Assessment Specialist – Accountability to Affected People

We are currently looking for a Specialist to lead the AAP portfolio in HQ.

Title: Assessment Specialist – Accountability to Affected People

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

Contract duration: Open-ended

Start date: October 2022

POSITION PROFILE

Under the supervision of the Accountability and Inclusion Manager, the AAP Assessment Specialist will provide technical and programmatic support to mainstreaming AAP in REACH research cycles as well as contributing to the further development of AAP research programming and strategy. The AAP Specialist will oversee research with a primary thematic focus on community perceptions of humanitarian assistance, community preferences regarding type and modality of assistance, communication preferences and information needs, and access to complaint and feedback mechanisms in humanitarian settings. This role will provide an opportunity to engage with key global partners on accountability within the humanitarian system, and to work alongside country teams in promoting accountability through an evidence basis in various humanitarian responses.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Accountability and Inclusion Unit Manager, the AAP Assessment Specialist will perform the following functions and responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development of the REACH Accountability & Inclusion Strategy through supporting ongoing efforts aimed at reviewing past and present research practices, methodologies and deliverables, identifying areas of improvement and outlining practical solutions.
• Provide bilateral support to REACH country teams that are developing quantitative and qualitative modules with a focus on Accountability to Affected People, including initial brainstorming sessions, review of research Terms of Reference and tools, technical advice during data collection, and output review.
• Jointly with country teams, identify and pilot innovative approaches aimed at ensuring that REACH’s research is informed by affected peoples’ information needs and that analysis of findings is led, informed or triangulated by affected populations themselves, and that findings are disseminated back to them.
• Conduct review of MSNA AAP Indicator Menu to be endorsed by the IASC, and map / review indicators and methodologies used as part of other research cycles, to identify best practices.
• Build capacity of REACH staff on AAP mainstreaming across intersectoral and sectoral research cycles through the regular sharing of best research practices, including through facilitating accountability-focused discussions as part of the Accountability and Inclusion Community of Practice.
• Oversee the design and development of global information products on AAP using REACH data to inform humanitarian response planning and prioritization decisions at both global and country levels, including building on previous cross crisis analysis work with MSNA findings from 2021 and 2020, and exploring longitudinal trends.
• Under the supervision of the Accountability and Inclusion Unit Manager, work jointly with AAP actors and media and advocacy actors to develop advocacy pieces on accountability, community perceptions and community priorities using REACH data, either by highlighting country-level findings (case study) or cross-crisis analysis.
• Leverage the experience and recommendations of AAP actors of involved in the AAP global community of practice to improve the content of REACH research as well as research practices.
• Identify avenues of formal collaboration / joint fundraising with AAP actors at Global level or at country level, with a focus on developing frameworks of partnership that would be conducive to system change.

In collaboration with the Accountability & Inclusion Research Manager, complete the following functions to support the running of the Accountability & Inclusion unit as required/requested:

• Ad hoc direct support to country teams (both remote and up to 25% field deployment)
• Support in external engagement, identification of new partnerships and advocacy
• Support in internal unit processes and systems.
• Other support as is requested

REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent academic qualifications, including Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. development, humanitarian studies, international relations, research methods, social sciences)

• At least 3 years of experience in the humanitarian sector, including field-based roles

• Experience with promoting and mainstreaming AAP principles in humanitarian programming

• Experience with designing and implementing quantitative and/or qualitative primary research

• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting

• Excellent interpersonal skills, include strong external engagement and coordination skills

• Familiarity with the humanitarian system and global humanitarian policy frameworks, in particular the Grand Bargain Participation Revolution, IASC Commitments on AAP, and related policies

• 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 or a second 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