Job Description

Position Title: Community Outreach Officer

Receiving Agency: GSFS Haiti

P Level: NO-C 3

Location: Port au Prince, Haiti

Duration: 12 months renewable

Language: Fluency in French, English, and Haitian Creole is required

Background

On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.

The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).

The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.

The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.

The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF)

Career Experience

The Community Outreach Officer shall have a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in social sciences, governance, international relations, community relation or other related area is required. Experience in Civil Affairs related work with UN Peacekeeping Operations, UN funds or programmes, National or International NGOs, or community-based organizations, research institutions or related field is required. Experience working on support to state institutions, and/or programme management, security, political and institutional analysis; planning and organizing, women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, and development of civil society is desirable. Experience in policy advice in the areas of institution strengthening and governance support for peacebuilding in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable. Relevant experience in Haiti, peacekeeping field operations is desirable. An Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, public administration, anthropology, law, economics or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Languages

Fluency in English, both oral and written, and in French and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is required.

Responsibilities of the Community Outreach Officer

The Community Outreach Officer is based in Port-au-Prince and reports to the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS). The Community Outreach Officer assists with GSF mandate implementation by facilitating dialogue with community groups likely to be, or affected by, GSF operations or gang activities, coordinating with GSF military and police components and with humanitarian partners, focusing on conflict resolution when directed, and on stabilisation and strengthening governance.

The Community Outreach Officer shall be responsible for the following tasks:

• Produces own work plan for approval by the DCoS.
• Oversees, and supervises the day-to-day work of the Deputy Community Outreach Officer.
• Maintains stakeholder mapping of authorities, civil society, women, youth and faith-based organizations.
• Develops sustained engagement with communities before, during and after operations.
• Ensures community perspectives are integrated into operational planning.
• Provides information and analysis for GSF leadership on political, social and economic issues affecting conflict dynamics at the community level, including analysis on how these relate to the national level and vice versa.
• In cooperation with the GSF Human Rights Adviser, the Women Protection and Child Protection Officers, ensures a sound methodology for identifying concerns and perceptions of the local population and ensures these are effectively communicated to the GSF leadership.
• In cooperation with the GSF Human Rights Adviser, the Women Protection and Child Protection Officers, promotes and protects the interest of threatened or vulnerable groups, such as women, girls and boys, through advocacy in full respect of humanitarian and international law.
• In cooperation with the GSF Engagement and Liaison Coordinator (Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit) contributes toward tracking community perceptions, concerns, rumors, and information needs. Contributes to the collection, validation, and assessment of community-level feedback related to GSF activities, security dynamics, and major political or operational developments.
• In cooperation with the GSF Civil Affairs Officer, ensures a shared understanding of the GSF environment, mandate and operations amongst the GSF components, in particular the military and police components, to support consistency and coherence of approach. Establishes and fosters effective working relations with BINUH and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and develops local initiatives for joint work where appropriate. Coordinates and shares information with BINUH and the UNCT to ensure a coherent international effort in the GSF area of operations.
• Establishes and fosters effective working relations with local and international organizations working in the community.
• Identifies emerging issues and critical stabilization gaps in local communities. Provides an early warning function where necessary.
• Troubleshoots problems that arise at the community or regional level that threaten GSF mandate implementation. Formulates recommendations concerning GSF broader actions and approaches required at community and regional levels.
• Working with BINUH and the UNCT, assists communities and local institutions in the GSF area of operations to assess capacity building and support needs. Helps to design and mobilize a coordinated response to these needs from relevant actors, including Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) undertaken by partners.
• Proactively contributes to overall GSF mission monitoring and planning.
• Supports the development of initiatives that strengthen transparency and public confidence in the GSF.
• Under DCoS supervision, assist to develop strategies for community level conflict management in line with the wider GSF strategy, including mechanisms for information-sharing, crisis response and civilian harm mitigation measures as needed.
• Under DCoS supervision, assists to facilitate dialogue within local communities in the GSF area of operations affected by gang violence or other gang activities.
• Under DCoS supervision, identifies and supports civil society groups and/or institutions that promote a culture of peace. Assists them where appropriate, including in becoming effective implementing partners for QIPs within the GSF area of operations.
• Provides support to all civilian and military entities of the GSF to turn their QIPS ideas into implementable projects.
• Coordinates QIP proposals with relevant partners, including within the GSF, and assesses the impact of QIPs on community resilience and confidence.
• Under DCoS supervision, assists to develop a strategy for effective cooperation between GSF and state institutions.
• Initiates and/or supports events such as town-hall meetings within the GSF area of operations to foster dialogue with local communities.
• Produce handover notes and maintain institutional knowledge to ensure continuity of engagement activities.

The Community Outreach Officer may be requested by the DCoS to perform other duties, as required.

CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.