REACH GIS Officer at ACTED Nigeria

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full-time
Contract length: 6 months with the possibility of extension
Level: D2-1 (national contract)
Start date: ASAP
Location Borno and other field locations when needed

Job Description

• Under the direct line management of the REACH Research Manager with supervision from the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator and in close coordination with the REACH Data Officer(s), REACH Assessment Officer(s) and REACH Field Manager, the REACH GIS Officer (GISO) is responsible for managing all processes and outputs related to REACH GIS, products and data in-country.
• They will ensure regular communication with REACH Assessment teams in-country to support the ongoing assessments accordingly, and liaise with IMPACT HQ on GIS product validation.
• In his/her mission, the REACH GISO will be hosted by ACTED and will fall under the responsibility of ACTED’s Country Director and his/her delegates. S/he and will fully abide to ACTED’s Security, HR, Administration and Logistics rules and regulations

Management of GIS Functions within Research Cycles
Assessment Preparation and Planning:

• In coordination with the assessment manager/focal point(s), ensuring that assessments are planned in line with project and program objectives and with REACH’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines;
• Identification of available GIS data to inform secondary data review, in coordination with the assessment team;
• For each assessment, ensure contribution to and review of draft ToRs with a specific focus on the analysis plan, and related mapping, as well as data management plan;
• In coordination with Assessment team, co-construct qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, ensuring GIS requirements of research cycle/assessment are met;
• Develop geo-spatial analysis of assessment areas to be used, as relevant, in developing daily assessment plans, field movement plans and accompanying operational maps for field teams;
• In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), support construction of quantitative sample;
  • Keep track of progress and delays of all GIS and relevant data- and information-management tasks throughout the research cycle. Ensure that delays or identified problems are reported by writing and orally in a timely manner.

Data Collection:

• When relevant, ensure that support is provided by the GIS team for the identification and training of enumerators for primary data collection
• When relevant, ensure that support is provided by GIS teams in overseeing data collection, in line with agreed TORs (including their Annexes), including spatial verification and validation as part of daily assessment checks:
  • Ensure that collected data is geo-referenced, enabling the production of maps and related products;
  • In coordination with the assessment team, ensure that all changes in data collection that lead to a modification in the agreed TORs are documented; and that the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator and IMPACT HQ are informed and agree on the modifications.

Data Management & Analysis:

• Ensure that all collected data is stored in line with IMPACT’s Data Management Guidelines, and with the ToRs (data management plan Annex);
• Facilitate data cleaning and analysis automation process for the ongoing long term projects / assessments. Providing technical guidelines and capacity building support to the team on the automated systems and workflows.
• Ensure that data is revised and cleaned, and that all revisions are recorded;
• Ensure spatial analysis conducted on collected data as per ToRs;
• Ensure that data and its spatial analysis are validated by IMPACT HQ before product drafting stage;
• Ensure that data and its analysis do not contain personal information and are validated by IMPACT HQ before sharing to external parties;
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality and protection of collected information.
• Ensure regular update and maintenance of REACH Nigeria products

GIS Products (Including Maps as Standalone or within Assessment Outputs):

• Ensure accurate linkages between spatial databases and assessment data;
• Ensures that the produced maps meet the requirements of IMPACT and concerned partners;
• Ensure regular communication maintained with IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for GIS products;
• Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate GIS products, which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines;
• Review all products before they are sent to IMPACT HQ for validation;
• Ensure that all GIS products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release;
• In coordination with the IMPACT Country Deputy Coordinator, manage the identification of satellite imagery and analysis needs in Nigeria, and liaise with IMPACT HQ on the procurement of UNOSAT services and satellite imagery.

Product Dissemination and Evaluation:

• In coordination with IMPACT’s Deputy Country Coordinator, promote the dissemination of GIS products in line with IMPACT Guidelines and Research ToRs;
• Ensure the strictest confidentiality of data and data processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of information and data;
• In coordination with IMPACT HQ, ensure that GIS products are uploaded in relevant data portals, as specified in Research ToRs;
• In coordination with IMPACT’s Deputy Country Coordinator and with the assessment team, ensure that lessons learned are gathered and documented at the end of each research cycle.

Internal Coordination with GIS Team

• Conduct regular meeting with all GIS and Data Team members to assess progress in all research cycles and to review work plan;
• In coordination with Deputy Country Coordinator, conduct induction for new staff members, including training in basic GIS, data and IM competencies;
• Support to the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator in the development and implementation of capacity training plans for GIS team members;
• Be available to provide regular support and technical backstopping;
• When relevant, support Country Coordinator in staff appraisal and recruitment process.

External Relations:

• Under the coordination of the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator, ensure that relevant partners are consulted and involved in the preparation of GIS products;
• In coordination with the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator, engage in relevant technical fora in country (e.g. IM/GIS working groups);
• In support of the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator, engage with other organizations engaged with the maintenance of spatial data in Nigeria, ensuring IMPACT Geodatabases are up-to-date and in line with Common Operational Datasets (CODs) and Fundamental Operational Datasets (FODs)
• In coordination with the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator, support the presentation of GIS products to relevant third parties, to enhance their use and impact;
• Ensure that external communications with technical GIS/IM partners and key stakeholders, including relevant UN agencies, local and national government, and NGOs has been conducted and documented as appropriate;

Strategy Development and Implementation:
The GIS Officer will participate and actively contribute to the development of the REACH strategy in Nigeria, in support to the Deputy Country Coordinator. In particular s/he will support in identifying and concretising:

• GIS gaps in country
• Synergies with other GIS and IM actors
• Dissemination strategies to strengthen the impact of our GIS and IM work
• Support in the preparation and follow up of country level internal strategic workshops and plans
• Engagement with IMPACT HQ in global level GIS priorities

Others:

• Other tasks as requested by supervisors, including data analysis and other data management tasks.

Key Performance Indicators

• Ensure compliance with relevant GIS guidelines:
  • Mapping guidelines are systematically followed, in particular:
  • Map templates consistently used
  • Map validation process respected
• Ensure adherence to research cycle TOR:
  • GIS products support the research as designed and align to the analysis plan envisioned
  • Data is handled according to the arrangements specified in the data management plan
• Ensure internal communication protocols followed:
  • Regular communication is maintained with IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for GIS products
  • Problems related to specific assessments are reported by writing and orally in a timely manner
• Ensure maps produced and data analysed in a timely and accurate manner:
  • Average number of days between end of data collection and internal product validation
  • Number of key automation scripts/apps for data cleaning and analysis process, fast-tracking output production.
  • Total number of maps receiving final validation

Confidentiality:

• The REACH GISO will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries:

• The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about REACH programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every REACH staff member.

About You
All employees should master ACTED's core Principles: Independence, Neutrality, Non-discrimination, free and direct access to victims, Ethics, Professionalism, anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Master degree in GIS or a related discipline (Geography, Geomatics, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences)
• 3 years of experience in GIS / Database management, preferably in humanitarian context;
• Previous experience with mobile data collection (ODK, ONA, KOBO);
• Knowledge of the Adobe Suite, particularly Illustrator and InDesign;
• Knowledge of remote sensing analysis a plus
• Experience analysing complex data with R or Tableau a plus
• Excellent team management skills;
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
• Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;
• Prior knowledge of the region an asset;
• Fluency in English required;
• Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management Software.