congo crisis analysis team (cat) manager

CONGO CRISIS ANALYSIS TEAM (CAT) MANAGER

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 500 people working in Ituri and North and South Kivu. Mercy Corps' national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in Mweso, Butembo (North Kivu) and Bukavu (South Kivu). Mercy Corps DRC provides assistance and support to vulnerable communities through crises, while fostering programs that build resilience and promote long-term change. Mercy Corps' key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to: 1) 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; Provide life-saving emergency food and cash assistance. All Mercy Corps interventions in DRC are implemented in a conflict, protection and gender sensitive manner.

Humanitarian analysis at Mercy Corps aims to provide managers and senior leadership with a deeper understanding of the current situation on the ground, investigating how and why crisis events develop and unfold if different ways. As an emerging global leader in humanitarian analysis, Mercy Corps explores the political, economic, social, and cultural dynamics that drive crisis while leveraging human expertise to provide qualitative analysis and artificial intelligence to process big data. Mercy Corps has successfully conducted meaningful humanitarian analysis in environments presenting some of the biggest challenges to impactful programming. In these environments--where fact-based information and knowledge is often hard to come by and all decisions are imperfect--Mercy Corps' commitment to actionable humanitarian analysis is empowering humanitarian actors to see the big picture in a crisis, control operational risks, reach critical audiences with greater credibility, and deliver more effective programming to vulnerable populations.

Program / Department Summary

The Congo CAT (Crisis Analysis Team) was established in June 2019 with a team of six analysts and has since expanded to 19 members, composed of analysts, data collectors and researchers based in Goma. This team leans on networks of key informants to gather data on population displacement and access, along with secondary data shared by the humanitarian community. The data collected is compiled and analyzed by the team and by artificial intelligence. With this information, the Congo CAT is able to offer core capacities, services and products, such as: regular context analysis; population movements trends, forecasting and scenario planning; actor and access mapping; conflict assessments; flash reporting on political, economic, conflict, and social shifts relevant to humanitarian responders; and thematic reports.

General Position Summary

The Congo CAT Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating the Congo CAT and will manage the data collection and analysis to provide information to programs and operations teams. The Congo CAT Manager will oversee the division and progression of roles and responsibilities within the Congo CAT and coordinate across NGOs and other external stakeholders with respect to humanitarian access and analysis issues.

The Congo CAT Manager will ensure that the appropriate surveillance and monitoring systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on the humanitarian context. Leveraging these data, the Manager will deliver professional critical analysis and predictions based on the conflict, demographics and historical context; this will require efficient and effective management of data triangulated across multiple information streams. Finally, the Congo CAT Manager will provide frequent briefings, manage the provision of critical analysis, contextual advice and support for improved programmatic assessments, and planning and produce thematic reports based on the team's findings.
Essential Job Responsibilities

CAT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

Manage and maintain the displacement early warning system, including website, triangulation of data, and dissemination of alerts.

Establish a series of tension/early warning indicators to support forecasting.

Adapt the strategy by which CAT will leverage and strengthen the existing network of alert focal points to ensure comprehensive and high-quality context monitoring.

Design and implement regular and ad hoc humanitarian context, population movement, conflict and access analysis tools and lead on the data management of material collected by the department.

Maintain an update thematic and geographic profiles and support program activities with network and context analysis.Cultivate an awareness and culture of Mercy Corps' access, acceptance and humanitarian principles and values.

Provide support to the Country Leadership Team and contextual analysis to anticipate contextual influences on future programming and identify adaptive approaches, and contribute to country-wide strategy development.

Pursue relevant funding opportunities.

EXTERNAL COORDINATION

Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.

Actively seek opportunities for formal and informal inter-agency coordination on issues related to humanitarian analysis.

Pursue opportunities to engage others in our community in creative solutions to common challenges to humanitarian access.

Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and professional composure.

INTERNAL COORDINATION

Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, including programs, operations, finance and administrative staff, to ensure that relevant project targets and donor obligations are met.

Engage with Mercy Corps' internal network of field-based staff and encourage internal-communication between them regarding humanitarian analysis best practices.

Read and stay abreast of all relevant programming activities and objectives and contribute to the contextual viability of contingency plans for program activities where possible and appropriate.

Expand the CAT's scope of work across programs and improve program awareness and understanding about the CAT's scope of work and capacities.

Stay abreast of Mercy Corps program assessments and proposals in development, supporting teams and special projects with the necessary contextual analysis to facilitate planning and access strategies.

Work closely with the global CAT teams to share lessons learned and ensure quality control and implementation in line with the global strategy.

QUALITY

Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps' Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Fulfill Mercy Corps' Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Implement and model Mercy Corps best practices.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

Clearly define the division of roles and responsibilities within the CAT and set clear expectations for collaboration and communication among team members.

Set team direction by prioritizing and organizing actions, communicating the schedule of planned activities and deliverables, and developing resources to achieve objectives.

Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Ensures effective communication within access and analysis team and ensure the accuracy, brevity and clarity of security & content updates, briefings and incident reports to program teams in a timely manner.

Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Hire, orient and lead new team members as necessary.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Develop the capacities of team members, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.

Equip team members with the information, tools and resources necessary to continually improve performance and achieve objectives.

Expand and implement the Capacity Development Plan for team members to strengthen the capacities of the CAT and build to individual and team strengths.

Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via weekly one-on ones and performance reviews. Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.

Demonstrate reflective awareness of his/her own strengths and areas for enhanced professional development.

REPORTING

Oversees the preparation and submission/dissemination of relevant internal and external reports and report components, including but not limited to CAT donor reports and internal progress reports.

Identify opportunities for the appropriate use of analytical methodologies and infographics to support the provision of information to external bodies, such as donors or peer agencies.

Coordinate the elaboration of context analyses requested by department and program heads for program proposals and reports.

Ensure appropriate monitoring and documentation of CAT processes and maintain records necessary for required indicator reporting.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically

to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

CAT Deputy Manager

CAT T4D Officer

CAT Adviser

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Emergency Programmes Director

Works Directly With: Humanitarian Analysis Global Team, Country Director, Director of Programmes, MEL Director, Program Directors, Program Managers, Finance Manager, Director of Operations, Security Manager.

Knowledge and Experience

Master's degree and 5 years research, analysis, or editorial/ reporting experience

Established ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.

Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives.

Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders.

Understanding of big data and its application to humanitarian context.

Excellent writing and analytical experience

Previous experience in insecure environments

Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Experience working on complex stakeholder analysis, preferably on the DRC context

Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.

Ability to develop high caliber written products and utilize online research tools quickly

Active interest in Congolese and Central African humanitarian and development issues

Ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced work environment

Solid computer skills: must be able to work effectively and accurately with Microsoft Word, Google docs, Excel, email and internet applications, as well as mapping skills using graphic and editing applications

Flexible work attitude: able to work productively in a team environment as well as independently

Fluent in French and English (written and oral)

Success Factors

The successful candidate will combine exceptional management skills and strong experience in humanitarian context analysis. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is an unaccompanied position. Shared accommodation will be provided in Goma according to Mercy Corps DRC housing policy. Goma is a provincial capital of over 700,000 inhabitants. Travel may be required up to 40% of the time. Living in Goma is comfortable, although water and electricity can be unstable. Outside Goma, travel can be dangerous and unpredictable due to armed forces and rebel activity.
While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Goma, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is 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 evacuation options for serious illnesses. There's reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.