Community Liaison Officer (CLO)

Job Description

The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica (GOCD) wishes to engage the consultancy services of a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) to function within CREAD to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation of Loubiere to Bagatelle Road, Phase I – Loubiere to Grand Bay Road (The Project). CREAD will be responsible for the management and implementation of the Project –financed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The Project’s impact is increased climate resilience, sustainability and connectivity of Dominica’s transportation infrastructure and improved living conditions and livelihood opportunities for residents in the rural communities. This objective is expected to yield the following outcomes:

• enhanced decision-making capacity for planning, management and maintenance of the road sector; and
• increased efficiency, resilience and safety along Loubiere to Grand Bay

The CLO shall report directly to the Senior Capital Projects Manager (SCPM), of CREAD or his/her designate.

There are significant benefits to be realised from the Project but there are also a range of social and environmental safeguard issues that were identified through the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) which must be managed during implementation. In this regard, the engagement of a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) is imperative to support the SCPM in managing the safeguard aspects of the Project. This critical input is intended to increase the likelihood of realising the project’s intended outcomes.

Responsibility

The CLO will promote constructive partnerships and communication between CREAD and the communities on issues relating to project implementation and will be responsible for implementing community engagement activities as set out in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). Among other activities, CLO will:

• Review SEP with a view to identifying and documenting any gaps in the (i) stakeholder identification and analysis that were undertaken; (ii) stakeholder engagement programme (e.g., information to be disclosed, format and communication methods; stakeholder consultation methods); and (iii) schedule for the various stakeholder engagement activities. Information in the ESIA should be used to support SEP review and implementation. The SEP must be updated to address any gaps identified;
• Maintain updates to SEP as necessary, based on issues arising during implementation that may include inter alia, stakeholder engagement, and land acquisition. Any major changes to the project activities and/or schedule will be duly reflected in the updated SEP.
• Provide timely feedback to SCPM on concerns raised by community leaders.
• Provide timely feedback to community members on project implementation, concerns raised or important decisions taken by CREAD in accordance with agreed protocols.
• Develop public relations programmes along with CREAD and the Gender Responsive and Socially Inclusive Road Safety Awareness Strategy Consultant, Non-Governmental Organisations, and Community-based Organisations to educate community members about the project and encourage their continuous buy-in and active participation throughout the project cycle.
• Facilitate dialogue and sensitise Project-affected communities as necessary, with particular attention being paid to obtaining information from the less vocal persons in the communities through the use of differential participatory techniques.
• Manage community members’ expectations of the project during scheduled meetings and ad-hoc interaction, as necessary.
• Identify potential grievances or project risks and/or opportunities.
• Assist CREAD with management of, and timely responses to grievances lodged through the Grievance Redress Mechanism of the SEP.
• Liaise with contractors as needed (e.g. during the local labour recruitment process by assisting with drafting gender-responsive local hiring policies and procedures) especially where community requirements are being solicited.
• Raise awareness of employment opportunities, especially for vulnerable groups in the society and within the Project areas including women, youth and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
• Manage stakeholder engagement logistics such as soliciting suggestions/grievances from suggestion boxes, placing communication materials on notice boards and via social media, and arranging community meetings.
• Facilitate stakeholder participation at all relevant levels in accordance with the identified needs of the different categories of stakeholders, particularly women, youth, and PWDs. This may include other activities – participatory assessments and problem-solving of issues, concerns and opportunities, focus group discussions, information-sharing, and community meetings.
• Assist Resettlement Action Committee with management of, and timely responses to grievances lodged through the Grievance Redress Mechanism of the SEP.
• Review and assist in the finalisation of the Resettlement Action Plan and its implementation in consultation with the Ministry of Housing and Lands.
• Assist in evaluating the social, environmental and economic impacts of Project activities on the well-being of community members using participatory approaches.
• Monitor implementation of the recommendations proposed under the Consultancy – “Gender Responsive and Socially Inclusive Road Safety Awareness Strategy” and participation in training activities.
• Assist SCPM in ensuring that the implementation of project activities is in conformance with GOCD’s and CDB’s environmental and social requirements.
• Attend Project Steering Committee meetings as required and provide information on community discussions, highlighting any current and/or potential challenges likely to impact implementation progress.
• Maintain comprehensive and updated minutes of meetings with the community and other stakeholders.
• Prepare and submit to SCPM inputs for incorporation into monthly progress reports to CDB.
• Prepare and submit to SCPM, inputs for incorporation into a Project Completion Report (PCR), within three months after practical completion of the works.
• Promote and conduct awareness training on health and safety risks directly associated with the Project. These should include but not be limited to mitigating potential conflicts between any foreign workers and local communities that may arise from an influx of workers to the Project sites during construction, increased risks of harmful practices such as sex work, gender-based violence and the use of illegal drugs.

