The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.



The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.



The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.



The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and Europe. The IFRC also has country cluster support team office delegation and country office delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.



The global impact of COVID-19 has already been significant, and it represents the most serious global health threat resulting from a respiratory virus, since the 1918 influenza pandemic. IFRC has been actively responding to the pandemic by focusing on both preparedness and response. The IFRC has launched a global appeal which focuses on preparedness and response across all regions. The IFRC’s Americas’ Region represents a Red Cross in each of the 35 Americas’ countries.? The Americas’ Regional Office based in Panama City, Panama has been providing support to Americas’ NS through its Country Cluster Support Teams Offices (CCSTO) and Country Offices (CO) in responding to the COVID19 pandemic.?



The?IFRC launched emergency appeals and DREF to support the Haitian Red Cross scale up their emergency response efforts to support people who are affected by the present crisis. Outpatient care, disease/outbreak prevention, health promotion, psychosocial support, shelter programs and community engagement and accountability are key components of the appeal. Support for the National Societies and appeals are managed from the America regional officed based in Panama.



An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.21 miles) has occurred at 13 km south-southeast of Petit Trou de Nippes, Haiti, as reported by the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on 14 August 2021, 16:02:56 GMT. Based on the preliminary data, earthquakes of this shallow of depth and magnitude are expected to result in moderate to severe shaking within 245.0 km (152.24 miles) from the epicenter. The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning that was later rescinded. No tsunami threats are expected.



Early damage assessments indicate that at least 800,000 people could be directly exposed to minor to severe damages, including communication, access, security, loss of livelihoods, infrastructure, and health services could be impacted.

The HRCS has requested support from IFRC. In coordination between IFRC HQ and IFRC Regional Office, this emergency has now been categorized as Orange as per IFRC Standard Operating Procedures. The emergency categorization and scalability will be revised in the next 48 hours.



The earthquake struck during a current political crisis, which is ongoing since the president of Haiti was assassinated on 7 July 2021. In addition, according to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Grace, which formed in the eastern Caribbean the same morning, is on a path toward Haiti with possible landfall on Tuesday, 17 August 2021.



The CEA Officer will be based in Les Cayes and report directly to the Field Coordinator and holds a technical line to the CEA Manager - ARO.

Job Purpose:
Community engagement and accountability is at the core of Red Cross and Red Crescent programming and operations. It is an approach geared towards putting people and communities, vulnerable to and affected by crisis, at the centre of what we do. It encompasses a set of activities that embed and integrate participation, communication, feedback and learning throughout the programme cycle, in service delivery and in strategy development. The goal is to enable people and communities to lead and shape positive, sustainable change in their own lives, communities and society.



The Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) Field Coordinator will support the Haitian Red Cross and IFRC operations teams to enhance the impact, reach and efficiency of emergency response operations through the integration and coordination of CEA activities and approaches. This includes participatory approaches, feedback systems, risk communication and evidence-based advocacy.



The position will provide strategic and technical advice and training to build the capacity of staff to integrate a more systematic approach to CEA and strengthen participatory processes in response and recovery approaches. The CEA Field Coordinator will be responsible for guiding and coordinating the rolling out of CEA activities across the emergency operation. The CEA Field Coordinator will develop or participate in active networks and coordination groups with external organisations and actors to ensure that CEA approaches and activities are integrated with wider sector initiatives.

The post holder will be responsible for the following duties:

Work closely with operations teams, support the rolling out of a community engagement and accountability (CEA) strategy, ensuring that the National Society is able to implement activities in an effective and sustainable manner.

Work with operations teams to integrate CEA into assessment and monitoring processes, and undertake perceptions surveys of programmes with community members.

Provide guidance on the setting up (or re-starting) and management of an appropriate mix of communication channels (radio, IVR, hotline…), suitable to the local context and cultural practices, and ensure field teams have the support and technical skills required to provide timely, relevant and accurate information to people.

Support programme teams to facilitate participation of community members, in particular more vulnerable groups, in programme activities and key programme decisions (through the use of participatory approaches including focus group discussions, formation of committees, strengthening existing committees, design of infrastructure).

Support programme teams to increase levels of accountability to communities within the emergency operation, through establishing appropriate feedback mechanisms and training frontline staff/volunteers to improve their two-way communication and complaints handling skills.

Ensure frontline staff/volunteers are equipped with the information they need to engage and communicate with communities, through maintaining CEA channels (FAQs, posters, feedback mechanisms), and that they have means to deliver feedback from the community to line managers (suggestion boxes, questionnaires, feedback forms, etc).

Prioritise and champion the voices of women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities, to ensure they have equal access to information channels and feedback mechanisms particular to their needs, and taking into account any specific protection issues.

Ensure harmonisation of CEA interventions within sectoral programmes to improve mainstreaming of existing best practices and ensure that community feedback loops are closed.

Work closely with participating National Societies to ensure ownership of CEA plans in the project and build on current capacities and expertise.

Ensure optimum efficiency of donor funds, effective budgeting and provide comprehensive reporting as required.

Education

• An advanced university degree in social sciences/behavioural/communication sciences or relevant experience

• 5 years’ experience in beneficiary communication, social mobilisation, community engagement, community media and/or media for development

• with at least 2 years in developing countries

• Experience in setting up and managing media, communication and engagement tools such as social media, radio, TV, SMS, cinema/drama and community feedback mechanisms

• Proven experience in strategic communication processes for behaviour change and development as well as participatory programming in emergencies

• Solid experience in delivering community engagement and accountability capacity building, project management support and training, including developing community engagement tools and feedback mechanisms

• Knowledge about community communication interventions under emergency situations, in complex and delicate situations

• Technical knowledge of quantitative, qualitative and participatory research methodologies and analysis

• Experienced project manager able to work with others, particularly with National Societies, to develop and manage clear strategies, budgets, work plans, log frames and M&E plans

• Experience working with Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies

Knowledge and Skills

• Good understanding of - or training in - current developments in the field of communication with communities, behavioural and social sciences, community engagement planning and processes, community media; also strategic communication planning, behaviour analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions.

• Good understanding of disaster management issues

• Sensitivity to challenging political contexts and understanding of risk management processes

• Advanced analytical skills and able to capture learning and use it to make improvements in programming

• Highly motivated, self-starter able to lead a process, engage others and create ownership.

• Team player, self-motivated and proactive on own initiative to set and achieve goals

• Planning and Programme Management and Monitoring

• Ability to negotiate and establish partnerships with varying partners and develop relationships with key communications providers

• Ability to multitask, work under pressure and advanced analytical skills

• Advanced analytical skills and able to capture learning and use it to make improvements in programming

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills


Competencies
Values: Respect for diversity, Diversity, Professionalism and Accountability
Core Competencies: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust;

Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Applicants will need to send their applications together with a letter of motivation no later than the closing date. In order for us to assure a proper comparative evaluation of your application for this vacancy and to enable us to consider your profile against other similar current and future vacancies, we ask that you submit your application taking into account the following:
Important Note:

•?Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through an national contract in Haiti.
•?The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and applicable international labor law;
•?Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.
•?The position will be based in Les Cayes, Haiti.

Motivation Letter and CV

Subject CEA Officer - Application