Job Description
Humanitarian Response Coordinator – Haiti
Consultant Position
BACKGROUND:
Internews® Network is an international media development organization based in Arcata, CA and Washington, DC whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.
GENERAL FUNCTION:
The Consultant will contribute to the Internews Network emergency response and coordination program in Haiti under the CDAC (Communications with Disaster Affected Communities) mandate in the following capacities:
Media Assistance Liaison and Co-ordination: Liaison with international media assistance agencies in the field for the purposes of strategic planning and coordination of their and Internews efforts to ensure a two-way flow of information between humanitarian actors and the affected population.
Humanitarian Liaison: Liaison with humanitarian agencies in order to promote their understanding of, and encourage their collaboration with the humanitarian-information programs mounted by the media assistance community.
Local Media Liaison: In close concert with Internews media trainers and producers, provide a liaison point between local media outlets and associations and humanitarian relief actors under the CDAC mandate.
Scope of Work:
- In close consultation with the team leader and with UNOCHA: develop, promote and pro-actively lead the Internews program strategy for the coordination of international media assistance efforts in the Haiti response under the CDAC mandate
- Work closely and pro-actively with international media assistance organizations to plan and implement a coordinated and evolving strategy for the rollout of a joint media assistance plan for Haiti, including a comprehensive baseline assessment of the needs of local audiences and media outlets.
- As part of the above: oversee the setup and development of a centralized media assistance “situation room” and resource centre that will offer reception facilities, background information and briefings, regular sectoral planning meetings, briefings on the media assistance environment, production facilities for local media and media assistance organizations
- Liaise with national and international humanitarian personnel and civil society organizations active in response field for the purpose of promoting, implementing and coordinating activities that contribute to the two-way exchange of information between humanitarian actors and the affected population.
- Liaise with local media outlets in order to promote their understanding of and engagement with the activities of Internews, the coordinated media assistance community and efforts by relief actors to disseminate humanitarian information
- Co-operate with other members of the Internews emergency response country team to consolidate and develop the overall response program
- Represent the coordination and liaison work of the Internews team and partners to UNOCHA, relevant UN cluster leads and daily cluster briefings
- Attend regular meetings and briefings of/by humanitarian actors, ensuring that humanitarians understand the role of the team and what it has to offer them in their daily work.
- Interface between humanitarian NGOs and local media to build trust and facilitate information exchange between them
- Compile daily situation reports on the outputs and activities of the coordination and liaison effort, including updates on the activities of other media assistance partners
- Contribute to fundraising efforts including but not limited to PR/media exercises and proposal writing
- In collaboration with the team leader, create a Monitoring and Evaluation / Impact Assessment strategy for the co-ordination component of Internews work in Haiti, identify resources needed to carry out the strategy, oversee its implementation and provide written M&E/Impact Assessment reports
- Contribute to overall written program reporting for a variety of funders
- Take part in regular telephone conference calls with Internews HQ and with HQ representatives of international media assistance and humanitarian organizations.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required (must have all)
- Fluent English and French (spoken and written) Creole a plus
- Psychological resilience and a sense of humour
- Proven ability to live and work in extremely challenging physical conditions
- Extensive experience working in relief operations in challenging environments.
- Track record in leadership and the ability to turn strategy into action
- Good working knowledge of the mandates and modalities of the international humanitarian sector including the UN cluster system
- Knowledge of civil society organizations structure and non-for profit operations;
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team in a challenging and a highly fluid environment; ability to plan for flexibility at a programme design level and to handle constant changes;
- Excellent negotiating skills
- Relevant university degree or equivalent experience
- Proven interpersonal and networking skills with international organisations and donors.
- Team-building skills and the ability to manage a diverse staff;
- Must be computer literate; relevant experience gained from a new media background will be an added advantage.
- Ability to function effectively over long periods of time in the discomfort of adverse environments.
TO APPLY:
Interested candidates meeting the qualifications should forward a cover letter and resume to 876-in(at) internews (dot) org (re-write in standard format), placing “HRC – HT – in” in the subject line. EOE M/F/D/V
