Climate communications officer

Overview of organisation & assignment

The Red Cross is a leading global humanitarian movement with a key role in disaster management (DM) and a permanent presence as an auxiliary to government in Pacific states. In disaster management, the Red Cross movement works with vulnerable people and communities in support of wide-ranging and holistic DM programs which address climate change, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, health and first aid in emergencies and emergency preparedness (including logistics systems and disaster assessment and coordination teams).

Overview of the program

The Red Cross and Red Crescent movement in the Pacific plays a central role in disaster management and response through its wide network of community-based branches and volunteers, its standing in international law and its close connections with national authorities through its unique status as an auxiliary to government during and planning for emergencies.

The Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre was formed in 2002 and its mission is to support the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and its partners in reducing the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on vulnerable people. The centre works on the basis of ‘action, advocacy, awareness and analysis’ of climate risks. It contains a wealth of knowledge and experience on considering climate risk management in the context of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

Overview of the assignment

The volunteer will research and develop resources to communicate climate change and climate variability (such as El Nino/La Nina) with Pacific communities as well as practitioner and academic audiences.

The volunteer will work with multiple stakeholders including the Red Cross, regional organisations, governments and community groups to understand needs and develop appropriate resources to guide Pacific communities in addressing climate change and climate variability. The volunteer will also develop approaches and resources to teach and train key individuals about climate change and climate variability in the Pacific and ways to address it.

The volunteer will need to have excellent skills in writing, stakeholder dialogue and be comfortable in facilitating an interactive training session on communicating to address climate risk.

Expected outcomes and key relationships

The main outcomes expected from this role are:

• Climate Centre and its partners developed training resources, practitioner tools (multimedia) and an academic paper
• Climate Centre to developed relevant communications activities

Capacity development outcomes:

• Provision of Climate Change Adaptation extension resources (across multi-media)
• Enhancing knowledge and skills of national society and other stakeholder staff

Volunteer’s supervisor

• Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre - Pacific

Counterpart / other staff

• National society staff

Volunteer requirements

Essential

• Personal attributes

- Self awareness and cross-cultural sensitivity
- Commitment to sharing knowledge and skills
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Resilience and ability to manage stress
- Passion for working with people in developing countries
- Demonstrable ability to work in resource poor environments
- Demonstrable initiative, and self direction

• Skills or experience relevant to assignment

- Excellent writing skills for academic and practitioner/community audiences (at least honours level or demonstrated work experience)
- Experience in producing at least two of the following: case studies, media releases, film/animation products, academic papers, training materials. Materials related to climate
change, meteorology, disaster management or development highly regarded.
- Experience working with community groups on an educational resource
- Strong experience in working effectively across different stakeholders
- Developed organisational, administrative and project management skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders

• Qualifications

- Minimum diploma qualifications, certified training or significant experience in communications

• Language skills and level required

- Fluent English (essential)
- Pacific island languages (desirable)

Any further attributes, experience, skills or qualifications that are desirable

• First aid certificate
• Experience working with Red Cross Red Crescent or other humanitarian aid organisations in a similar role.
• Experience living/working in the Pacific
• Interest in climate change, environment or natural resource management

Location and facilities

This assignment is urban based, located in the capital – Port Vila. All basic services are available in Port Vila, although considerably less available outside of the capital. Phone and internet services are readily available. There are numerous banks in Port Vila, and basic medical facilities area available.

The volunteer will work from an office in Port Vila and have access to their own workstation. The volunteer may be required to travel outside of Port Vila for this assignment, including other Pacific countries.

Public transport (mini-vans and taxis) are readily available within Port Vila and the surrounding area. Thereis an adequate supply of accommodation options ranging from share houses through to serviced apartments and often within walking distance of the office and facilities.

Support mechanisms

• The volunteer will receive comprehensive pre-departure briefing and in-country orientation will be provided with the Climate Centre and the National Society
• The volunteer will receive technical and program support from ARC and the Climate Centre
• In addition, the volunteer will also collaborate with other organisations and groups in the Pacific