JOB DESCRIPTION

Context

Afghanistan has been plagued by conflict, corruption, poverty, and natural disasters, compounded by the primary and secondary consequences of COVID-19. As a result, more than half the Afghan population is dependent on humanitarian assistance. It is predicted that by June 2022, approximately 97% of the population will fall below the poverty line and by March 2022, 55% of the population will fall under IPC classification Phase 3 or 4. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance is projected to increase to up to 24.4 million people in 2022. Insecurity over the last two decades resulted in many data collection activities being limited or postponed, including a national census. Data collection has been hampered by conflict, geography, weather, and road networks and conditions. Remote data collection using mobile phones has severe limitations. Regardless, humanitarians have continued to collect a lot of data making the response in Afghanistan very data rich.

Afghanistan Analysis Hub

ACAPS is establishing an Afghanistan Analysis Hub to provide impartial, independent, timely, and high-quality analytical products, which strengthen the evidence base for decision making and response programming among humanitarian stakeholders related to the crisis in Afghanistan and how it affects communities both within Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries. To achieve this, ACAPS will put together a team of one Project Lead, two Senior Analysts, and three Information Analysts, with support from Expert Analysis Advisors and others within the organisation.

The Afghanistan Analysis Hub will:  

Use available data to reach deeper levels of analysis to understand cross sector linkages and trends and to anticipate and understand future risks.  

Support sectors and organisations in using existing data to identify information gaps and design quantitative and qualitative research assessments.  

Design and share analysis, creating an evidence base on which a shared overview of the crisis can be established, and inter-sector coordination strengthened.  

Facilitate joint analysis processes. 

 Responsibilities

Product management and technical oversight

The Senior Analyst will act as Product Manager for Afghanistan Analysis Hub, jointly with the Project Lead.

In collaboration with the Project Lead establish realistic timelines for the products.

In collaboration with the Project Lead ensure overall coordination of resources needed for the products (Hub analysts, ACAPS and external experts, editors etc).

Ensure internal administrative aspects around the products (top sheets in AirTable, correct use of Harvest by collaborators etc)

As Product Manager, provide feedback to the Product Lead(s) on content, structure, and quality of the analysis.

Organise with partners to set up Key Informant Interviews (including identification of key informants, schedule interview and follow up).

When acting as Product Manager, ensure timely delivery and high quality of the reports.

When acting as Product Lead, responsible for development and production of analysis.

Analytical products

Design and deliver (in consultation with key stakeholders) multi-sector and thematic analytical products

Support the development and use of an analytical framework

Undertake research and exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and interpretive analysis to support the production of reports

Convene and facilitate joint analysis sessions with other actors as appropriate

Partnerships and Networking

In collaboration with the Project Lead and other analysts on the team develop and maintain a list/informal network of key interlocutors for information (including sector and agency level)

Represent ACAPS at key cluster and working group meetings in order to provide input and promote ACAPS products.

Liaise and coordinate joint analysis with key humanitarian stakeholders and other key IM colleagues. In collaboration with the Project Lead this will include analytical support to humanitarian actors for instance on scenario building exercises, working with OCHA on the HNO

Support the Project Lead in fundraising efforts and donor engagement for the Afghanistan Analysis Hub , e.g. input to concept notes and presentations to donors

 Secondary data analysis

Review all assessments, reports and information products on Afghanistan to understand the information landscape and current gaps

Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of Analysis Hub information management systems and ensure that internal and external needs for information are processed in a structured and efficient manner

Support the overall informational needs of the humanitarian response in Afghanistan through the compilation, synthesis and analysis of relevant qualitative and quantitative information

Contribute to the creation of tools to facilitate the ongoing analysis and sharing of data and information that support evidence-based decision making

Ensure maintenance and team adherence to data confidentiality protocols

Collaboration with other teams within ACAPS on products

Focal point for coordination and collaboration with global Crisis Insight team members covering Afghanistan

Liaise regarding website updates, global access report, global risk report, and any other Afghanistan-related analyses produced by the global team

Any other tasks which may jointly be agreed on may be added to the job description, as per the project needs.

Required skills, knowledge and experience

Education to postgraduate level in social sciences or international development.

At least 5 years of professional experience in the humanitarian sector

Excellent knowledge of Afghanistan politics, economics and history

Large professional networks in Afghanistan

Training and proven understanding/application of quantitative and qualitative research and analysis methods (mixed and multi).

Ability and confidence to make judgment calls when interpreting ambiguous data.

Demonstrated analytical skills and written clarity, including ability to understand

complex concepts and problems and synthetize information.

Fluency in Pashto and Dari, both written and verbal, asset

Fluent written and oral communication skills in English

Proven cooperation and inter-personal skills, including proven capacity to work very efficiently in a team.

Demonstrated ability to take initiative, manage own use of time and self-motivate.

Familiarity with AirTable, R, Python, Tableau, PowerBi, or similar software desired

Flexibility (including regarding working hours).

Behavioral Competencies

Communicating with impact and respect

Leading and supervising

Social perceptiveness

Active listening and collaboration

Deciding and Initiating action

Planning and delivering results

Adapting and responding to change

Adhering to principles and values