Position Status: Full-time
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams dotheir best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcomediverse backgrounds,perspectives,andskills sothatwecanbestrongerandhavelongtermimpact.
MercyCorpshasbeenoperatingintheDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo(DRC)since2007,withastaffof 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 includeacombinationoflonger-termdevelopment, peacebuilding and stabilization,as well ashumanitarian responseprogramsinorderto:
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Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygieneservices, in urban and rural areas;2) Improve food security and nutrition;3) Promote diversifiedlivelihoods, economic recovery and development. Mercy Corps DRC’s humanitarian programs aimspecifically to assist populations affected by the conflict and crisis in Eastern Congo with multi-purposecash assistance and emergency WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) support to displaced and hostpopulations.
Crisis Analysis in Mercy Corps
MercyCorps’CrisisAnalysisteamsaggregateandanalyzedatatoimprovedecisionmakingandaccessincomplexcrises.TheteamssupportourprogramminginSyria,Nigeria,DemocraticRepublicofCongoandotherlocations.Theteamsdirectlycontributetodata-drivendecisionmakingbylayeringinformationfromprimarysources,opensourcesandresponders’programmaticdata,whereitisanalyzedbysubjectmatter experts and data scientists. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ status as an operationalNGO,keepingproductsconstructive andrelevant.Typical products and services range from informal briefings to weekly products, contributions to riskassessments, in-depth assessment of the political economy of a defined geography, deep dives onspecific thematic, etc., ranging in themes from conflict to market systems to governance, in line withprogrammatic 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 AUMis 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. TheAUM 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.
TheAUM 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.
EssentialResponsibilities
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Build the capacity of the team by enhancing Analysts’ skills in analysis, methodologies, writing, and editing.
ANALYSIS STRATEGIC GUIDANCE
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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.
CONTENT DELIVERY AND DISSEMINATION
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Oversee the application of robust analytical frameworks and methodologies, ensuring consistency and accuracy in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
COORDINATION AND ENGAGEMENT
CAT-DRC internal coordination:
Mercy Corps’ DRC internal coordination and engagement:
External coordination and engagement:
SupervisoryResponsibility
Officer(s) Senior d’Analyse (2), Technology for Development (T4D) Senior Officer and Officer,Editor(part-time)
ReportsDirectlyTo:Director,DRCCrisisAnalytics Team
WorksDirectlyWith:Research UnitCoordinator, Stakeholder engagement specialist, MercyCorpsDRCProgramDirectors, relevant PAQ counterparts, relevant HQ counter parts (e.g. T4D, MEL, GCA)
AccountabilitytoParticipantsandStakeholders
MercyCorpsteammembers areexpectedtosupportalleffortstowardaccountability,specificallytoourprogram participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guidinginternational relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities asequalpartnersinthedesign,monitoringandevaluation ofourfield projects.
MinimumQualification&TransferableSkills
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Minimumofthreeyears’experienceinresearch, conflictanalysis,investigativejournalism,humanitarianprogramming,ordata analysis.
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Experience in liaising with diplomatic and multi-national organizations as well as internationalNGOs (Non Government Organizations), other non-governmental organizations, donors andacademic institutions.
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Competency in quantitative and qualitative analysis tools is an asset (Power Bi, MAXQDA, R, etc.) or willing to learn
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Advanced competency in use ofMicrosoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint,andcollaboration platformssuch asTeams.
The successful candidate will be a key member of a diverse team where curiosity, critical thinking and theability to see beyond the surface level are highly valuable. A professional attitude, demonstration of integrity,discretionandexcellentworkethicarekeyaspectstothesuccessofthisnewposition.Strongcommunicationskills (listening, speaking, writing) are imperative to developing positive relationships and representing theanalysis team well. Interpersonal skills, openness to learning and humility are important attributes to workingeffectivelywithinacontextwithsignificantdiversity.TheAnalysis unit managerwillbringstrongtimemanagementandorganizationalskillsandwillhavetheabilitytoworkinafast-movingenvironmentasateammemberwhowilltakeinitiativeonprojectsand supportothersintheirinitiatives.
LivingConditions/EnvironmentalConditions
This position is based in Goma, DRC and unaccompanied. Occasional travel. While conditions in Gomaare 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 UNpeacekeepers. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country’s infrastructure. Airtravel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular serviceare widely available in urban areas. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps’ offices. Travel tofield sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a numberof health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonableaccesstomostconsumergoods.
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to thecommunities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activitiesthatfurthertheirpersonaland/orprofessionalgrowthand development