Conflict Sensitive Journalism Trainer, Bangui, Central African Republic

Central African Republic: Conflict Sensitive Journalism Trainer

Location: Central African Republic

Description

#CARCrisis: Supporting Local Media To Inform & Engage

with Vulnerable Populations

Position: Conflict Sensitive Journalism Trainer (CSJT)

Reports to: Project Director

Location: Embedded within different radio stations in the regions as security allows

Duration: 3 months minimum

Anticipated start date: early January 2015

Deadline for applications: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis

Position subject to confirmation of funding

BACKGROUND

For the past four years, Internews and its local partner, the Association of Journalists for Human Rights (le Réseau des Journalistes pour les Droits de l'Homme –RJDH), have worked very closely to connect and support a unique network of community radio stations with one another and create and set up a Community Radio Correspondents Network (CRCN) through a Coordination Centre in Bangui run by the RJDH, which produces a daily e-news bulletin and radio programs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Violent conflict is also a threat for local journalists and local media organizations. But at times of crisis, good journalism is most important.

By providing reliable, timely information to the public, local reporters can assist their own communities to be better informed about the conflict, peace building initiatives and the ongoing national dialogue process. Local reporters can seek and analyze possible solutions that can potentially alter the way those communities deal with the own conflicts. And in order to do that, journalists need to understand more about the roots of the conflict, how that conflict may develop and how it may end.

The Conflict Sensitive Journalism Trainer (CSJT) will be embedded within a number of community radio stations providing training, mentoring and technical support to effectively run them under the premise of Do-No-Harm.

The CSJT will design, implement and oversee all aspects of an ongoing training and mentoring program for a number of community radio stations as well as the network of community radio stations and community radio correspondents, including Training-of-Trainers.

More specifically, the CJST will:

• Support a number of community radio stations in the daily management of their stations and in the production of high quality programming.
• Design, implement and oversee all aspects of an ongoing training and mentoring program for a number of community radio stations as well as the network of community radio stations and community radio correspondents, including Training-of-Trainers. This includes adapting/translating curriculum and the conflict sensitive journalism manuals to the local CAR context.
• Produce regular multimedia materials (i.e. blog posts, photos, podcasts) documenting the life of the project for external audiences, as required.
• Prepare and assemble materials for monthly and quarterly reports, in compliance with donor guidelines, including documenting achievements and challenges for Internews learning purposes, as required.
• Liaise with international media and promote Internews' work, as required.
• Any other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in spoken and written French and English.
• Extensive experience in journalism training and mentoring.
• Extensive experience in facilitation and training using hands-on participatory approaches. Previous experience in Conflict Sensitive Journalism will be an asset.
• Extensive experience working (i.e. reporting, training…) in crises and relief operations, preferably in Sub-Saharan French- speaking Africa. Previous experience in CAR will be an asset.
• Very good working knowledge of the mandates and modalities of the international humanitarian sector.
• Fluency in use of digital field recording equipment, basic studio equipment and software, such as Adobe Audition and/or CoolEdit Pro.
• Demonstrated skills in partnership/stakeholder management.
• Sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics in the work place.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team in a challenging and a highly fluid environment.
• Good interpersonal and networking skills to liaise authoritatively with figures from the local media community and the international aid sector.
• Ability to adjust to shifting political circumstances and create programming accordingly.
• An understanding of the vision/mission, core values and objectives of Internews.
• Understanding of and passion for the area of communications with refugees and disaster affected communities.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills, both written and oral.
• Excellent time management and the ability to prioritize a heavy workload under pressure.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Willingness to work in demanding, stressful, and, at times, dangerous situations under difficult living conditions with respect for basic security rules.
• Psychological resilience and a sense of humor.

DESIRABLE:

• Knowledge of citizen journalism and familiarity with ways to leverage social media will be an asset, as will knowledge and experience of mapping and crowd-sourcing and mobile technology.

INTERNEWS IN CAR

Founded in December 2010 following an Internews training, the RJDH is a locally-led and locally-run organization that works closely with community radio stations' staff and local correspondents across the country to collect and disseminate information from and back to those same stations on a daily basis via mobile phones, an e-newsletter, their website ( www.rjdh-rca.net), Facebook ( www.facebook.com/RJDHRCA?fref=ts) and Twitter (@RJDH_RCA).

In CAR, Internews has run several projects in the country funded by the USAID, DFID's Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), the US State Department and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), most recently

• Integrating Local Media and Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) into Humanitarian Response
• The Community Radio Correspondents Network (CRCN)
• Mobile2Radio: Connecting Local Media, Humanitarian Actors and Communities through Innovative Communication Flows

Learn more about Internews' Humanitarian Communication Programs online and follow our work also on Twitter: @jqg @internews and @internewseurope #commisaid