Team Leader – Abuja, Nigeria Analytics Team

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps Nigeria implements a variety of programs with the vision of a Nigeria in which all people are empowered, engaged, resilient and secure. The organization’s programs are implemented in twelve states, mainly in northern Nigeria. Our work covers the following sectors: economic development, livelihoods/food security, adolescent girls & boys empowerment, financial resilience, conflict mitigation and humanitarian response. Common themes include community engagement, inclusive development, gender, and working in partnership with local government, the private sector and civil society actors.

To serve the work of these programs and improve decision making and access, Mercy Corps is committed to the goal of better understanding the contexts where it works to deliver better impact for the people and communities we serve. Only by understanding, in real time, not only what has happened but the political, social and economic dynamics underlying conflict and displacement can we hope to optimize impact and influence. In addition to Nigeria, the Analytics teams support our programming in Syria, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Venezuela, and other countries. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision making by layering information from primary sources, open sources and responders’ programmatic data, where it is analysed by subject matter experts and data scientists. This analysis is ultimately grounded in Mercy Corps’ status as an operational NGO, keeping products constructive and relevant.

General Position Summary

The Nigeria Analytics Team (NAT) Lead is responsible for managing and driving the vision and strategy for the analytics team through the development and delivery of complex analytical products and information that will inform stronger and more strategic programs from the humanitarian/nexus community in Nigeria. The NAT Lead has responsibility for the effective functioning of the team as a support function to the country programme and is responsible for day to day management of workflows, alignment of products & services with country programme priorities, quality control of products, and developing a process of continuous improvement within the team.

She/he will produce clear, concise and timely analytical reports that can inform Mercy Corps’ and the wider humanitarian community’s program, security and operational decision-making, as well as be fed into policy development and advocacy as appropriate at local, federal and international levels. In addition to frequent and regular context reports, the Team Lead will coordinate more in-depth occasional thematic or situation reports, act as a focal point on humanitarian issues with Mercy Corps’ global Research and Learning and Policy and Advocacy teams, and provide regular briefings to programs and operations key staff and teams as directed and appropriate. The Team Lead will also provide briefings to key stakeholders in external agencies and members of the donor community as needed. Typical products and services range from informal briefings to weekly products, contributions to risk assessments, in-depth assessment of the political economy of a defined geography, deep-dives on specific thematics, etc., ranging in themes from conflict to market systems to governance, in line with programmatic needs.

Importantly, the Team Lead will have the ultimate responsibility for growing and managing a team in terms of pursuing and supporting new funding opportunities, increasing the geographic coverage of the team, and recruiting and developing new team members. The Team Lead provides an advisory role to senior leadership, and leads external representation (for peer organisations, donors, partners, etc.) of the team’s findings. The Team Lead will be expected to cultivate appropriate networks to improve data collection and impactful dissemination.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Analysis and Reporting

• Lead the production of time-sensitive, data-driven analytical products to support programmatic decision making in Nigeria.
• Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of Mercy Corps’ programming and the humanitarian situation in general in areas of focus and for populations of particular interest (e.g. youth).
• Cultivate targeted audiences both internally and externally for high quality contextual analysis.
• Establish and maintain a process for consultative feedback and responsive analytics with the humanitarian community
• Develop and grow a network of field contacts to serve as sources in shaping and developing a rich understanding of the political, social and economic environment in areas of focus.
• Maintain a constant scan of traditional and social media in order to inform analysis of the humanitarian situation.
• Consolidate and digest diverse data to produce regular broad-based context reports, flash reports in response to fast moving events and occasional thematic or situation reports (illuminating specific issues or locations in greater depth) as directed by the Country Director (Nigeria) and the Senior Director for Humanitarian Analysis (global).
• Oversee use of technology platforms to interpret and map humanitarian and conflict data.
• Translate analysis and insights into program materials as directed and appropriate.
• Liaise as appropriate with country, regional and global Mercy Corps staff engaged in advocacy and influence work.
• Represent Nigeria Analytics Team to key external stakeholders and core internal programming/operational focal points as a reliable, up-to-date and timely source of insights in the northeast.

