Position Title: Humanitarian Liaison Officer in the Office of the Special Representative
Receiving Agency: Gang Suppression Force Secretariat Haiti
P Level: P4
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 18 months (Until Sep, 2027)
Language: French and English fluency required. Familiarity with Haitian Creole an asset. 

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 Humanitarian Liaison Officer shall have: a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required. Humanitarian coordination experience in the field (in a setting where a mission or project is being implemented), or in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required, with such experience in the United Nations Common System as an advantage. An advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international humanitarian law, political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics or a related field 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 and French (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.

Responsibilities of the Humanitarian Liaison Officer

The Humanitarian Liaison Officer is based in Port-au-Prince and shall report to the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS) and is responsible for enabling and assisting the GSF to respect humanitarian principles and work effectively alongside the independent work of humanitarian organizations operating in Haiti. The Humanitarian Liaison Officer shall advise the GSF on modalities for the facilitation of effective and safe delivery of aid by humanitarian organizations in the context of GSF security operations. 

The Humanitarian Liaison Officer shall during GSF start-up and thereafter be responsible for the following tasks:

• Produce a work plan for approval by the DCoS.
• Provide activity data and function related information as requested to inform the GSF budget submission and review process.  
• Contribute to GSF start-up planning, including transition from MSS, and thereafter contribute to GSF mission planning activities.
• Acts as the GSF mission level focal point for humanitarian coordination matters, consulting and working with other GSF entities in related areas, including: the DDR/CVR Liaison Officer, the Gender Adviser, the Human Rights Officer, the Woman Protection Adviser, the Child Protection Adviser, the Civilian-Military (Civ-Mil) Liaison Officer, the Force Headquarters, and the GSF Military and Police Components.
• Establish collaboration with the Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator (BINUH DSRSG/HC/RC) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), building upon their ongoing experience operating in Haiti.
• Act as GSF liaison to the humanitarian-led Dialogue and Liaison Cell (DELASH) to support information exchange and coordination as appropriate between the GSF and humanitarian entities.
• Act as an entry point and liaison officer for OCHA and humanitarian actors with the GSF.
• In consultation with the Civ-Mil Liaison Officer, advise and assist the Force Commander and the military and police components to be cognizant of and respect key humanitarian principles guiding the relationship between humanitarians and the GSF security forces. Such advice shall be consistent with human rights and the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines on civil-military coordination.
• Advise the Force Headquarters, through the DCoS and in consultation with OCHA, on establishing and maintaining safe access and a protected environment for humanitarian actors’ operations, as may be requested of the GSF.
• Facilitate and coordinate requests for access to GSF-controlled assets for humanitarian purposes, when needed.
• In coordination with BINUH and OCHA, assist as required the GSF to identify and manage quick impact projects for the benefit of communities affected by insecurity and disasters.
• Establish contacts with humanitarian organizations, civil society representatives and government authorities (DGPC) as appropriate.
• In support of the Force Commander ensure that GSF operations are planned and executed with appropriate consideration for humanitarian impact and includes contingencies for humanitarian assistance as appropriate.
• Bring urgent or problematic humanitarian assistance issues to the attention of the Force Commander and the SR, through the DCoS, as soon as possible and provide advice on further management or response to these.
• Convene or participate in regular (at least weekly) humanitarian coordination meetings with BINUH, OCHA and GSF components.
• Ensure handover notes are produced to ensure institutional knowledge is passed on to replacement or incoming Humanitarian Liaison Officers.

The Humanitarian Liaison Officer may be requested by the Deputy CoS 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.