Assessment Specialist – Global Emergency Unit

We are currently looking for an Assessment Specialist to join the Global Emergency Unit in HQ.

Department: REACH

Position: Assessment Specialist

Contract duration: 12 months

Location: Geneva with travel (up to 25% field deployment)

Starting Date: ASAP

POSITION PROFILE

The Global Emergency Unit (GEU) seeks to establish systems to track, monitor, and advocate around the worst-off humanitarian crises, in order to inform emergency prioritisation at the global and national level. The newly established GEU will lead the strategic development and implementation of REACH emergency programmes, including Humanitarian Situation Monitoring (HSM), responding to sudden onset disasters, monitoring risk of excess mortality, as well as launching new global programmes, such as a global alert system. The unit plays a critical voice within the organisation, and externally among humanitarian stakeholders, to raise the alarm in the case of anticipated or occurring catastrophic outcomes in both protracted and sudden onset emergencies.

Under the direct supervision of the Global Emergency Manager (GEM), the Assessment Specialist (AS) will lead on the development of a Global Alert System, to support the identification of and tracking of the most severe crises globally, and in parallel, provide cross-cutting technical guidance and support across the emergency portfolio. The individual will be deployed up to 25% of their time to support the establishment and strengthening of emergency programmes with country teams.

FUNCTIONS

Under the line management of the IMPACT Global Emergency Manager based in Geneva, the Assessment Specialist will perform the following functions and responsibilities:

1. Development, implementation, and maintenance of the Global Alert System
   • In collaboration with the GEM, support the evolution and strengthening of a Global Alert System to support the identification and tracking of the most severe crises globally, with focus on areas at risk of excess mortality, sudden onset disasters, and/or other emergency settings:
     • Support the development of a strategy for the Global Alert System
       • In consultation with the GEM and the rest of the emergency unit, the Assessment Specialist will be responsible for the development and implementation of the Global Alert System strategy, likely with the following functions:
         • Lead the design and development of a Global Alert System drawing on emergency and other REACH workstreams to inform (1) emergency prioritisation externally, (2) prioritisation of internal resources to worst off crises, sudden onset disasters, and/or other emergency settings
         • Work with members of the Global Alert System taskforce to support the design, development, and implementation of a global alert system
         • Support the engagement with critical external stakeholders, such as ICVA and IASC EWEAR, to raise the flag on incoming/worst-off crises
2. Technical support and guidance across the Emergency programmes portfolio
   • Provide technical support and guidance to members of the GEU, including but not limited to input on strategic direction, research design, data collection, analysis, output production, and dissemination/advocacy
     • This will include HSM research and development activities, such as the validation study, the development of the HSM toolkit, rapid needs assessments, and any other new or incoming streams of work
   • Technical support to Risk of Excess Mortality identification and tracking
     • Technical support to identification and tracking of geographic areas and population groups at risk of excess mortality
     • Technical liaison with Public Health unit on verification of risk of excess mortality at country and global level
3. Country support and engagement
   • Technical support and guidance to REACH HSM/Emergency country teams at various stages of the research cycle, including research design and sampling methodologies; data collection planning; data processing, cleaning, and management; quantitative data analysis; and the reporting and dissemination of inter-sectoral findings
   • Ad hoc surge support including country deployment up to 25% – this support may be provided remotely and/or through a field deployment, depending on the extent of support required and the specific needs of the country team

• In collaboration with the GEM, support the overall running of the GEU including support to the design/development of the GEU strategy, external engagement, grants/financial management, line management of staff, and any other support as requested/required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent academic qualifications, including Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. development, humanitarian studies, international relations, research methods, social sciences, environmental studies, epidemiology, public health)
• At least 4 years of experience in the humanitarian sector, including field-based roles in fragile or development contexts (required)
• Experience with designing and implementing primary research, in particular large-scale quantitative or qualitative surveys and/or humanitarian needs assessments
• Experience developing and refining quantitative and qualitative indicators to measure humanitarian need
• Prior experience leading the design or implementation of emergency programmes, an asset (research or direct implementation)
• Familiarity with the humanitarian system and global humanitarian policy frameworks
• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting
• Excellent interpersonal skills, include strong external engagement and coordination skills
• Willingness to engage in short term field deployments, including to complex and challenging security environments
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility
• A self-starter with proven ability to work independently
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in French, Spanish or another relevant language an asset
• Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management Software
• Ability to operate Stata, R, SPSS, or related statistical programming an asset