Lead Analyst - Crisis Analysis Team (MENA & Europe)

About Mercy Corps

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. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has developed a Crisis Analytics function to support our programming, as well as to inform the broader humanitarian and development communities, in complex contexts such as Syria, Lebanon, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo and others. The MENA/Europe Crisis Analysis team seeks to support Mercy Corps’ in-country programming as well as the wider humanitarian and crisis response across crisis and conflict affected contexts in the Mercy Corps MENA/Europe region. It does this through the provision of quality, timely and relevant analytical products, such as those produced by the Lebanon, Syria and Ukraine teams.

The Mercy Corps’ Crisis Analysis teams produce in depth and varied analysis to provide a more nuanced understanding of both the economic, environmental, conflict and humanitarian context in which we work, exploring the broader impact of these dynamics on markets, households, and coping strategies to enable better decision making for donors, implementers, and policy makers in complex crises. This analysis is often provided through a range of country level and regional products, from monthly situation updates, forecasts, scenario building, bespoke deeper dive pieces on important humanitarian and fragility issues, and urgent flash analyses of rapidly developing situations. Other typical products and services range from informal and formal 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. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ status as an operational NGO, keeping our products constructive and relevant for policy makers, responders and donors within a given crisis.

General Position Summary

In collaboration with other members of the MENA/Europe Crisis Analysis team, the Lead Analyst is responsible for the research and drafting behind a range of analytical products, as well as managing and driving the vision and strategy for the crisis analysis teams through the development and delivery of complex analytical products and information that will inform stronger and more strategic programs across the region. The Lead Analyst also supports effective functioning of the team as a support function to the country programmes, and external briefings with key stakeholders such as donors and peer agencies. With support from the broader MENA/Europe Crisis Analysis team, the Lead Analyst will support the day to day management of workflows, alignment of products & services with country programme priorities, quality control of products, and developing a process of continuous improvement within the team.

The Lead Analyst provides an advisory role to senior leadership, and leads external representation (for peer organisations, donors, partners, etc.) of the Crisis Analysis team’s findings. The Lead Analyst will be expected to cultivate appropriate networks to improve data collection and impactful dissemination. The Lead Analyst will have strong experience as an analyst, able to translate audience needs into data collection tasks and subsequent production of products. This position will be based in Amman alongside the Mercy Corps MENA/Europe regional office. The Lead Analyst will engage with counterparts from Mercy Corps’ other Crisis Analysis teams, and the global Crisis Analysis team, as part of a community of practice.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

ANALYSIS

• Lead the production of time-sensitive, data-driven analytical products to support programmatic decision making.
• Ensure the Crisis Analysis team’s outputs meet the unique needs of its target audiences, and meet Mercy Corps’ minimum standards for Crisis Analysis work.
• Have final responsibility for quality control of products.
• Maintain and constantly develop a strong understanding of the rapidly changing context in countries of focus (political, legal, economic, social, and conflict).
• Develop key analytics products for the donor, broader humanitarian/crisis response community, and Mercy Corps program teams based on local area dynamics and feedback from Crisis Analysis key stakeholders
• Provide presentations and updates for the donor and program teams as required.
• Provide contextual presentations to program teams on a regular basis and lead emergency planning and preparedness exercises for program teams such as scenario planning exercises.

COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT

• Manage PCAT consultants members, ensuring workflows are adhered to and deliverable deadlines are met. Coordinate workflow and workload of the team to maximize impactful output.
• In coordination with the Country Team, proactively engage with key stakeholders in the humanitarian architecture. Present report findings to internal and external parties
• Proactively engage with the Global Crisis Analysis team and counterparts in other Crisis Analysis teams across the MENA/Europe region, pursuing collaboration and new dissemination techniques
• Build and maintain relevant networks that improve the quality of products.
• Contribute to proposal writing and business development with the broader country team.
• Support the systematic use of analysis in programmatic decision making within Mercy Corps.

● Support the professional development of team members.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

● Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

STRATEGY & CULTURE

• Crisis Analysis is part of the evidence and learning Unit for Mercy Corps globally and as such, support and participation to broader evidence driven commitment at MC at larger and in the various regional initiatives such as our regional Evidence and Learning Agenda to ensure CA products form an important part of our broader evidence generation and efforts to ensure our work influences others in the sector, improves programs, and help scale what works.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Contribute to the development of humanitarian, crisis response, country-level and regional strategies, as well as other key thematic sectors of interventions (economic development, governance, etc) for Mercy Corps.
• Understand and express conflict in terms of humanitarian and economic needs, gender, conflict sensitivity, diversity and inclusion, protection, shocks, stresses, and threats.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility:

● The Lead Analyst, with support from the MENA/Europe Crisis Analysis advisor, will supervise a small team of analysts, interns, and specialized consultants. This includes economists, editors, and technical experts. The Lead Analyst will also collaborate and coordinate support from regional and global Crisis Analytics technical roles, such as the Regional Quantitative Analysis Manager.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Mercy Corps MENA/Europe Deputy Regional Director, and under the close direction and supervision of the Regional MENA/Europe Crisis Analysis Advisor.

Works Directly With: MENA/Europe Crisis Analysis Advisor, MENA/Europe quantitative analysis advisor, MENA/Europe Crisis Analysis teams, Global Crisis Analysis team, Research and Learning Team (global)

Knowledge and Experience

Required

• Excellent written and spoken English
• Excellent demonstrated drafting and analysis skills
• Experience working with junior analysts and strong editing skills
• Experience with both quantitative and qualitative research is a must. Excellent public speaking skills
• Knowledge and understanding of contextual dynamics of supported Crisis Analysis teams.
• Excellent knowledge of contextual dynamics in the MENA region.

Preferred

• Excellent written and spoken Arabic is a definite asset
• Project/program management skills are crucial
• Strong interpersonal and team management skills are skills are crucial
• Degree in Economics, Politics, Law, International Relations, conflict studies or a related field is an asset
• Analytical experience within a think-tank, UN, or NGO experience or a similar Crisis Analytics Unit
• Primary and secondary research/academic experience in political science, sociology, economics, or conflict analysis
• Experience working within the development/humanitarian sector. Program management experience and grant management is especially useful.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will see opportunities where Mercy Corps programs can complement policy related to refugees, extremely vulnerable, and newly vulnerable, and explore new partnerships or program modalities with private sector and local government. They will be able to relate programming in the MENA region with policy and work closely with regional teams to enhance our capacity and approach towards risk and access strategies. They will work on short deadlines, often under challenging circumstances, while remaining calm, flexible, patient and creative. They will be comfortable speaking and presenting quite complex information in digestible formats before groups both big and small, sometimes with potentially controversial content, while remaining confident, professional, and open. A good sense of humor and excellent interpersonal skills are key. The successful candidate brings together a range of skills and experience, and imbues those in their team, to deliver analysis that allows Mercy Corps to run impactful programmes in highly complex contexts. The candidate knows that analysis is only as good as its up-take with the target audience. Mercy Corps is investing heavily in analysis at a global level, and the candidate will leverage these resources to improve their own programming, and share the results of their success.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Amman. Team members in this location are expected to follow all Mercy Corps security protocols, which may change from time to time, relevant to the prevailing risk environment.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.

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

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

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 is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.