Data and R Specialist at IMPACT Initiatives

COUNTRY PROFILE

In North East Nigeria (NEN), the ongoing crisis continues to have a profound impact on the population, leading to displacement both within and out of the region and high rates of unmet needs among internally displaced persons. The conflict additionally exacerbates prior unmet needs among non-displaced and host communities. While the primary driver of the conflict remains violent conflict, including ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa

Province), JAS (Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad) and associated armed opposition groups (AOGs), other underlying factors, such as climate change, poverty, and disease outbreaks, exacerbate need and further complicate aid delivery.

Against the backdrop of this protracted crisis, UNOCHA estimates 7.1 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are in need of humanitarian assistance.[1] Major incidents at the end of 2018 and beginning of 2019, led to mass displacements and severely affected the provision of humanitarian assistance in the region.

According to the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix, more than 1.9 million people were displaced with an estimated 80% being women and children.[2] Currently, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, hosts the largest proportion of IDPs (over 1.4 million).[3]

The sudden influx of arrivals added strain to the existing infrastructure of the humanitarian community, resulting in high rates of unmet needs, overcrowding in camps, and exposure to protection risks for vulnerable groups. The congestion status of the camps has resulted in over 60% of IDPs residing outside of camps within host communities, further complicating service delivery.[4] The intensity of needs within Maiduguri and the instability of the security situation in more remote regions has resulted in increased focus on populations in accessible areas; however, populations in the less accessible areas are presumed to have even greater needs.

As such, the needs for evidenced-based Humanitarian Aid and information on populations in both accessible and inaccessible areas is paramount to a coordinated response. REACH has been present in Nigeria since 2017, providing a growing evidence base for humanitarian response planning through sectoral, multi-sectoral and area-based assessments as well as information management services. In 2021, REACH is looking to continue to provide the humanitarian community with relevant and reliable information to strengthen strategic programming and needs-based targeting in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria.

Broadly, REACH NIGERIA implements assessments across three core units:

• Inter-Sectoral needs analysis through 1) conducting an annual representative Multi Sector Needs Assessment in both Northeast and Northwest Nigeria to provide a snapshot of needs northeast and northwest of the country, and 2) monitoring of the humanitarian situation in inaccessible areas in Nigeria, through monthly assessments conducting an annual representative Multi Sector Needs Assessment to provide a snapshot of needs, and ad hoc rapid assessments in times of sudden escalations in conflict or natural disasters.
• Monitoring population movement in Nigeria, including doing area-based assessments in areas of return, intentions surveys and analyzing large-scale displacement, returns and seasonal movements as well as assessing the perceptions of affected populations on the humanitarian response in Nigeria.
• Providing direct technical support to humanitarian clusters through active engagement with coordination bodies, dedicated assessments and information products, and strategic engagement to promote innovative methods towards understanding sector-related needs in Nigeria. **

POSITION PROFILE

The Data/R Specialist would support across all three units and streams of work. More information on REACH’s work in Nigeria can be found here: https://www.reach-initiative.org/where-we-work/nigeria/.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator, the REACH Data/R Specialist will be responsible for the design of data processes, the management of large sets of data, and primarily supporting of the mission’s units with data-related tasks, including cleaning, analysis, reporting, and automating recurring tasks. This encompasses:

Designing Innovative Data Solutions

• Taking the lead on engaging creatively with new and existing data analysis approaches to identify opportunities for innovation, improved data quality, and increased strategic engagement with data;
• Improving data quality by automating data checking and cleaning processes in R, including for large country-wide assessments;
• Automating recurrent data analysis processes to reduce the amount of time between data collection and the creation of information products;
• Designing products and technical processes to improve the use of and engagement with REACH data within the humanitarian response;
• Supporting the development of innovative frameworks for data analysis, such as early warning systems and methods for needs prioritisation, by providing technical expertise.

Assessment Support

• Supporting team members with designing and implementing assessment strategies and methodologies, including sampling frameworks, data analysis plans, data collection tools, and data quality checks;
• Ensuring the quality and accuracy of REACH data as well as the confidentiality and protection of collected information;
• Managing the analysis of data in line with IMPACT’s guidelines;
• Designing and producing engaging information products, including dashboards, reports, and maps;

Technical Support

• Advising staff on IMPACT Initiative’s R based analysis packages, developed by IMPACT headquarters in Geneva;
• Working with staff to troubleshoot issues with existing scripts and data processes;
• Training staff on statistical analysis and programming;
• Pro-actively identifying data support needs across the mission and addressing them.

REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Management Systems, Statistics, Mathematics, etc.) including Master's level Statistics courses in R required;
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to identify outliers and key trends, and to situate findings in a winder context required;
• Advanced experience analysing complex data with R required;
• Experience with designing dashboard through software such as Shiny or Tableau required;
• Advanced understanding of database management required;
• Strong skills in Excel required;
• Experience with cleaning large datasets required;
• Experience conducting temporal or spatial trends analysis required;
• Good understanding of quantitative sampling and sampling frameworks;
• Experience writing R packages an asset;
• Knowledge of other statistical programming languages and packages an asset;
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (QGIS, ArcGIS) a strong asset;
• Experience conducting data collection an asset;
• Ability to design and operate Kobo, ODK or similar mobile data collection tools required;
• A self-starter with a strong existing ability to work independently;
• Good attention to detail, and commitment to producing high quality work;
• Openness to feedback and willingness to learn;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural and cross-country environment, requiring flexibility
• Flexibility and adaptability to ever-changing needs and responsibilities;
• A sense of humour with bugs and bucket showers required!

CONDITIONS

• Salary defined by the IMPACT salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
• Additional monthly living allowance
• Food allowance and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse
• Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
• Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

[1] OCHA, North East Nigeria Humanitarian Dashboard, February 2019

[2] IOM, Displacement Tracking Matrix, January 2019

[3] IOM, DTM, January 2019

[4] OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview, November 2018