Senior Research Officer for Sudan, based in Nairobi (Link For External Applicants)

BACKGROUND ON IMPACT

Created in 2010, IMPACT is a Geneva-based NGO and the largest independent data provider in contexts of crisis. IMPACT aims to support a range of stakeholders in making better, more informed decisions in humanitarian, stabilization, and development settings. Through our team of assessment, data, geospatial, and thematic specialists, IMPACT promotes the design of people-centred research and set standards for collecting and analysing rigorous, high quality data in complex environments. Over the past 15 years, IMPACT has been growing in size and geographic reach to become one of the largest humanitarian research agencies in the humanitarian sector.

IMPACT’s teams implement assessment, monitoring, evaluation, and organisational capacity-building programmes in direct partnership with aid actors. IMPACT’s team is composed of over 200 full-time international experts as well as a roster of consultants, who are currently implementing over 50 programmes in over 30 countries across Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Central and South-east Asia, and Eastern Europe.

We are currently looking for a Senior Research Officer to support our Sudan country team, currently based in Nairobi, Kenya

Position: Senior Research Officer Cash and Markets

Contract duration: 6 months

Starting Date: ASAP

Location: Nairobi, Kenya.

COUNTRY PROFILE

Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in Khartoum on 15 April 2023 and spread quickly across the country. Civilians have fled areas affected by fighting in large numbers, including to Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. Prices of food, fuel and other basic goods have skyrocketed skyrocketing, making critical goods unaffordable for many people. Half of Sudan’s population are in need of humanitarian assistance, and the country is on the verge of a catastrophic hunger crisis. Humanitarian organizations are racing to respond to the most pressing needs wherever and whenever feasible, with access issues complicating the ability of actors to respond. In this fast-evolving context, IMPACT Initiatives is working to inform the emergency response to enable effective prioritization with scarce resources.

POSITION PROFILE

Under the line management of the Research Manager for the Inter-Cluster Unit, the Senior Research Officer will take responsibility for all Cash workstreams, including overall responsibility for the Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI) research cycle which records prices and stock levels across Sudan on a monthly basis, as well as associated analytical pieces based on JMMI data. This involves overseeing two Research Officers responsible for managing the JMMI, representing IMPACT in critical cash coordination fora like the Cash Working Group and Transfer Value Task Force, and independently developing and implementing new analysis based on JMMI data.

This position requires strong research skills, a willingness to work in a team, an analytical mind, creativity, and strong independence. Knowledge of the national or regional context in Sudan, as well as fluency in Arabic are considered a strong asset. Candidates should have strong writing and presentation skills and be able to clearly think through and articulate implications of research findings. The position will regularly require looking at data, pulling out relevant findings, writing engaging briefs and factsheets, presenting findings to external audiences with varying amounts of data literacy, and guiding colleagues in how to think more analytically about their own research.

BACKGROUND ON CASH AND MARKET ASSESSMENTS

In recent decades, humanitarian action has moved towards giving aid in the form of cash or voucher assistance (CVA) issued directly to beneficiaries. This gives beneficiaries a choice in how to spend aid money, and it also supports livelihoods, markets, and supply chains within impacted localities. Effective CVA must be backed by informed research on price levels, the availability of goods, and the resilience of supply chains across different localities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Research Officer’s responsibilities include:

RESEARCH CYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Take overall accountability for the robust and timely implementation of the JMMI research cycle
• Manage additional research cycles based on JMMI data end-to-end, including development of objectives, research design and analysis.
• Manage timelines and deliverables aligning outputs with partners programmatic objectives

RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Independently develop analysis based on JMMI and additional secondary data sources relevant to the context and supporting humanitarian programming
• Oversee the development of the JMMI and provide technical guidance on needed adjustments
• Produce high quality research outputs in English.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• Represent IMPACT on all cash-related platforms, including the Cash Working Group, Collective Sudan (CCS), Markets in Crisis Group and others, as well as regular engagement with senior stakeholders involved in cash programming, including WFP, IFPRI, CHC, Rift Valley Institute and others
• Provide technical advice to external partners such as the Transfer Value Working Group based on JMMI data
• Develop an understanding of key information gaps based on feedback from partners to develop new analysis products accordingly

CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING

• Develop an understanding of price and market dynamics across different regions in Sudan
• Keep up to date with conflict dynamics

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING

• Manage two Research Officers who are responsible for liaising with partner organisations who carry out data collection, supporting data cleaning, analysing findings, and crafting outputs such as factsheets and written reports
• Promote capacity building across the IMPACT Sudan mission related to deepening analytical capacities using existing research (capacity building portfolio will depend on level of experience).

INTERNAL COORDINATION

• Interact autonomously with HQ departments and possibly serving as a mission focal point for particular themes or technical areas;
• Coordinate with research units and teams to move forward or improve aspects of the research cycle;
• Supporting senior management with designing, planning, and implementing strategies, and objectives.
• The Senior Research Officer 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 their assignment with IMPACT.

REQUIREMENTS

• Academic qualifications Excellent academic qualifications are required. A master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. international studies, development, humanitarian response, data science, political science, etc.) is an asset.
• Years of work experience At least 3-5 years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian setting or equivalent, which could include assessments, monitoring and evaluation, research design and analysis.
• Research skills Excellent quantitative and qualitative research data analysis experience is required.
• Thematic experience in cash and markets in emergencies Proven track record of engaging in cash and markets work in contexts of crises with a deep understanding of concepts such as the MEB, Transfer Values, regional price fluctuations and impacts on the response
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent verbal and written communication and drafting skills in English for effective reporting are required.
• 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 is an asset
• Familiarity with aid system Good understanding of the aid system and the research community. Prior experience with humanitarian coordination forums is an asset.
• Thematic experience Prior experience with Cash and Markets, particularly with the JMMI is an asset.
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the region is desirable; knowledge of the national context in Sudan would be a significant asset.
• Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in Arabic is a significant asset.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• For this position, salary between 2’580 CHF and 2’640 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 the guesthouse.
• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife - approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered).
• 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;
• 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.