Analytical Unit Manager - CAT-DRC
Description
Location: Goma, DR Congo
Position Status: Full-time
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
Mercy Corps in DRC
Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2007, with a staff of approximately 400 people working in Eastern DRC. Mercy Corps’ national office is in Goma with field offices in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Kasai provinces. Mercy Corps’ key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development, peacebuilding and stabilization, as well as humanitarian response programs in order to:
- Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, in urban and rural areas; 2) Improve food security and nutrition; 3) Promote diversified livelihoods, economic recovery and development. Mercy Corps DRC’s humanitarian programs aim specifically to assist populations affected by the conflict and crisis in Eastern Congo with multi-purpose cash assistance and emergency WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) support to displaced and host populations.
Crisis Analysis in Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps’ Crisis Analysis teams aggregate and analyze data to improve decision making and access in complex crises. The teams support our programming in Syria, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and other locations. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision making by layering information from primary sources, open sources and responders’ programmatic data, where it is analyzed by subject matter experts and data scientists. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ status as an operational NGO, keeping products constructive and relevant. 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 thematic, etc., ranging in themes from conflict to market systems to governance, in line with programmatic needs.
In DRC specifically, the CAT works focuses on five main areas: displacement hotspots, humanitarian access constraints, operational context monitoring and predictive analysis, stakeholder analysis and engagement, and community perceptions. Its work is guided by a multiannual department strategy, as well as the Country Annual Implementation Plan which translates Mercy Corps Global P2P Strategy in DRC context. The CAT-DRC role is to support Mercy Corps programs to deliver on their main commitments, especially “Evidence Driven” and “Locally Led”.
CAT-DRC Analytical Unit Manager
The CAT-DRC Analytical Unit Manager plays (AUM) a crucial role in shaping Mercy Corps’ operational and programmatic decision-making processes in DR Congo by coordinating the efforts of crisis analysts and technology for development (T4D) staff to produce high-quality analytical outputs.
Reporting to the CAT-DRC Director, the AUM is accountable for the implementation and uphold of rigorous quality assurance processes, ensuring that all analytical outputs meet the highest standards of quality, methodology, and data integrity. The AUM oversees the application of robust analytical frameworks and methodologies, ensuring consistency and accuracy in data collection, analysis, and reporting. S/he is responsible for delivering analytical outputs in various formats, tailored to meet the needs of Mercy Corps program and support teams and other internal and external stakeholders, and distills complex data and findings into clear, actionable insights.
With a comprehensive understanding of the eastern DRC and Kasai Region context, including displacement, humanitarian access, armed actors, and socio-economic phenomena such as climate change and gender, the AUM supports a holistic contextual understanding of various crisis, and their interdependence, while also considering national and regional issues. Leveraging their expertise in data analysis and understanding of humanitarian, development or peacebuilding sectors, or any other relevant field, the AUM engages with program teams to identify key trends and emerging issues for monitoring and adaptive management.
The AUM role demands a data-driven, methodologically rigorous approach to problem-solving, utilizing both traditional and innovative tools and information sources to generate insights in a dynamic environment.
Essential Responsibilities
DIRECT TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Oversee and coordinate the work of the analytical unit, including Senior Analysis Officers and the Technology for Development (T4D) Officers.
- Develop and ensure the implementation of workplans, milestones, and timely delivery of analytical products by the analytical unit.
- Build the capacity of the team by enhancing Analysts’ skills in analysis, methodologies, writing, and editing.
- Support the team in defining professional development goals in research and analysis, and provide opportunities for practical application.
- Ensure efficient workload management of unit staff.
ANALYSIS STRATEGIC GUIDANCE
- Coordinate CAT’s work with other analytical actors to ensure relevance and complementarity to existing capacities.
- Plan strategic thematic reports and agendas to ensure relevance to the humanitarian ecosystem and timely report planning.
- Support the drafting of periodic, flash, and thematic analytical products, ensuring they meet current and future information needs of identified audiences as a quality assurance technical expert.
- Identify new areas of focus based on an understanding of audience needs.
