About ACTED/REACH

Since 1993, as an international non-governmental organization, ACTED has been committed to immediate humanitarian relief to support those in urgent need and protect people’s dignity, while co-creating longer term opportunities for sustainable growth and fulfilling people’s potential. ACTED endeavours to respond to humanitarian crises and build resilience; promote inclusive and sustainable growth; co-construct effective governance and support the building of civil society worldwide by investing in people and their potential. We go the last mile: ACTED’s mission is to save lives and support people in meeting their needs in hard-to-reach areas. With a team of 7000 staff, ACTED is active in 42 countries and implements more than 550 projects a year reaching over 20 million beneficiaries. More on www.acted.org

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis, GIS and remote-sensing. REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, supporting and working within the framework of the humanitarian reform process. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database & (web)-mapping facilities & expertise.

Country profile

In Kenya, Acted has been present since 2007 to meet the humanitarian and development needs of communities affected by natural calamities, population displacement and inadequate access to basic services. Acted has a capital office in Nairobi and operational bases in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties in Rift Valley and Northern Kenya. The teams work with local governments and partners to support the most vulnerable households through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), food assistance and disaster preparedness programmes.

REACH has been operational in Kenya since 2016, providing information management support to humanitarian actors on the needs and intentions of refugees and vulnerable populations as well as the needs and vulnerabilities of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands counties of Kenya. REACH Kenya is looking to expand information support to the humanitarian response in several key areas, including IDP settlement profiling and monitoring, multi-sector needs assessments, durable solutions and improved remote data collection. Key strategic aims are to increase geographic and sectoral coverage and to enhance advocacy capacity through strengthened data collection and information targeting.

ACTED is seeking a professionally confident, self-motivated, experienced, and committed team player to fill the position of REACH Assessment Assistant, based in Nairobi.

Preference will be given to candidates with proficiency in Somali.

Job objective

The REACH Assessment Assistant (RAA) supports the planning, implementation, and follow-up of REACH research cycles in Somalia, with a particular focus on qualitative data collection and analysis. Based in Nairobi and working in close coordination with the REACH Somalia team and external partners, the RAA will support the timely and high-quality delivery of research outputs. A key component of the role is supporting and piloting remote qualitative data collection, including phone-based interviews with Somali-speaking respondents in Somalia, and contributing to qualitative analysis and narrative reporting. Although based in Nairobi, the role will require travel to Somalia to support with in-person data collection when needed.

Key Roles And Responsibilities

COORDINATION

Support Internal Coordination With

• REACH Field, GIS, Data, and Assessment colleagues; and
• relevant Acted departments (finance, logistics, etc.),

RESEARCH DESIGN

Support research design tasks, particularly for qualitative and mixed-methods components such as;

• Contributing to the development of qualitative methodologies and tools (e.g. interview and FGD guides);
• Supporting the drafting of Terms of Reference, workplans, and data analysis plans.
• Supporting operational planning for qualitative data collection, including remote or phone-based approaches.
• Contributing to the preparation of training materials or guidance for enumerators or interviewers, where relevant.

IMPLEMENTATION

Support The Implementation Of Assigned Research Cycles. This Includes

• Conducting qualitative data collection, including in-person interviews or facilitation in Somalia or remote interviews or discussions by phone with Somali-speaking respondents.
• Applying strong probing techniques to ensure depth and clarity of responses.
• Producing accurate and detailed transcriptions and translations (Somali–English), as required.
• Supporting data cleaning, organization, and qualitative coding or categorization;
• Supporting qualitative and mixed-methods analysis in close coordination with Assessment, Data, GIS, and Field colleagues.

OUTPUT PRODUCTION

Contribute To Output Production. This May Include

• Drafting qualitative findings and narrative analysis sections for reports, factsheets, or situation overviews.
• Supporting the preparation of cleaned qualitative datasets or coded data matrices (e.g, DSAGs);
• Contributing to presentations or briefing materials for internal and external audiences.

DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION

The RAA will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes, ensuring full compliance with Acted data protection policy and SOPs. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to Acted and its partners or collected during his/her assignment with Acted.

Necessary Skills

Analysis skills

• Qualitative analysis skills, including the ability to identify key themes, patterns, and divergences across interviews or focus group discussions.
• Ability to synthesize qualitative findings into clear, structured narrative analysis.
• Data literacy and basic proficiency in Excel for organizing and reviewing data.
• Ability to think analytically and critically, and to assess data quality, bias, and limitations.

Process Skills

• Strong attention to detail, particularly for transcription, translation, and data management.
• Planning and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to operationalize research plans into concrete activities and deliverables.
• Effective written and verbal communication, particularly in English.

Human qualities

• Personal values align with Acted organizational values,
• Curiosity and openness to learning, with a willingness to test and adapt new approaches.
• Flexibility and adaptability to different work situations and access constraints.
• High level of motivation, self-commitment, and reliability.
• Ability to work autonomously with appropriate supervision.

Teamwork And Professional Skills

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a multicultural and cross-

• Support Internal Coordination With REACH Field, GIS, Data, and Assessment colleagues; and relevant Acted departments (finance, logistics, etc.),
• Support research design tasks, particularly for qualitative and mixed-methods components such as; Contributing to the development of qualitative methodologies and tools (e.g. interview and FGD guides); Supporting the drafting of Terms of Reference, workplans, and data analysis plans. Supporting operational planning for qualitative data collection, including remote or phone-based approaches. Contributing to the preparation of training materials or guidance for enumerators or interviewers, where relevant.
• Support The Implementation Of Assigned Research Cycles. This Includes Conducting qualitative data collection, including in-person interviews or facilitation in Somalia or remote interviews or discussions by phone with Somali-speaking respondents. Applying strong probing techniques to ensure depth and clarity of responses. Producing accurate and detailed transcriptions and translations (Somali–English), as required. Supporting data cleaning, organization, and qualitative coding or categorization; Supporting qualitative and mixed-methods analysis in close coordination with Assessment, Data, GIS, and Field colleagues.
• Contribute To Output Production. This May Include Drafting qualitative findings and narrative analysis sections for reports, factsheets, or situation overviews. Supporting the preparation of cleaned qualitative datasets or coded data matrices (e.g, DSAGs); Contributing to presentations or briefing materials for internal and external audiences.
• The RAA will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes, ensuring full compliance with Acted data protection policy and SOPs. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to Acted and its partners or collected during his/her assignment with Acted.

• Qualitative analysis skills, including the ability to identify key themes, patterns, and divergences across interviews or focus group discussions.
• Ability to synthesize qualitative findings into clear, structured narrative analysis.
• Data literacy and basic proficiency in Excel for organizing and reviewing data.
• Ability to think analytically and critically, and to assess data quality, bias, and limitations.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly for transcription, translation, and data management.
• Planning and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to operationalize research plans into concrete activities and deliverables.
• Effective written and verbal communication, particularly in English.
• Personal values align with Acted organizational values,
• Curiosity and openness to learning, with a willingness to test and adapt new approaches.
• Flexibility and adaptability to different work situations and access constraints.
• High level of motivation, self-commitment, and reliability.
• Ability to work autonomously with appropriate supervision.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a multicultural and cross-