AmeriCares Careers & Volunteers

Haiti Adolescent Girls Network Coordinator (contract position)

Department: AmeriCares Haiti / Post Emergency Response Programs

Reports To: Vice President of Post-Emergency Programs

Location: Port-au-Prince

Assignment Length & Hours: 12 month contract

SUMMARY:

In this position, the Coordinator will be responsible for organizing the shared activities of the Haiti Adolescent Girls Network. The Network is a working collaborative of organizations committed to protecting and empowering adolescent girls in Haiti so they may safely navigate the volatile post-earthquake environment and break the cycle of poverty. The Network currently consists of 20 local Haitian Associations and women's groups, local NGOs and INGOs, in addition to UN agencies and donors; and is anticipated to expand over the course of the engagement period.

The primary work of the Network is to implement a national program of building adolescent girls social, health and economic assets to simultaneously reduce vulnerability and open opportunities in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. The program hinges on the convening of Girls Groups–-regular gatherings (weekly, or more, and at least 1.5 hours/week) of girls ages 10 to 18 lead by peer mentors–-at an anticipated 30 to 40 sites nationwide. The Girls Groups will serve as a platform through which to help girls attain and maintain good health; negotiate safe, voluntary choices with respect to sexuality and fertility; receive an education and achieve literacy/numeracy; and pursue decent livelihoods.

The Coordinator's primary responsibilities will be to 1) help develop and maintain the core curriculum taught at all the Girls Group sites; 2) prepare and convene meetings of the 'Network members' (herein referring to both the Coordinating Committee and individual Girl Groups) to foster collaboration among Network members and stakeholders; 3) plan and host workshops to train; and 4) document the activities and outcomes of the Network's program.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In this role, the Coordinator will report to the AmeriCares Vice President of Post-Emergency Programs and is accountable to the Network for deliverables.  AmeriCares serves as the hosting institution for this position.

Develop & Maintain Core Curriculum for Girls Groups

• Work with Network members to develop a standardized curriculum to serve as the core content taught at each of the Girls Groups sites
• Compile written materials to be used as educational content, lesson plans, exercises and games -- for distribution in French and Creole to Girls Groups leaders. Draw upon existing materials including the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Toolkit, Ki Kote Pa Gen Dokte Fanm (Where There Is No Women's Doctor) and  references created by local partners and Network members
• Work with Girl Group site leaders to revise and improve upon curriculum content and materials, to identify and resolve challenges, and to fuel Network growth
• Coordinate the engagement of technical NGOs and consultants who are delivering specialty content (such as entrepreneurship training or cultural animation) in line with Coordinating Committee suggestions, and integrate their materials/lesson plans/activities into the Girls Group curriculum. Schedule the technical NGOs and consultants' rotation to all of the Girl Group sites.
• Curriculum subjects anticipated to include (but not limited to): rights of the child under Haitian law, sexual and reproductive health and rights,, financial literacy and the fundamentals of saving, preventing and surviving gender based violence, psychological bereavement and coping with loss.
• Coordinate with existing social and health service agencies and providers (public and private) to ensure national integration.

Foster Collaboration Among Network Members and Implementation of a
Shared Action Plan

• Prepare and convene meetings of the Network members to foster collaboration, sharing of lessons learned and the development and implementation of a shared Action Plan. Meetings to convene every two weeks for the first three months to build momentum at the program's onset; and to convene every 4 to 6 weeks thereafter.
• Ensure balanced participation with regard to the presence and interests of local organizations and INGOs, and continually place the interests and needs of adolescent girls at the center of decision making
• Engage other stakeholders in the development of the Network's work and reporting of program activities findings. Stakeholders include: government officials, including representatives of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Ministry of Health; leaders of women's organizations and related  national Platforms;  leaders in the displacement camps; community leaders, particularly from urban slums; and academic and research group interested in adolescent girls programming
• Maintain a working agenda for all Network-related meetings and report meeting outcomes to the Network through the distribution of minutes

