A map of Health-related projects in Haiti (InterAction, haitiaidmap.org)
This morning I came across a job announcement directly related to Deborah David’s database proposal to wrangle NGOs and the general concern that NGOs are “wild cards” in Haiti’s development. Not only don’t they typically coordinate social service delivery with each other, there are thousands of unregistered and unchecked NGOs in the country–perhaps encouraged by the same misperception that aid worker TFTH laments:
Somewhere along the line we’ve done a basic disservice to our donors, to our “Third Audience”, and to ourselves: We have allowed them to believe that relief and development work are easy, uncomplicated and inexpensive.
For all of the romantic oooh-aaaah sometimes associated with aid work, the general population continues to basically lack respect for both the nature of the problems being tackled by aid work, and also what it takes to do aid work. And whether it’s, “98 cents of your dollar goes directly to beneficiaries”, “your $100 buys a poor family a cow and gets them out of poverty”, or “feel good about making a difference while on vacation”, we’ve become totally seduced by the belief that solving the basic problems of the world can be done cheaply and easily.
Quite frankly, I could call myself an “NGO” and get away with it. In fact, I came across an online description of myself as a “humanitarian blogger.” What in the world does that mean? I’m no humanitarian. I’m a journalist–end of story.
Perhaps the worst element of this NGO Wild Wild West situation, however, is the blow-back felt by legit organizations who are sending in qualified people and trying to coordinate with each other. Cleaning up Dodge should be high on their lists, considering that if donors perceive the Haitian working environment as inimical even to the best efforts of the big boys like World Vision and Save the Children, they’ll pull their cash. Talk about incentive to fix the problem.
Ergo, InterAction, a consortium of US-based NGOs, is looking for a sheriff. For those of you who understandably gripe about the Republic of NGOs, here’s a chance to do something about it. Apps due by June 21st.
Working on the inside is just one route, however. Smart advocates know that even the best sheriff won’t work without outside pressure on InterAction, the UN or Bill Clinton’s office to staff his/her office to meet the enormity of the mission. We’re talking about the need to register thousands of NGOs after all and maintaining, as David suggests, a user-friendly and up to date database online.
Competing for dollars usually indicates opportunities for stakeholders to apply pressure and influence policy. But, here we come to the conundrum of the international development’s system of governing a failed state with a highly illiterate and impoverished population from beyond its borders. Who’s the constituency that’s going to organize itself to motivate InterAction, the UN and Clinton’s office to order the NGO anarchy? Those three are all foreign entities, unelected by and unaccountable to Haitians.
But what about those other foreigners, the Haitian diaspora? They look like a smart, well-connected and media-savvy bunch. Could they not apply the pressure? Just wondering.
Canadian members of the Haitian diaspora drew the attention last month of foreign minister, Lawrence Cannon (Credit: GRAHN)
See other Haiti vacancies, below. Good luck. As always, let me know if you actually land the gig; I have yet to hear from the folks who actually get these jobs but, hey, I don’t know everything. Yet.
Job Title – Facilities and Office Assistant, Haiti (Petionville)
Closing Date – 22 Jun 2010
Organisation - American Red Cross
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86FV88
Job Title – Livelihoods Delegate, Haiti (Port au Prince)
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - American Red Cross
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86GPUQ
Job Title – Architect / Engineer / Project Manager, Haiti
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - Article 25
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BEFG
Job Title – Architecte / Ingénieur / Gérant de projet, Haiti
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - Article 25
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BEHH
Job Title – Project Manager (Watsan), Haiti (Port-au-Prince, Petit/Grand
Goave )
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - CESVI – Cooperazione e Sviluppo Onlus
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BE27
Job Title – Haiti Country Director, Haiti (Leogane)
Closing Date – 09 Jul 2010
Organisation - Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86GNJN
Job Title – Development Coordinator, Haiti (Port au Prince)
Closing Date – 05 Jul 2010
Organisation - Concern
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86EKSQ
Job Title – Psychologist / Social Worker (m/f), Haiti (Carrefour)
Closing Date – 06 Jul 2010
Organisation - German Red Cross
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86GJUM
Job Title – WASH Manager , Haiti (Port au Prince )
Closing Date – 02 Jul 2010
Organisation - GOAL
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BEQE
Job Title – NGO CSO Director, Haiti (Port au Prince)
Closing Date – 21 Jun 2010
Organisation - InterAction
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86FRTZ
Job Title – Deputy Emergency Manager Haiti (REF. 70/10-11), Haiti
Closing Date – 03 Jul 2010
Organisation - Intermon Oxfam
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BG4C
Job Title – Field Manager, Petit Goave, Haiti, Haiti
Closing Date – 26 Jun 2010
Organisation - Intermon Oxfam
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86AKBU
Job Title – Country Director, Haiti
Closing Date – 10 Jul 2010
Organisation - International Medical Corps
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86ANMU
Job Title – Accountability Officer, Haiti (Port au Prince)
Closing Date – 18 Jun 2010
Organisation - Medical Emergency Relief International
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BD4Q
Job Title – Logistician, Haiti
Closing Date – 04 Jul 2010
Organisation - Medical Emergency Relief International
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BD5P
Job Title – Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Program Manager – Haiti,
Haiti (Port-Au-Prince)
Closing Date – 13 Aug 2010
Organisation - Mercy Corps
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86FCDH
Job Title – Responsable du programme humanitaire Haïti, Haiti
(Port-au-Prince)
Closing Date – 02 Jul 2010
Organisation - Oxfam-Québec
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BRF8
Job Title – Health Cluster Coordinator for Haiti, Haiti (Port-au-Prince)
Closing Date – 18 Jun 2010
Organisation - Pan American Health Organization
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BRM4
Job Title – Administrateur / Financier, Haiti (Petit-Goâve)
Closing Date – 28 Jun 2010
Organisation - Pharmacie & Aide Humanitaire
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86FJFQ
Job Title – Especialista en fortalecimiento institucional y gestión de
proyectos con énfasis en derechos humanos de personas desplazadas y
migrantes, Haiti (Port-au-Prince)
Closing Date – 29 Jun 2010
Organisation - Progressio
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86GK2D
Job Title – Program Coordinator, Communications (370), Haiti
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - Samaritan’s Purse
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86ARS2
Job Title – Manager, Health Programs Port au Prince, Haiti Emergency, Haiti
Closing Date – 16 Aug 2010
Organisation - Save the Children – US
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86FQ3U
Job Title – Manager, Logistics, Jacmel, Haiti Emergency, Haiti
Closing Date – 16 Aug 2010
Organisation - Save the Children – US
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86FPZY
Job Title – Coordinateur Projet, Haiti
Closing Date – 11 Jul 2010
Organisation - Secours Islamique France
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86AKR7
Job Title – Country Health Director, Haiti
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - Skills for Causes Ltd
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86EKGB
Job Title – Humanitarian Coordinator, Haiti (Port-au-Prince)
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - United Nations Population Fund
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BL3H
Job Title – Senior Management Consultant, Haiti (Port-au-Prince)
Closing Date – 30 Jun 2010
Organisation - United Nations Population Fund
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86BKX3
Job Title – Haiti Earthquake Response – HR Director, Haiti (Port-au-Prince)
Closing Date – 15 Jul 2010
Organisation - World Vision
URL Address - http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-86GPL6
