key data gaps and potential partnerships to fill them

2.         Developing and implementing targeted assessments with adaptive methods to complement the MSNA and support emergency prioritization in Public Health

This position requires a profile of someone who is both analytical and focused on building strong relationships in complex environments. Candidates should have strong research, analytical, writing and presentation skills and be able to clearly think through and articulate implications of research findings. The position will require strong external engagement to build partnerships across the humanitarian system and encourage greater information sharing across a fragmented and complex response, as well as the management of the research cycle end-to-end, looking at data, pulling out relevant findings, writing engaging briefs and factsheets and presenting findings to external audiences with varying amounts of data literacy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assessment Specialist’s responsibilities include:

RESEARCH CYCLE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

§  Understanding the research cycle and how this research contributes to strategic response objectives.

§  Developing different research methodologies to meet the data needs in Sudan within the severe limitations of a complex operating environment

§  Managing the research cycle, including oversight of research design, data collection, or analysis.

§  Leading the research cycle including research design, tool development, and analysis.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

§  Leading on external engagement with INGO and UN partners related to development and implementation of the research cycles and analytical research findings.

§  Engage with key clusters and the INGO forum to align on the most critical gaps to focus on and ways to address them

§  In coordination with the Deputy Country Director, represent REACH with donors, partners, and the wider response community in Sudan.

INTERNAL COORDINATION

§  Interacting autonomously with HQ departments, in particular on developing this innovative research.

§  Coordinating with research units and teams to move forward or improve aspects of the research cycle.

§  Supporting senior management with making relevant research connections across the mission with the objective to firmly position the Sudan team as key connector and contributor to an overall improve data landscape in Sudan

CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING

§  Keeping up to date with the shifting Sudanese context.

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING

§  Promoting capacity building across the IMPACT Sudan mission related to deepening analytical capacities using existing research.

The Specialist will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. They 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 IMPACT.

v  Years of work experience 5 years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian setting, such as assessments, monitoring and evaluation, research design and analysis, etc.

v  Research skills Excellent quantitative and qualitative research data analysis experience required.

v  Familiarity with aid system Good understanding of the aid system and the research community, with knowledge of the humanitarian program cycle (HPC) and the humanitarian coordination structures.

v  Thematic experience Prior experience coordinating interagency assessments or monitoring activities, with a focus on Public Health.

v  Communication/reporting skills Excellent verbal and written communication and drafting skills for effective reporting required.

v  Academic qualifications Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. international studies, development, humanitarian response, data science, political science, etc.).

v  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

v  Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.

v  Experience in geographical region Past experience in the region/supporting is desirable

v  Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in Arabic is an asset.