Reach Gis Officer (Cash & Markets)

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 on its fields of intervention. We are currently looking for a REACH Assessment Officer (GIS) to support our REACH Syria team. Department: REACH Position: Cash and Markets Assessment Officer (GIS) Contract duration: 6 months Location: Amman, Jordan Starting Date: ASAP

COUNTRY PROFILE

Into its ninth year of conflict, conditions in Syria remain highly volatile and marked by intense violence and limited humanitarian access. The scale, complexity, and severity of humanitarian needs in Syria extends the necessity for up to date, timely, and accurate information. Evidence-based planning and programming remains paramount to ensure that the response adequately meets the needs of the most vulnerable people and is tailored to different realities across communities and over time. However, informing operational and strategic planning remains highly challenging, as accessibility and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security issues impede systematic data collection. A lack of predictable and consistent data undermines the ability of humanitarian actors to review their approach in light of the dynamic context. REACH has been conducting assessments on the humanitarian situation in Syria since 2013 and has over the years grown significantly both in size and in influence as an actor in the Syria response. REACH works in opposition-controlled parts of Syria and coordinates closely with OCHA, nearly all clusters, key working groups (IM and technical) within the Syria coordination system, and various NGO fora in order to identify, address, and raise awareness of key information gaps, as well as to uphold the quality of data used to inform the response. Through these engagements, REACH has identified that the following key challenges remain: (1) the lack of a needs tracking system that brings together and shares timely and regular information on changes in needs from a variety of sources; (2) the ability to conduct coordinated large scale data collection on a more regular basis – particularly critical in the highly volatile context, and during key humanitarian milestones such as the HNO; (3) the lack information from harder to reach areas with some of the most acute needs (4) lack of ability to quickly mobilise data collection in areas experiencing sudden escalations in conflict, due to accessibility, operational and security constraints; (5) the lack of more granular and detailed information on needs and response capacity on specific newly accessible geographic areas. Broadly speaking, REACH Syria implements assessments within four key streams: · Monitoring of the humanitarian situation in Syria, through monthly assessments covering over 1,600 communities in Syria, market monitoring to track prices of goods as per the survival minimum expenditure basket (SMEB), and ad hoc rapid assessments in times of sudden escalations in conflict or natural disasters. · Displacement tracking, through tracking the movement of IDPs and Returnees down to a 24-48 hourbasis, as well as monitoring the humanitarian situation inside IDP camps and informal settlements. · Area-Based Assessments to support humanitarian actors in the coordination to identify key response gaps by comparing humanitarian needs data with response data, in a set locality – often one that has recently become accessible and/or that is recovering for instance from besiegement. · Technical support to clusters, for example in the form of coordination and implementation of sector and multisector assessments to inform the HNO, production of thematic assessments, presentations of findings, and capacity building. For an example of REACH Syria information products, please see below: · REACH: Syria Market Monitoring, September 2020 Northwest factsheet · REACH: Market Network Analysis, November 2020 Northeast factsheet and Northwest factsheet

POSITION PROFILE

REACH Syria is seeking a GIS Officer (GISO) to provide support to the Cash & Markets Unit. In this role, the GISO will be responsible for leading REACH’s GIS-focused Market Network Analysis assessment, supporting GIS components on other Cash & Markets unit assessments, and responding to ad-hoc analysis requests from external partners & Cash & Markets unit team members. The GISO will work closely with other cash & market assessment focal points and the Cash Working Groups (CWG) and Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) coordination bodies. FUNCTIONS Objective 1: Leading Market Network Analysis Assessments The MNA is a GIS focused assessment that analyses the connections between communities and markets in northern Syria and visualises these networks in a GIS map format. Under the supervision of the Cash & Markets RM, and in collaboration with CWG and FSL coordinators and the IMPACT Data Unit, the GISO will be responsible for the following tasks for the Market Network Analysis (MNA) assessment:

• Independently designing and implementing REACH assessment strategy and methodology and corresponding analytical frameworks
• Coordinating and ensuring timely data collection, analysis and, mapping of datasets and ensuring that all collected data is geo-referenced
• Manage assessment schedules and work with field staff to design and implement REACH assessment procedures
• Ensuring the writing of timely and accurate assessment reports, briefs and factsheets with integration of cluster and/or partner feedback

Objective 2: Supporting GIS Components of Cash & Market Assessments Under the supervision of the Cash & Markets RM, and in collaboration with other Cash & Markets staff, the AO will be responsible for supporting other Cash & Market Unit assessment leads on GIS component of their assessments including:

• Preparation, conception and production of maps

o Identify maps needs o Identify and access map information sources o Ensure accurate linkages between spatial databases and assessment data o Ensures that the produced maps meet the requirements of REACH and concerned partners

• Remote sensing analysis

o Acting as the focal point for and leading remote sensing analysis for the Cash & Markets Unit o Contributing to the development of relevant remote sensing methodology under the supervision of the GIS Specialist.

• GIS data cleaning, management, and merging

o Manage data received monthly from the team; o Maintain, update and expand R-based system of data management and analysis for data dissemination and reporting; o Maintain, update and expand automated data analysis and map production for factsheets o Organize and expand the system to other REACH projects; Objective 3: Ad-Hoc Analysis and Information Requests Under the supervision of the Cash & Markets RM and in collaboration with other members of the Cash & Markets Unit or other REACH Syria units, the AO may be asked to carry out ad-hoc analysis of existing data at the request of cluster or working group partners. This may include ad hoc mapping support, supporting in targeted or trends analysis of data from other related projects, or more targeted analysis of Cash & Markets assessment data.

REQUIREMENTS

· Master degree in GIS or a related discipline (Geography, Geomatics, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences). Bachelor’s degree in GIS or related discipline with additional relevant work experience. · Proven coordination and external engagement skills; · 2 years of experience in GIS/Database/Remote sensing, preferably in humanitarian context; · Excellent organizational skills; · Written and spoken fluency in English required; · Previous experience in survey tool design and implementation; · Excellent analytical skills – ability to situate findings within a wider context; · Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting and coordination; · Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. · Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility; · Ability to work independently.

DESIRABLE

· Previous experience analysing complex data with R; knowledge of other statistical programming languages and packages; · Previous work experience related to cash-based response and livelihoods; · Previous experience in InDesign; · Knowledge of the humanitarian coordination structure;

CONDITIONS

· Salary defined by the IMPACT salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus. · Additional monthly living allowance provided in country by IMPACT’s partner ACTED. · 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.