Consultancy – Ukraine Impact – Remote At Mercy Corps

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Mercy Corps’ Crisis Analytics teams aggregate and analyze data to improve decision making and access in complex crises. The teams support our programming in Syria, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo and other locations. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision making by layering information from primary sources, open sources and responders’ programmatic data, where it is analysed by subject matter experts and data scientists. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ status as an operational NGO, keeping products constructive and relevant.

Typical products and services range from informal briefings to weekly products, contributions to risk assessments, in-depth assessment of the political economy of a defined geography, deep-dives on specific thematics, etc., ranging in themes from conflict to market systems to governance, in line with programmatic needs.

Purpose / Project Description:

In response to the recent escalation of tensions between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Mercy Corps is expanding its analytical capacity to provide operationally relevant analysis of the evolving dynamics on the ground and at the international diplomatic level. The consultancy will contribute by addressing the lack of relevant, timely information available in areas affected by an increase in violence and affected by population displacement. Analysis will inform Mercy Corps’ strategic decision-making in the region and anticipate subsequent impacts in the agency’s areas of operation, including developments that could limit humanitarian access.

Consultant Objectives:

The role will provide a short-term boost in analytical capacity focused on Ukraine.

The consultancy will generate increased understanding of the conflict’s impact on Mercy Corps’ operations, security and programmes, supporting across departments and teams, as required. The consultancy will support Mercy Corps’ ability to implement and adapt its existing programmes in related contexts, as well as feed into Mercy Corps’ decision-making framework for responding to emergencies generated by a severe deterioration of the situation.

The consultant is expected to bring and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of the dynamic, leveraging their expertise to provide high quality, operationally relevant analysis. The consultant will adopt a flexible approach and a willingness to to use non-traditional tools and information sources in order to generate insights within a highly dynamic environment. The consultant will utilize open-source data gathering tools to complement the humanitarian data accessible by Mercy Corps and its partners.

The consultant will have responsibility for the drafting of regular, periodic context reports, the structure and focus of these products will be determined by the Global Crisis Analytics team, with due consideration given to programmatic and regional issues. The consultant will provide an ongoing overview of key actors and stakeholders, related incidents and developments. The consultant will lead and support the creation of in-depth scenario planning reports.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Engage in research on the context, using existing datasets and open-source research as appropriate.
• Write reports on developments related to focal and priority areas.
• Contribute to the development of, and participate in, scenario building and planning reports.
• Identify key actors and stakeholders, maintain understanding of incidents and shifts within the highly dynamic environment.
• Participate in briefings and meetings as requested.
• Alert colleagues to urgent developments.
• Work closely with the Global Crisis Analytics, Regional, Global Security and Humanitarian Response teams to understand their information needs, and provide timely and relevant advice.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

1. Write regular contextual reports;
2. Delivery and focus of reports to be agreed on with Global Crisis Analytics.
3. Reports will provide a clear overview of the actors and stakeholders at the national and international level, as well as their activities.
4. Reports will be easily digestible and provide analysis relevant to Mercy Corps’ crisis response, operations in the region and beyond.
5. Provide short flash reports/updates as appropriate.
6. Contribute to two in-depth scenario planning reports;
7. Research questions to be defined in coordination with the relevant departments within Mercy Corps.
8. Attend meetings and briefings as required, providing timely contextual updates.

Timeframe / Schedule:

Start: As soon as possible.

Time Frame: 4 – 6 weeks.

The Consultant will report to:

Senior Director, Global Crisis Analytics

Consultant will work closely with:

Global Crisis Analytics, Global and Regional Security; Humanitarian Response; Asia Region

Required Experience & Skills:

• 5-10 years experience in a relevant technical field.
• Verbal and written fluency in English and Russian.
• Relevant academic qualifications, or 3+ years in conflict analysis, research in a conflict zone, or other related fields.
• Experience in conducting conflict research on Ukraine/Russia.
• Experience in mapping and integration of visual data sources into analysis.
• Able to demonstrate experience in a variety of formal and informal approaches to data collection and analysis.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated high capacity for writing in English on technical subjects.
• Able to convey complex information to a variety of audiences.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment with high-levels of collaboration.
• Competency in internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Competency in social media tools including Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp.
• Ability to work within a remote team
• Good knowledge of Mercy Corps is an asset.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. 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.