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 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. 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 and GIS. 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, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support in its fields of intervention.

We are currently looking for an Assessment Officer to support our team in Ukraine.
Title: Assessment Officer – Humanitarian Infrastructure and Damage Unit
Contract duration: 6 months with possibility of extension
Location: Ukraine, base TBD
Starting Date: December 2024

IMPACT has been present in Ukraine since 2014 and scaled up significantly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022, which resulted in civilian casualties, widespread damage to housing and public service infrastructure, large-scale displacement and market disruptions. IMPACT provides humanitarian actors with rigorous data and in-depth analysis to ensure aid interventions in Ukraine are timely, appropriate, and relevant.

In this context, IMPACT’s Humanitarian Infrastructure and Damage Unit (HIDU) analyses the war’s impacts on the built and natural environments. This includes:
Ø Infrastructure damage assessments using remote sensing of high-resolution satellite imagery.
Ø Qualitative analysis to understand the socio-economic impacts of infrastructure damage.
Ø Assessments to support winterisation responses.
Ø Analyses of war-induced environmental contamination, with a focus on damaged industrial facilities.
Ø Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) assessments in conflict settings.
The unit combines quantitative, qualitative and GIS methods to produce actionable information in support of humanitarian and recovery action in Ukraine. The unit’s scope of work continually adapts to account for the evolving context and information needs of humanitarian actors. The HIDU regularly engages with a range of stakeholders, including humanitarian clusters, local and international non-government organisations (NGO), governmental authorities and emergency responders. The team also pilots humanitarian application of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), through local and global partnerships.

FUNCTIONS

Under the line management of the Associate Research Manager (ARM), the Assessment Officer (AO) is responsible for the development and implementation of IMPACT’s research cycles in Ukraine, including the preparation, data collection, analysis, drafting, dissemination and evaluation stages. S/he is also responsible for supporting the management, implementation and follow-up of REACH Ukraine’s Humanitarian Infrastructure and Damage portfolio. This position will provide analytical capacity for the implementation of current research cycles and programmatic expansion in Unit. The ideal candidate will approach this role strategically, ensuring that the data collected and outputs disseminated can meet the information needs of targeted humanitarian actors, and of relevant local and national government authorities.
With the support of the ARM, the HIDU Research Manager (RM) and thematic experts in the Ukraine mission, s/he will support the identification of knowledge gaps on the humanitarian impact and recovery implications of conflict-related infrastructural and environmental damage, design new assessments to address those gaps, and engage with a range of external stakeholders to ensure our data is appropriately informing response and recovery efforts.
Specifically, the candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of several assessments in support of the winterisation response in Ukraine. This includes close engagement and collaboration with key humanitarian coordination actors, such as OCHA, the Shelter Cluster, and WASH clusters, to ensure that data and findings are aligned with the needs of ongoing response efforts. Additionally, the candidate will conduct analytical work related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) to identify factors such as disaster risks, climate impacts, and access restrictions due to landmines, which could exacerbate humanitarian needs and delay recovery in conflict-affected areas. This work will involve collaboration within a multi-disciplinary team of Assessment Officers, GIS officers, and Data Officers. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, with the opportunity to expand the mission’s portfolio and contribute to critical winterisation and recovery efforts.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
Ø Make a meaningful impact on humanitarian efforts and recovery operations in Ukraine’s conflict-affected areas.
Ø Apply and enhance your analytical skills to assess infrastructure damage, environmental risks, and humanitarian needs.
Ø Deepen your experience and understanding of the international humanitarian system through hands-on engagement with leading humanitarian coordination bodies and partners.
Ø Broaden your professional network by collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, and local authorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assessment Officer is responsible for the following:

1) RESEARCH PLANNING:

• Ensure that 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;

• Input in the design of new research approaches and methodologies or update existing ones according to IMPACT’s requirements and principles as well as partners’ information needs;
• Proactively engage externally to understand the needs of different stakeholders and how data from IMPACT assessments is being used;
• Compose and construct, in close coordination with GIS and data teams, qualitative and quantitative data collection tools;
• For each research cycle, prepare or update To Rs and ensure their validation by HQ before any data collection begins.

2) RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION

• In close liaison with field and database officers, ensure that required enumerators are identified and trained for primary data collection;
• In close liaison with field officers and database officers, monitor data collection, ensuring its correct implementation in line with agreed To Rs;
• Ensure regular situation updates on data collection are produced and circulated to line manager, relevant colleagues and external counterparts. Provide support and follow up on identified challenges during the data collection process;
• Ensure that data is revised and cleaned, and that all revisions are recorded;
• Provide data analysis on primary and/or secondary data as per To Rs, ensuring that meaningful techniques are used to analyse the data collected;
• Ensure that all data and analysis are validated by IMPACT HQ before the product drafting stage.

3) DRAFTING OF RESEARCH PRODUCTS

• Draft 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 impact in line with their intended use including data visualization methods.

4) EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• Ensure that all 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 meetings/ working groups;
• Follow up on relevant issues identified by partners or during meetings / working groups;
• Engage with external partners to identify areas where relevant findings can be actively utilised;
• After validation by line manager, present research findings to relevant third parties in order to enhance their use and impact.

5) KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND LEARNING PROCESSES

• Generate and document robust lessons learned at the end of each research cycle;
• Ensure knowledge and learning processes are shared with other team members, and units within mission, and with HQ.

6) PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance to project cycle management requirements and guidelines at all phases;
• Ensure that project deliverables and requirements are tracked, met and complied to;
• Ensure that any issue in relation to project implementation is reported to the line manager, finance and grants colleagues, and HQ;
• Other tasks as requested by supervisors.

DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION

The Assessment Officer will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes, ensuring full compliance with IMPACT’s data protection policy and SOPs. S/he 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.

REQUIREMENTS

• Academic Excellent academic qualifications, preferably including a Master degree in relevant discipline;

• • Research skills Proficiency and proven experience with research methods. Excellent analytical skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies;
  • Software skills Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and Power Point. Skills in R, or other statistical analysis software, are an advantage; Experience with In Design an asset.
  • Years of work experience At least 3 years of relevant working experience. Experience in humanitarian settings required, experience in complex humanitarian crises desirable.
  • Experience in or advanced understanding in damage impact analysis, environmental assessments, disaster risk reduction, climate change or other relevant fields.
  • Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting.
  • Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles.
  • Level of independence Proven ability to work independently.
  • Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility.
  • Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in Ukrainian or Russian an asset.
  • Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.

  COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  
  
  • For this position, salary between 2’400 CHF and 2’520 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 300 USD
    
    • NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
      
  • Accommodation and food provided in a guesthouse. Depending on the country situation, a contribution to a housing allowance of up to 75% of country-specific benchmark can be considered instead. NB – IMPACT is hosted by ACTED in this country
    
  • Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance
    
  • This base is not a family duty station
    
  • Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered)
    
  • R&R after 2-3 months (flight ticket up to 500$ + 200$ of living allowance) if duty station allows
    
  • Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)
    
  • Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.
    
  • Predeparture induction - 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’s HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training;
    
  • Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.
    
  • IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees