REACH was created in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH is a leading humanitarian initiative providing granular data, timely information, and in-depth analysis from contexts of crisis, disaster, and displacement. The work of REACH directly feeds into aid response and decision-making by providing accessible and precise information on the humanitarian situation of crisis-affected populations.

IMPACT Initiatives is a leading Geneva-based think-and-do tank which aims to improve the impact of humanitarian, stabilisation and development action through data, partnerships, and capacity building programmes. The work of IMPACT is done through its three initiatives: REACH, AGORA and PANDA. With over 400 staff members, including assessment, data analysis, GIS experts and field professionals, IMPACT teams are present in over 20 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. IMPACT is a sister organisation of ACTED, a non-governmental organisation with headquarters in Paris.

Greening strategy:

ACTED’s greening strategy aims to tackle environmental degradation and climate change while meeting the needs of the most vulnerable who are often those most affected by the deepening environmental crisis. Each ACTED employee will adhere to these principles through key green programming responsibilities:

• Contribute towards the adherence and development of the greening strategy plan.
• Explore innovative green programming opportunities and/or solutions within your realm of responsibilities and roles
• Encouraging and promoting environmental safeguarding processes and environmental programming standards in accordance with SOPs and technical guideline notes

ACTED PSEAH Policy:

(Sr.GIS Officer) has the responsibility to adhere to the PSEAH Policy (Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment). The (Sr.GIS Officer) has the obligation to complete all mandatory trainings related to the Code of Conduct and the PSEA policy and report any safeguarding concern such as breaches of organizational policies or codes of conduct according to ACTED’s procedures. The (Sr.GIS Officer) carries out work duties in a way that does not harm children, vulnerable adults or other staff or volunteers.  

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the REACH Yemen Research Manager, the REACH Senior GIS Officer is responsible for managing and coordinating all the GIS activities within the Early Recovery Unit. He/She oversees all GIS projects and mainstreams GIS components within all portfolios in Yemen. Moreover, under the supervision of the REACH Yemen Research Manager, he/she sets a yearly strategy for GIS activities and reviews the budget spending related to GIS activities on a quarterly basis.

The Senior GIS Officer is responsible for the application of geographic information systems in REACH Yemen, including relevant aspects of research design, support in designing data collection tools, ensuring (spatial) data quality, geospatial analysis, drafting of maps, and (as relevant) production of web maps and information management systems. The Senior GIS officer will provide technical inputs in all research cycle stages. Throughout each research cycle, the Senior GIS Officer, in close liaison with the assessment teams, engages with partners to promote their participation and maximize their impact. He/she will be responsible for conducting flood mapping activities and collaborating with the clusters’ coordinators to discuss data management and protection policies and how to disseminate data. The Senior GIS Officer will also be responsible for developing and implementing a continuous capacity-building program for national and international team members, and (when relevant) for providing training to partners. Finally, the Senior GIS Officer will be responsible for discussing projects’ ToR and projects’ implementation and monitoring with HQ and validating all of the assessment and analysis results with the latter.

Objectives

.Update and oversee GIS activities within the Early Recovery Unit.

.Conducting applied research (e.g. Natural hazard modelling, flood risk management/mapping) by leveraging remote sensing technology.

.Enhance relationships and communication with external stakeholders (clusters, donors and other stakeholders).

Duties and Responsibilities

1.Research Planning:

·In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), support assessment planning in line with project and program objectives and with REACH’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines;

·Map and analyse secondary data in coordination with the assessment officer(s);

·Contribute to draft assessment ToRs with a specific focus on the analysis plan, and related mapping, as well as data management plan;

·Support the development of 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 in developing assessment plans, and accompanying operational maps for research teams;

·In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), support construction of quantitative sample;

2.Research Implementation:

 .When relevant, support the training of enumerators for data collection;

·When relevant, support oversight of data collection, in line with agreed TORs, including spatial verification and validation as part of assessment checks;

·Ensure that collected data is properly geo-referenced, enabling the production of maps and related products;

·In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), document all changes in data collection that lead to a modification in the agreed TORs, ensuring that the REACH CR and IMPACT HQ are informed and agree on the modifications.

3.Data management, cleaning and analysis:

·Ensure that all collected data is stored in line with IMPACT’s Data Management Guidelines, and with the ToRs;

·Ensure that data is revised and cleaned, and that all revisions are recorded;

·Conduct spatial analysis 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 or other sensitive 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.

4.Drafting of products:

·Ensure accurate linkages between spatial databases and assessment data;

·Ensure that the GIS products meet the requirements of REACH and concerned partners;

·Maintain regular communication with IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for GIS/RS products;

·Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate GIS/RS products, which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines;

·Ensure that all GIS/RS products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release;

·When relevant, in close coordination with IMPACT HQ, support the regular maintenance and update of web GIS/RS products;

5.External Engagement:

·In support of the assessment team, link with relevant partners to consult and involve them in the GIS/RS components of a research cycle;

·Where relevant, represent REACH in relevant meetings/ working groups;

·Follow up on issues identified by partners or during meetings / working groups;

·Promote an active use of datasets, GIS/RS products and research findings by partners and the broader humanitarian community for their decision making;

·Where relevant, support the presentation of research findings through GIS/RS inputs to relevant third parties in order to enhance their use and impact;

·Ensure that all partner engagement and all external relations are clearly documented and communicated with the line manager and relevant colleagues;

6.Develop Flood modelling system:

.Produce detailed flood outputs using HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS software to help clusters and stakeholders inform their response;

.In coordination with the RM, liaise with IMPACT HQ on the procurement of UNOSAT services and satellite imagery;

·Other tasks as requested by supervisors.

7.Internal Coordination:

·Actively participate in regular team meetings;

·Ensure regular coordination and exchange with relevant colleagues;

·Engage in the development and implementation of REACH’s strategy in Yemen.

Skills

.Fluency of English and Arabic is mandatory.

.Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in GIS, Data Science, Information System/Management, Geography, or related disciplines.

.Minimum 4 years of experience in GIS, Information Management and Team management, preferably in the humanitarian context.

.Previous experience with industry standard mapping tools, ESRI products.

.Proficiency with interactive dashboard platforms like Power Bi, Tableau or R.

.Previous experience in Remote Sensing.

.Previous experience in Flood risk mapping using HEC-RAS or any similar software.

.Very Good organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.

.Ability to think creatively in terms of tool and process development.

.Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility.

.Flexibility and adaptability to ever-changing needs and responsibilities.

.Familiarity with the aid system and understanding of donor and governmental requirements is an asset.

Desirable

.Prior knowledge of the region.

.Prior experience in the Humanitarian Architecture system.

.Previous experience in managing a team.