Country Strategy

• Manage the growth and strategy of the Nigeria Analytics Team in close collaboration with the New Initiatives team, building systems and processes to sustain impactful and consistent analysis.
• Stay abreast of Mercy Corps program assessments and new business activities. Support these teams and special projects with analysis and insight where appropriate, ensuring insights from NAT team feed into program design
• As directed by the Country Director, participate in Senior Management Team discussions to provide analytic insights and risk assessments where necessary.
• Develop and maintain an awareness of Mercy Corps’ culture and values as well as humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.
• In collaboration with country leadership, set and maintain a mandate for the Analytics team, and accompanying strategy for delivery.

Programming and Operations

• Ensure that communication of analysis and insights to internal and external stakeholders is appropriate and regular. Liaise with programs and operations staff as needed and directed to develop a solid understanding of program approaches, content and implementation modalities.
• As directed by the Country Director, collaborate with the security team to advise on access issues pertinent to security situations and any resulting humanitarian needs.
• Ensure effective communication within analysis team and ensure the accuracy, brevity and clarity of analysis updates, briefings and incident reports to internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner

Training and Outreach

• Supervise, provide guidance to, and support the professional growth of the Nigeria Analysis Team staff to ensure consistent quality of outputs and a high functioning, collaborative team.
• Assist in promoting good contextual understand across Mercy Corps staff in Nigeria
• Coach colleagues and improve their skills in risk and vulnerability assessments to include political, social and economic context analysis.
• As needed and directed, participate in Mercy Corps regional and global events, gatherings and networks to represent Nigeria’s humanitarian analysis capacity.
• Represent the Nigeria Analysis Team in Mercy Corps Nigeria committees or ad hoc task force activities.

Security

• Ensure own compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Nigeria Analytics Team: Research Coordinator, Analyst, Field Researchers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Humanitarian Response and Sustainable Solutions Director (Maiduguri)

Works Directly With: Country Director; Director of Programs; Program Management; Partnerships and New Initiatives Manager; Security Manager; Senior Director – Crisis Analytics (global); Senior Advisor – Crisis Analytics (global); Regional Humanitarian Advisor and Regional Security Advisor.

Knowledge and Experience

Required

• Masters degree in a social sciences or investigative journalism; or equivalent work experience
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and the humanitarian system at national and international levels
• 3 years field-based experience in complex and insecure settings and preferably a conflict environment
• Experience in liaising with civilian authorities, as well as with regional, national and international institutions
• Ability to build and maintain networks of information sources across different sectors, groups and locations
• Experience with information collation and analysis, mapping and use of infographics to frame analysis
• Proven excellent writing skills, displaying an ability to convey complex information concisely
• Highly developed interpersonal communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Experience developing proposals and negotiating funding with donors and other stakeholders
• Willingness to work and travel in often difficult and insecure environments
• Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and other database/mapping systems
• Strong fluency in English (written and spoken) is required

Preferred

• Knowledge and understanding of the context in Nigeria, specifically of northern Nigeria
• Knowledge of Hausa, Kanuri, or other Nigerian languages
• Skills in data visualization software such as Power BI or Tableau
• Experience in GIS
• Familiarity with STATA, SPSS, R, or other statistical analysis software

Success factors

The successful candidate brings together a range of skills and experience, and imbues those in their team, to deliver analysis that allows Mercy Corps to run impactful programmes in highly complex contexts. The candidate knows that analysis is only as good as its up-take with the target audience.

Mercy Corps is investing heavily in analysis at a global level, and the candidate will leverage these resources to improve their own programming, and share the results of their success. The successful job holder will need entrepreneurial drive to develop and establish humanitarian analysis as a critical part of Mercy Corps’ Nigeria program and an essential component of its global commitment. The Team Lead will need to balance a committed team approach, consistent with Mercy Corps’ values, and the ability to work and deliver on his/her own initiative. She/he will need sharp investigative and analytical skills and be able to quickly digest complex information and produce concise insights pertinent to the humanitarian situation.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Abuja, Nigeria, which is an accompanied posting. Team members in this location are expected to follow all Mercy Corps security protocols, which may change from time to time, relevant to the prevailing risk environment. Medical services are available. Electricity is available. Running water, Internet connectivity and communication are reliable. Extended trips (1-2 months) to Maiduguri including short, but frequent, trips to outlying areas would be necessary especially at the beginning in order to develop a deeper understanding of the context and develop contacts on the ground. Roughly 50% travel to Maiduguri is anticipated. Depending on funding and programming, travel elsewhere in the country may also be required. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.