BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH
REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, supporting and working within the framework of the humanitarian reform process. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.
IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis, GIS and remote-sensing. 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, which allows particularly IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.
ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Their interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context. Their 3,300 staff is committed in to responding to emergencies worldwide, to supporting recovery and rehabilitation, towards sustainable development.
We are currently looking for a REACH GIS Officer to support our REACH team in Central African Republic.
Department: REACH
Position: REACH GIS Officer
Contract duration: 6 months
Location: Bangui, CAR
Country profile
Multiple displacement has taken place in Central African Republic (CAR) since 2005 as a result of conflict and crime. After the 2007 Libreville peace agreement, the security situation in the north of the country began to improve, prompting the spontaneous return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their areas of origin. However, the political-military crisis in the capital, Bangui, in March 2013 aggravated the already precarious humanitarian situation and resulted in a significant increase in displacement. The international community declared the situation a ‘level 3’ crisis on 5 December 2013 i.e. the most severe level of a humanitarian emergency. Since December 2013, nearly 900,000 people have fled their homes: an estimated 436,000 people are internally displaced, and an additional 460,000 people have found refuge in 4 asylum countries: Cameroun, Chad, DRC and Congo.
Position profile
The assignment
Under the supervision of and IMPACT HQ in Geneva, UNICEF, and the ACTED Country Director a, the REACH GIS Officer will be responsible for the processes and outputs related to database management and mapping in CAR for the Rapid Response Mechanism. He/she will be responsible for supporting the development and maintenance of Activity Info database for the consolidation of all assessment-related (multisectorial assessments, exploratory missions) and interventions (NFI distributions, WASH interventions) and GIS data in country/region. He/she will manage the rapid production of static maps on targeted crisis and issues as well as providing required inputs for the development of mapping solutions.
The GIS Officer will also support project-level database creation and information management mechanisms. He/she will also ensure regular communication with IMPACT HQ, backstopping, technical support and interactions for reporting and data management with key partners.
Supervision
The GIS Officer will report to the UNICEF RRM Coordinator and GIS Manager in Geneva. Line management rests with IMPACT HQ. In country, they will operate under the authority of the ACTED Country Director.
The GIS Officer may be responsible for other members of the GIS and DB team including GIS/DB interns and assistants.
Working relations
Internally, the GIS Officer will work closely with UNICEF RRM Coordination and IMPACT HQ. These relations will also extend to ACTED country staff including Program Development, AMEU and Area Coordinators.
Externally, the GIS Officer will be expected to liaise with national and international partners, notably IM focal points in NGOs, UN agencies and clusters.
Functions
REACH GIS Officer will fulfil the following functions:
1. GIS Activities
a. Preparation, conception and production of maps
- Identify map information needs;
- Identify and access map information sources;
- Ensure accurate linkages between spatial databases and assessment data,
- Ensures that the produced maps meet the requirements of REACH and concerned partners.
b. Supervision and monitoring of mapping related data collection
- Conceptualize methodologies for collecting data in the field, as according to need;
- Organize and supervise GIS field missions;
- Monitor accuracy of data collected.
- Cross check data collected in the field, ensure regular updates and solve eventual discrepancies;
c. Project development support
- Co-developing GIS components in proposals and supervising the implementation of these GIS components in approved projects;
d. GIS Staff Management
- Supervising the activities of subordinate GIS staff, including GIS assistants and interns;
2. Database/Data Management Activities
The REACH GIS Officer will manage the maintenance of database(s) for the consolidation of all assessment-related and GIS data in country. He/she will ensure the capitalization of tools and procedures related to mapping and databases. Furthermore, he/she will support the assessment team in the collection and management of spatial datasets, verification and update of the collected data. He/she will monitor the accuracy of collected data.
Manage and upgrade the information management strategy for RRM: document management, flows of information, review of the tools, of the database structure, capacity building and data workflows improvements. He/she will ensure the capitalization of tools and procedures related to mapping and databases. Furthermore, he/she will train and support the RRM field teams in the collection and management of spatial datasets, verification and update of the collected data as needed. He/she will monitor the accuracy of collected data.
Analyze RRM data, identify and address information management gaps, and facilitate information sharing between countries in the region, including through the regional web portal.
Identify new information and data requirements to support operations and partners of RRM.
Design all information products and services as appropriate (factsheets, dashboards, mailing list, Humanitarian Response Portal, etc.)
3. Technical Support
The REACH GIS Officer will contribute towards the identification and implementation of effective and adapted technical solutions and partnerships. The REACH GIS Officer will provide technical backstopping of database to GIS/DB team and provide capacity-building to GIS/DB team related to database maintenance and advanced GIS techniques. He/she will also support the collection of spatial datasets and integration with REACH activities.
4. External Relations
The REACH GIS Officer will respond to information requests from REACH and its partners. In order to support the development of joint database tools and processes with REACH partners in country, the REACH GIS Officer will maintain regular interactions and reporting with key IM partners including cluster lead agencies, UN agencies, NGOs and technical partners. He/she will respond to information requests from REACH partners in country related to MIS data and mapping as well as solicit information from partner organizations to be incorporated into database. Furthermore, he/she will liaise with these partners to ensure the data is shared with REACH MIS team when required.
5. Internal Communication Processes
The REACH GIS/DB will liaise with IMPACT in Geneva to guarantee a quality product that suits the needs of the field office. He/she will respond to information requests from IMPACT Initiatives and keep Geneva informed of the MIS activities in the field.
6. Confidentiality and Data Protection
The REACH GIS Officer will maintain the strictest confidentiality of data and processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of information and data.
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.
REQUIREMENTS
- Master degree in Geography/GIS or a related discipline;
- 2 years of experience in GIS / Database management, preferably in humanitarian context;
- Previous experience with mobile data collection (ODK, ONA, KOBO);
- Knowledge of analytical software packages (R, SPSS, Stata, Tableau, etc.);
- Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and InDesign;
- Knowledge of JavaScript and related libraries (D3, Leaflet) for development of interactive webmaps and dashboards;
- Good team management skills;
- Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements an asset;
- Prior knowledge of the region an asset;
- Good organizational and communication skills with international and national staff.
Conditions
- Salary defined by the IMPACT salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
- Additional monthly living allowance
- Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment)
- Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
- Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@impact-initiatives.org
Ref: 16/CAR/GISOFFICER
Please indicate the reference in the subject line of your email.
For more information, visit us at http://www.impact-initiatives.org