Cultivate Cadre of Young Women Leaders through Training of Peer Mentors

• To help ensure the effectiveness of the Girls Groups and sustainability of the program, work to cultivate a cadre of young women leaders among the Peer Mentors
• Plan and convene 3 Leadership Workshops to be attended by all of the Peer Mentors from each of the program sites. First workshop tentatively scheduled for mid-October
• Design the workshop to develop specific skill sets related to group facilitation and leadership, and around subjects in the areas of health, safety and rights of the child and preparedness for decent livelihoods and economic opportunity
• Use the workshops and site visits to develop a sense of group cohesion and empowerment among the peer mentors

Support Local NGOs and Women's Associations

• Work with AmeriCares Manager of Post-Emergency Response Programs to administer approximately 5 operating grants of $5,000 to local women's associations and Haitian NGOs to support their adolescent girls programming (funding contingent)
• Convene program development workshops for women's associations and local NGOs as required, drawing on Network members for technical assistance when needed
• Translate materials into French and Creole to support local NGO management of their Girls Group programs

Document the Network's Activities and Outcomes

• Prepare 3 quarterly Activity Reports and a Year-End Narrative Report summarizing the accomplishments of the Network members, outcomes of the Girls Groups and community level impact, and lessons learned in the program period. To include accounting of budget expenses
• Share all reports with Network members for their use with donors and other audiences
• Provide support to Network members to facilitate positive public communications of the initiative as requested. May include working with Network members' communications teams upon request.
• Coordinate Network's Monitoring & Evaluation approach, including establishment of shared goals and metrics for measuring program impact
• Compile research and assessments prepared by Network members about their program sites, communities and target populations of adolescent girls to document the program
• Potentially engage an academic or other research institution to assist with baseline and impact assessment on a pro-bono basis

CORE AMERICARES RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Foster AmeriCares values of respect, collaboration & teamwork, trust, passion and commitment, compassion, and excellence.

DELIVERABLES:

• Regularly scheduled and productive Network meetings
• Frequent visits to Girl Groups sites to foster continuity of programming across organizations, help acquire resources and support for the sites and peer mentors, and document activities (narrative and photographic)
• Close working relationships with Network members and familiarity with their contributions to the Adolescent Girls Initiative
• Active engagement of government officials and leaders of Haitian women's groups
• A complete curriculum reference (printed & digital) containing materials, lesson plans, and exercises used in the Girls Groups
• 3 workshops to train peer mentors and develop a cadre of young leaders
• 3 quarterly activity reports and 1 comprehensive year-end narrative report of the network's activities and achievements. Year-end report to include measures of programmatic impact at the level of the Girls Groups and individual girl participants. To be distributed to Network members so they may share with donors and other stakeholders.
• Budget report accounting for all program expenses (run through AmeriCares), including operating grants to local NGOs
• A plan for the continuation (or cessation) of the Network at the end of 12 months (post-July 2011)

QUALIFICATIONS:

• The ideal candidate will be Haitian and have extensive, firsthand experience working in Haiti, with deep cultural experience and perspective from which to approach this role and work
• At least 7 to 10 years professional work experience, demonstrating progressive increases in responsibility and management
• Expertise in global health, education, psychology, economic empowerment or related subject acquired through formal education and/or on-the-job training
• Exceptional project management skills. Ability to work independently, juggle competing priorities, remain organized and keep detailed records
• Excellent French, Creole and strong English writing and speaking skills (English fluency required)
• Track record of establishing strong working relationships with international and local Haitian NGOs, Haitian government representatives, and women's groups and community leaders  (includes fluidity within multiple donor realms)
• Experience preparing and running meetings and workshops. Experience with train-the-trainers approaches and civic education a plus
• Ability to work with a wide variety of actors to develop consensus and a shared action agenda
• Strong writing and communications skills for preparing narrative reports and communications pieces for donors and other stakeholders
• Experience managing budgets and accounting for project expenses
• Must be willing and able to travel around Haiti to conduct site visits on a frequent basis
• Strong Microsoft Office skills: Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint