USAID Feed the Future Haiti Resilience and Agriculture Sector Advancement (HRASA) is a 5-year activity implemented by DAI. HRASA will build on USAID’s decades of investment in the Haitian agricultural sector and catalyze the resourcefulness and innovation of Haitian market system actors to transform agricultural market systems so that they are more competitive, inclusive, and resilient—ultimately advancing Haiti’s food security, sustainable economic development, and the Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR).
HRASA’s overarching goal is to increase individual, household, and community resilience through strengthened, well-functioning, and inclusive market systems. While Objective 1 activities focus on improving the efficiency/ effectiveness of existing market system actors, Objective 2 will stimulate and expand PSE and investment in agricultural market systems. Objective 3—“Increased Household and Community Ability to Recover from Shocks and Stresses”—will focus on households and communities that are already economically active, but at risk of becoming extremely poor if unable to withstand and recover from recurrent shocks and stresses. Objective 3 will strengthen their capacities to intensify production and participate in market system opportunities emerging from activities under Objectives 1 and 2. Using a market system approach, HRASA will facilitate smallholder farmers’ connection to competitive markets and build on existing opportunities to promote inclusive and resilient economic development. HRASA may also support the uptake of market-focused applied research and extension to develop selected agricultural market systems.
All activities will take place in the communes in the two defined Resilience Focus Zones (RFZs) highlighted in the Activity scope of work: the southern Les Cayes region and the North-North East-Central Plateau region. However, the focus of these activities will vary, depending on the circumstances and selected commodities and market systems prevalent in each region.

The Communications and Outreach Specialist will play a key role supporting the Strategic Communications Manager (SCM) in the development and implementation of the HRASA Communication Strategy, communicating successes, sharing information on project related interventions, and co-developing with technical leads communications products that stimulate greater uptake of new and inclusive business models. Through innovative outreach, he/she will support awareness raising efforts that contribute to strengthening communities’ capacity to withstand climate-related shocks and stresses.
The Communications and Outreach Specialist will foster a collaborative working relationship between HRASA and its beneficiaries/partners, ensuring HRASA projects a positive image to beneficiaries, partners, other development partners, general public and the client. S/He will play an integral role in ensuring that all HRASA’s communications, especially outreach communications such as public events, press releases, etc., are in compliance with USAID and Feed the Future regulations. The Communications and Outreach Specialist will have experience in community work, advocacy, interviewing, report writing, photography, and event managing. He/she will also have experience working with local media.
Specific Tasks:

The Communications and Outreach Specialist will support the Strategic Communications Manager with the following tasks, but not limited to:

• Organize public events (launch/closing ceremonies, inaugural events, stakeholder engagement meeting, donor coordination meetings, community meetings and more)
• Help organize events to help promote HRASA’s work:
o Support the technical teams, including the GESI Lead.
o Design the visual signage of the events (banners, posters etc.) and permanent signs for project work sites, in compliance with the Branding and Marking Plan.
o Coordinate with the operations team on procurement of logistical matters (i.e., catering services tents, canopies, chairs, platforms etc.)
o In collaboration with Strategic Communications Manager, help write speeches for senior HRASA staff and USAID and State Department diplomats
o Act as maître of ceremonies during project events

• Liaise with USAID, partners and beneficiaries to prepare and execute major ceremonies and events, with participation of government officials and USAID’s and US Embassy’s representatives.
• Liaise with media and influencers and coordinate radio messaging, media visits to project work sites and organize national media presence during events.
• Liaise extensively with Objective 3 Lead and act as a community mobilizer, during community informational sessions or meetings. This may entail working with CBOs, community leaders and communications firms to design resilience-related awareness raising activities (i.e., local theater shows, radio spots, etc.).
• Work extensively with the GESI team on communicating and showcasing GESI related interventions.
• Translate quarterly monthly newsletter and success stories in French and in Creole.
• Edit and proofread materials in Haitian Creole.
• Support Strategic Communications Manager in conception, design and production of publicity materials, such as video clips, social behavior campaigns and more.
• Liaise with vendors and service providers, such as graphic designers, and others involved in producing banners and plaques.
• Coordinate all distribution of communications materials.

? Bachelor or higher degree in journalism, communications or related field.
? Minimum of 5 years of communications experience on donor-funded projects, with a strong preference towards experience with USAID funded programs.
? Expert knowledge of Haiti’s agricultural and rural development landscape.
? Demonstrated experience liaising and collaborating with agribusinesses, producer groups, ministries, academic institutions, NGOs, and international organizations.
? Substantial experience in planning and executing high-level events, from concept to production.
? Substantial experience hosting events with participation from diplomats and high-ranking government officials.
? Experience in multimedia content production (short video clips, radio shows, audio slideshows and more)
? Experience working and collaborating with local Haitian communities in the context of agricultural and economic development.
? Ability to undertake regular field visits throughout Haiti, most notably in the Resilience Focus Zones as were outlined in the project summary above.
? Strong communication skill, with proven ability to converse and build strong rapport with private sector actors, community groups, academia, donor projects and government institutions,
? Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
? Experience working with local media and influencers.
? Ability to multitask and monitor several projects daily.
? Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and Haitian Creole are required, with additional proficiency in English desired, but not mandatory.
? Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to relate to people at all levels of an organization and of different multi-cultural backgrounds.

• The Communications and Outreach Specialist will be based on Cap Haitian, with travel throughout the Northern RFZ and frequent travel to the Southern RFZ and other locations in Haiti.
• The Communications and Outreach Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Strategic Communications Manager, or Deputy Chief of Party and under the overall guidance of the Chief of Party.

An up-to-date curriculum vitae;
- A cover letter ;
- Certificate of employment for the positions held and / or similar consultations carried out;
- Copy of diplomas obtained;

2022-01-25