JOB PROFILE
Dakar is the regional office for West and Central Africa of IMPACT Initiatives. The Regional Data Specialist position is based in Dakar, Senegal. It is fully dedicated to regional projects, technical support for country missions covered by the regional office and a deployment capacity ( surge mission ) in countries.
Under the supervision and direct responsibility of the West and Central Africa Regional Office Representative, the Data Specialist provides technical inputs at all stages of relevant research cycles, including secondary data review, conceptualization of assessments, research design, cleaning and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, production of information products (including dashboards, analysis tables), and dissemination of information products.
He/she will participate in project coordination with partners, donor reporting, presentations, and will have to contribute to the strategic development of IMPACT in the countries of the region, in close collaboration with the regional office representative.
He/she ensures regular communication with IMPACT research/data teams in these countries, which he/she coordinates within the framework of regional projects. He/she ensures efficient communication with his/her direct manager and with IMPACT headquarters.
He/she is also responsible for developing and implementing an ongoing capacity building programme for regional and country level data team members and (where appropriate) providing training. He/she will mentor data staff involved in regional projects on technical aspects.
During his/her assignment, the Data Specialist will be hosted and hosted by ACTED, IMPACT’s global partner, and will be under the responsibility of his/her delegates for all administrative, security, logistics and financial matters. He/she will therefore have to fully comply with ACTED’s rules and regulations regarding security, human resources, administration, logistics and finance.
Assignment
RESPONSIBILITIES
MANAGEMENT OF GIS FUNCTIONS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF RESEARCH PLANNING
* Coordination of research and data functions within regional projects
· Ensure a relevant approach to regional research cycles, for all phases of research: identification and management of available data, information products, revisions of ToR drafts & analysis plan, review of relevant information products;
· Data: Ensure the maintenance and coordination of the improvement of data quality and monitoring at the regional level. This includes (but is not exclusive to): cross-checking quantitative and qualitative data, carrying out relevant disaggregations in the context of associated research; developing management and analysis systems; ensuring the quality of data and technical information at all stages of the research & the involvement of country teams in this regard; guaranteeing the confidentiality and protection of the information collected;
· Estimate the research cycle deadlines and the resources required to implement the regional research cycle. Ensure that deadlines are met and that risks are properly managed, by identifying appropriate solutions in close coordination with the manager;
· Support regional assessment teams in the design and implementation of methodologies, tools, sampling, data cleaning and analysis, process automation via R, STATA (or similar), information processing (in developing innovative systems), in close collaboration with country teams (where applicable);
· Review regional information products and results dissemination strategy, in order to maximize the impact of projects, in accordance with IMPACT research standards and in close coordination with the direct manager;
* Technical support and management of data functions within the framework of country-related projects
· Data: Provide support in improving data quality and monitoring at country level. This includes (but is not exclusive to): supporting teams to resolve discrepancies and ensure their regular updating of geospatial data; training teams to ensure that collected data is georeferenced; supporting the development of management and analysis systems; supporting the quality of data and technical information at all stages of research & the involvement of country teams in this regard when requested by country teams;
· Support regional assessment teams in the design and implementation of methodologies, tools, sampling, data cleaning and analysis, information processing (in developing innovative systems), in close collaboration with country teams (where applicable);
· Support and assist country data teams in data analysis, in the creation of tools and training accordingly.
* Field deployment capacity (surge missions)
· Carrying out support missions (remotely or in person), in the event of a need identified by another country. These missions will respond to a surge mission term of reference drawn up and communicated by the Country Coordinator, including with results, a timetable and a budget clearly defined and consistent with the skills of the Regional GIS Specialist.
COORDINATION OF REGIONAL PROJECTS, FUNCTIONAL MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
· Provide technical and thematic leadership of regional projects in close coordination with the country manager(s) (if applicable), and ensure regular data team meetings to keep everyone on the same level of information, particularly on objectives and their achievement;
· Provide functional oversight of relevant data teams and develop work and skills development plans in close coordination with the country manager(s) (where applicable);
· Ensure regular meetings with country and regional data teams in close coordination with the country manager(s) (if applicable), with clearly identified research action points;
· Ensure liaison through efficient and transversal communication with colleagues participating in the research (GIS, Data, country teams), in close coordination with the country manager(s) (if applicable);
· Ensure the introduction of data for new staff members, working in close coordination with the country manager/managers (if applicable)
· Support the country manager(s) (if applicable) in team evaluations, participating in career management (technical profile assessments, training needs, personal motivations);
· Be available to provide regular support and technical backstopping to teams, and, when requested, support the Country Coordinator/Country Representative and RMs in the data staff assessment and recruitment process
INTERNAL KNOWLEDGE SHARING, LEARNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
· Identify and resolve the needs of the region’s mission teams in terms of technical data processing capabilities; propose an adequate training plan with them, with the country manager(s) (if applicable);
· Implement and monitor a multidisciplinary training and learning plan by reinforcing the culture of rigor, innovation and learning within IMPACT operations, and ensure performance monitoring and remote or on-site support as necessary in close coordination with the country manager(s) (if applicable);
· Organize and support regular training for country and regional teams, including regular updates on IMPACT guidelines, adapted (context-specific) training modules, on-the-job learning; complement internal training materials with external resources, where appropriate;
· Proactively provide regular technical support and guidance to teams in the region, whilst ensuring a high level of communication is maintained with the country manager(s) (if applicable);
· Collaborate effectively with departments, global units and global learning processes, such as methodological notes, lessons learned, SOPs, communities of practice (CoP);
· Generate and document robust lessons learned at the end of each relevant research cycle and ensure their effective communication at all levels;
· Continually seek to improve and innovate IMPACT research, data practices, information products and processes to identify and fill information gaps in the regional humanitarian response to support the facilitation of an evidence-based response.
DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM STRATEGIES
· Actively contribute to the development of regional program strategies, by proposing relevant technical and thematic content, in close coordination with the manager;
· Identify and cover gaps in GIS and information management in different countries and contribute to developing regional or national GIS and information management strategies with relevant technical and thematic contents;
· Contribute to the development of the communication strategy on regional information products;
· Ensure that GIS strategies are implemented in a structured and coherent manner, in line with project objectives and strategic goals, in close coordination with the country manager(s) (where applicable);
· Support the development/revision of strategies, reports or new evaluation/program proposals;
EXTERNAL COMMITMENT
· Ensure representation in relevant technical working groups at regional level, in close coordination with the regional manager and strategy;
· Participate and actively contribute to knowledge sharing and lessons learned exercises between agencies and stakeholders;
· Ensure communication with relevant partners within regional programmes, and ensure that they are consulted and involved in the preparation and validation of data processes, in close coordination with the country manager(s) (where applicable);
· More generally, contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, in particular through the application of IMPACT’s mandate, ethics, values and position in relation to other actors and by contributing to creating a culture of rigorous use of evidence and learning among humanitarian responders.
Profile
REQUIRED CONDITIONS
- Academic Excellent academic qualifications, preferably including a Master’s degree in the relevant discipline ;
- Research Skills Excellent research and analytical skills are required, including a good understanding of sampling frames and their application, ability to analyze large data sets, and ability to perform temporal or spatial trend analyses.
- Proven experience in data science . Excellent data analysis skills.
- Software Skills Advanced knowledge of R, STATA, Python or equivalent statistical software. Proven knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Knowledge of ArcGIS is an advantage.
- Familiarity with the help system Familiarity with the help system and with the research community;
- Number of years of professional experience At least 4 years of relevant professional experience
- Excellent communication and report writing skills for effective reporting
- Ability to multitask under tight deadlines, across multiple research cycles
- Level of independence Strong existing ability to work independently in support of colleagues and partners;
- Intercultural work environment Ability to work in an intercultural environment requiring flexibility
- Experience in the geographic region Previous experience in the region is desirable
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- For this position, the salary is between CHF 3,060 and CHF 3,360 per month (before income tax), etc. plus a monthly living allowance of USD 300.
- NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary scale based on the grade of the position and the education level of the staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied to account for the fact that some staff members must work in difficult locations where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
- Accommodation and food in a guesthouse. Depending on the country situation, a contribution to a housing allowance of up to 75% of the country-specific reference index may be considered instead.
- Membership in a Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approximately 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance
- On a case-by-case basis, accompanied person status and corresponding benefits may apply (health insurance and airline tickets for dependents, education allowance for children)
- Airfare every 6 months and visa fees covered (in-country travel and business expenses are fully covered)
- Contribution to baggage transport: between 20 and 100 kg, depending on the duration of the contract (+ baggage and personal property insurance)
- Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Leave for family or compassionate reasons, if applicable.
- Pre-departure initiation – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives headquarters in Geneva + one week of pre-departure training at ACTED headquarters in Paris, including a 4-day on-site security training;
- Enrollment in the IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months of contract start.
