Background

On January 12, 2010 an earthquake, registering over 7.0 on the Richter scale struck the Republic of Haiti killing more than 200,000 people, displacing over a million and affecting a total of 3,000,000.
The epicenter of the quake was close to Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, destroying and heavily damaging homes, schools, churches, and critical infrastructure. The Government of Haiti (GoH) was also devastated by the earthquake, which destroyed most public buildings and records and took the lives of many key staff. More than one year after the earthquake, Haiti’s peace and recovery are threatened by a growing cholera epidemic, a challenging political transition, abject poverty, and lack of basic services. The goal of USAID/OTI’s efforts in Haiti post-earthquake is to reinforce stability and lay the foundation for longer term development.

In January 2010, USAID/OTI launched an 18-month-long quick-response program in partnership with Chemonics known as Haiti Recovery Initiative (HRI), or An’n Leve Kanpe (“Let’s stand up together!”) in Haitian Creole. Over the course of the last year, activities have focused primarily on the following three country objectives:

1.) Community Stabilization
2.) Enabling the GoH to Function
3.) Increasing Citizen Engagement


The USG made public the new Post-Earthquake USG Haiti Strategy: Toward Renewal and Economic Opportunity on January 3, 2011. This five-year strategy has two objectives: 1) to catalyze economic growth through investments in agriculture, energy and infrastructure; and 2) to ensure long-term stability through investments in public institutions.

While new USAID programming is coming on board over the next year, USAID/OTI is well-positioned to support the USG’s reconstruction and long-term development plan. This plan seeks to support new and diverse economic opportunities in key development corridors (Port-au-Prince, Saint Marc and Cap Haitian) using focused and catalytic investments in four focus areas or “pillars” of investment critical to achieving economic growth and stability: (A) infrastructure and energy, (B) food and economic security, (C) health and other basic services, and (D) governance and rule of law.

USAID/OTI programming will remain responsive to urgent priorities as they arise and cross-cutting in support of these four pillars. However, given the timing of future programming and the comparative advantages that USAI/OTI brings, the HRI program will focus on:
• Contributing significantly to return of thousands of IDPs to no more than three (3) residential neighborhoods in greater Port-au-Prince;
• Supporting local governments and communities in the ‘development corridors’ so that they are better prepared to absorb and benefit from long-term USG resources; and
• Enhancing the Government of Haiti’s ability to govern effectively in key sectors.

USAID/OTI has been working with Chemonics under the follow-on to HRI (known as HRI-II) since March 14, 2011, and the program is expected to run for a period of 18 months.

Position Purpose

The objective of this activity is to support the GOH in the development and implementation of a communications campaign about the North Park Project, an industrial park in the commune of Caracol (North East Haiti). This park will, in Phase 1, accommodate at least 20,000 workers in the garment industry, growing to support 65,000 permanent jobs once the Park is fully developed, increasing Haitian garment industry jobs by more than 200%. To complement the large investment the U.S. Government has made in the success of the Northern Park through direct investment, USAID through HRI is therefore implementing a series of activity to support The Ministry of Finances’ Technical Implementation Unit (UTE) in the development and management of strategic communications effort to convey key messages to communities and local entities about the progress of the Park‘s design, construction, and management.


The communication and coordination officer will be responsible for the coordination between UTE, OTI, Chemonics and the communication firm for efficient information sharing, decision making and implementation of the different components of the project. She/He will be in charge of monitoring all feedback mechanisms set in place to channel citizen’s questions and requests.

Tasks
The communication and coordination officer will be responsible for performing the following tasks:
• Ensure continuous feedback to requests regarding the Caracol Industrial Park posted on the Park’s website, sent to info@ute.gouv.ht / caracol or though phone calls on the attributed line.

• Ensure proper follow up with UTE Director for requests that cannot be answered immediately.

• Compile and follow up with UTE’s Director all comments deemed relevant and/or requiring action;

• Prepare the minutes of coordination meetings and communicate to all parties;

• Follow up on behalf of the UTE on all decisions taken during these meetings;

• Plan in coordination with the communication firm the public consultation meetings in the municipalities of the Departments of North and Northeast.

• Prepare minutes of meeting, make a translation in English and French and submit to the coordination meetings for review prior to publication on the web page.

• Collect on a regular basis the log sheet compiling complaints, requests and comments channeled through the information kiosks and prepare regular reports for the Coordinating Committee.

• To take care of all logistics and administrative issues falling under UTE’s responsibility and relating to the implementation of the communication plan, in Port-au-Prince as well as in the Departments of North and Northeast;

• Prepare and regularly update the list of recipients of the projects’ weekly newsletter.

• Prepare the weekly newsletter and send it electronically to the recipients;

• Collect the necessary information and prepare a monthly briefing note to be sent to SONAPI.

• Assist the UTE team in the coordination and communication with all partners involved in the Caracol industrial Park project.

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the UTE Director.

Qualifications

1. University degree in Administration, Management, Communication or related field required; completed university degree in aforementioned areas preferred.
2. Minimum of 5 years experiences in different areas of communication, public relations, office and project management.
3. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and ability to be a strong team player.
4. Ability to prioritize work assignments and to work with minimal supervision; capable of making decisions which will foster timely work completion.
5. Ability to work under tight deadlines.
6. Excellent and demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail.
7. Excellent speaking and writing skills in English, French and Creole and effective communication skills in all three languages.
8. Advanced computer skills, particularly in MS Office Software, word processing and spreadsheets required.
9. Immediate availability for full time position with frequent field trips

in UTE. The communication and coordination officer will report to the Director of UTE, and his/her The consultant will be embedded contract will be administered by Chemonics.