Experience and Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s is preferable) in Sociology, Rural Development, Anthropology, International Development, Community Development or another relevant discipline.
• A minimum of seven years’ relevant practical experience encompassing stakeholder engagement practice, community development, and/or social research using participatory methodologies.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Proficient computer skills and good written and oral communication skills are required.
• Administrative and management competence would be an asset.

Benefits and Others

The consultancy is expected to last no more than twenty-four (24) months from the date of contract signing.

Reports Deliverables

CLO shall report to the SCPM. CLO will furnish reports/deliverables on the assignment as set out below:

• Prior to the commencement of the works, develop and implement a results-based, gender-sensitive M&E framework/plan for the SEP that monitors the implementation of SEP and includes the following indicators:
  • number of consultation meetings and other public discussions (forums, focus groups, etc.) conducted within a reporting period. The reporting period will be defined in the framework (e.g. monthly, quarterly, or annually);
  • % of women participating in consultations by reporting period;
  • number of grievances received within a reporting period, number of those resolved within the prescribed timeline, disaggregated by sex of the complainant; and
  • number of project-related press materials published /broadcasted in the national media.
• Other information to be collected shall include:
  • Geographic origin and type of grievances received, and reasons for non-resolution within the prescribed timeline including an analysis of trends.
  • Analysis of project-related press releases content: proportion that is favourable, unfavourable, neutral, and trends.
• Provide a monthly (structured) field report to CREAD including consultations undertaken, attendance registers (where applicable), concerns raised, requests raised, concerns resolved, potential risks, grievances or opportunities identified;
• Assist in compiling a quarterly report for external stakeholders on stakeholder engagement activities undertaken during the previous quarter including the current status of M&E actions. The quarterly report shall include summarised information on participatory methods employed, grievances received from stakeholders (including information on incidents and events that resulted in grievances) and will be collated by the responsible staff and referred to the SCPM. These summaries will be accompanied by information on the implementation status of associated corrective and preventative actions and recommendations. This report shall form part of the quarterly status reporting (provided by SCPM) for the Project; and
• Assist in the compilation of relevant sections of the PCR.

All information must be submitted in English. Further information may be obtained from the first address below between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm (Dominica time) Monday to Friday. ELECTRONIC COPY of the Expression of Interest must be received at the first address below no later than 1600 hours (Dominica time) on Friday, January 27th, 2023, and one electronic copy must be sent simultaneously to CDB at the second address below. Each submission should include the name and address of the applicant and shall be clearly marked "Expression of Interest-Consultancy Services for Community Liaison Officer".

[one_half]

Capital Projects Manager
Climate Resilient Execution Agency for Dominica
(CREAD)
The Palm Cottage Pavilion
Cornwall Street, P.O Box 1469
Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica
Email: cpm@creadominica.org

[/one_half]

[one_half_last]

Procurement Officer
Caribbean Development Bank
P.O. Box 408
Wildey, St. Michael
Barbados, W.I., BB 11000
Email: procurement@caribank.org

[/one_half_last]