Iraq: GIS Officer

May 17, 2015 | ACTED
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ACTED began work in Iraq in 2003. ACTED has one base in southern Iraq in Kut and in 2007 opened a base in Erbil to better respond to IDP needs in the Kurdistan region. ACTED originally focused on improving the health, water and sanitation conditions of vulnerable populations in southern Iraq, but the deteriorating security situation and drastic increase in the number of displaced people have resulted in a new focus on meeting IDP and host community needs, based on the experience in IDP camps in Lebanon. The ACTED Iraq national team includes around 100 people who implement multi-sector emergency relief projects including WATSAN activities, gender based violence awareness, health promotion, economic rehabilitation, food security, and distribution of basic relief commodities.

Supporting long-term impacts through sustainable livelihoods and support to local civil society - For ACTED Iraq, 2011 was a year of transition from emergency relief and rehabilitation to development. To support the slow march towards peace and stability, ACTED implemented a dynamic range of programming from the distribution of basic necessities to internally displaced families to apprenticeship programs, gender-based violence awareness and capacity building of local authorities and Iraqi civil society. 

In 2011, ACTED partnered with an Iraqi NGO for the first time in order to jointly implement a project providing assistance to Iraq’s displaced populations. Moving forward, ACTED will prioritise partnership with local Iraqi NGOs to better deliver assistance through their detailed knowledge of and experience with target communities, build the capacity of Iraq’s civil society and move toward increasingly sustainable and longer-term interventions.


III. Position Profile

The GIS Officer reports directly to Area Coordinator

GIS Officer responsibilities include:

1. General
• Preparation, conception and production of maps, including the supervision and monitoring of mapping-related data collection and ensuring dynamic linkages between GIS data and ACTED Database;
• Co-developing GIS components in proposals and supervising the implementation of these GIS components in approved projects;
• Train the AMEU team on usage of maps and GPS; 
• Represent ACTED in GIS related coordination meetings.

2. Preparation, conception and production of maps
• Identify map information needs;
• Identify and access map information sources; 
• Work closely with the Database Manager to ensure an accurate link between the GIS and the Database data, cross check data collected in the field and to develop dynamic links between Database and GIS data and to ensure regular updates and solve eventual discrepancies;
• Ensures that the produced maps meet the requirements of concerned ACTED departments.

3. C. Supervision and monitoring of mapping related data 
• Conceptualize methodologies for collecting GPS and other GIS related data, as according to need;
• Organize and supervise GIS field missions;
• Managing and supervising the GIS assistant and the staff on the GIS; 
• Monitor accuracy of data collected.


IV. Qualifications:

- Flexibility and adaptability are essential, as well as the ability to plan, take initiative and organize work independently. In addition Impartiality, objectivity and confidentiality are imperative;
- Good command of GIS software (especially those used by ACTED), Excel, Word and Database software such as Access or Foxpro. Familiarity with other information and data sources related to GIS to be recommended to ACTED for better GIS practices would be an asset. 
- Understanding the nature of the work carried out by programs is necessary for ensuring the relevancy and usability of the maps produced. Therefore a proactive and self-motivated attitude towards gaining a good understanding of ACTED programs, innovating GIS activities and developing new GIS components for proposals is essential;
- Willingness to learn and capacity to innovate: The GIS Manager must be inventive and eager to improve his or her own skills, and be capable to adapt, shape and develop tools best suited for ACTED’s activities 
- Ability to travel to the field for data collection, cross-checking the data and provide training to field staff;
- Good organizational and communication skills with international and national staff and rural communities.


V. Conditions:

- Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus 
- Additional monthly living allowance
- Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment) 
- Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
- Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package


VI. Submission of applications:

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to geneva@impact-initiatives.org with the job offer reference as object of your email.