- Ensure gender equality, diversity, and social inclusion (GEDSI) aspects are integrated into the methodology and analysis.
- Develop and maintain an awareness of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law, and Mercy Corps’ culture and values.
CONTENT DELIVERY AND DISSEMINATION
- Inform programmatic and operational decision-making through the production of insightful and concise analysis products and briefings to the MC mission.
- Ensure timely delivery of regular products and accessibility in various formats.
- Distill complex analytical outputs for easy consumption by high-level stakeholders.
- Support the CAT director during high-level program briefings as needed.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
- Implement and uphold rigorous quality assurance processes to maintain high standards of quality, methodology, and analysis.
- Oversee the application of robust analytical frameworks and methodologies, ensuring consistency and accuracy in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team, encouraging innovative approaches and non-traditional tools to generate insights.
COORDINATION AND ENGAGEMENT
CAT-DRC internal coordination:
- Coordinate activities with the Research Unit Coordinator, and Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement Specialist
Mercy Corps’ DRC internal coordination and engagement:
- Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of Mercy Corps’ programming.
- Support the CAT Director in identification and understanding of the information needs of program teams.
- Work closely with allocated program teams and partners to understand their information needs and provide timely and relevant advice through the development of methodologies.
- Support program teams to define their information needs and develop methodologies, protocols, and/or products to address these needs.
External coordination and engagement:
- Build and maintain partnerships with external stakeholders in the analysis field to produce joint analysis, and improve the DRC analytical ecosystem.
- Support building strong relationships with Mercy Corps’ DRC main donors and partners/
SECURITY
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
- Ensure compliance with and implementation of Mercy Corps safeguarding measures.
- Participate in mission-level scenario building, risk assessment and crisis cells meetings upon Director’s request.
- Ensure data security protocols are being implemented throughout the research cycle.
Supervisory Responsibility
Officer(s) Senior d’Analyse (2), Technology for Development (T4D) Senior Officer and Officer, Editor (part-time)
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Director, DRC Crisis Analytics Team
Works Directly With: Research Unit Coordinator, Stakeholder engagement specialist, Mercy Corps DRC Program Directors, relevant PAQ counterparts, relevant HQ counter parts (e.g. T4D, MEL, GCA)
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.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Minimum of three years’ experience in research, conflict analysis, investigative journalism, humanitarian programming, or data analysis.
- Able to demonstrate extensive experience in a variety of formal and informal approaches to data collection, preferable in the Great Lakes region or Africa.
- Experience in remote access programming and analysis.
- Demonstrated capacity for analysis that supports decision making.
- Demonstrated high capacity for writing in English and French on technical subjects. French and English fluency required.
- Able to convey complex information to a variety of audiences through public speaking.
- Ability to build and maintain networks of information sources across different geographic locations, sectors and perspectives.
- Experience in liaising with diplomatic and multi-national organizations as well as international NGOs (Non Government Organizations), other non-governmental organizations, donors and academic institutions.
- Competency in quantitative and qualitative analysis tools is an asset (Power Bi, MAXQDA, R, etc.) or willing to learn
- Advanced competency in use of Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and collaboration platforms such as Teams.
- Knowledge in GIS (Geographic Information System) and GIS software is a plus
- Competency in social media tools including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience leading and coaching a team, adaptive management approach
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment with high-levels of collaboration.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will be a key member of a diverse team where curiosity, critical thinking and the ability to see beyond the surface level are highly valuable. A professional attitude, demonstration of integrity, discretion and excellent work ethic are key aspects to the success of this new position. Strong communication skills (listening, speaking, writing) are imperative to developing positive relationships and representing the analysis team well. Interpersonal skills, openness to learning and humility are important attributes to working effectively within a context with significant diversity. The Analysis unit manager will bring strong time management and organizational skills and will have the ability to work in a fast-moving environment as a team member who will take initiative on projects and support others in their initiatives.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in Goma, DRC and unaccompanied. Occasional travel. While conditions in Goma are improving, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity and petty crime is present. Mercy Corps' offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available in urban areas. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps’ offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods.
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 (Inter Agency Standing Committee). 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.