Urban Unrest

29 December 2007 | Opportunities | Ernesto Aguilar

Radio La Benevolencija / Humanitarian Tools Foundation is a Dutch humanitarian multi-media production NGO that uses broadcast campaigns, events and grassroots activities to encourage people to become active bystanders in the face of incitement to violence. Its campaigns endeavor to use the accumulated experience of victims of ethnocentric violence who have empowered themselves and reached a peace with their former tormentors.

Using academically researched methodologies, the organization strives to develop knowledge tools – guides on how to deal with an array of manipulative pressures that move individuals and whole societies to cause physical and mental harm. These tools are presented in media campaigns that use entertainment and education methods to reach audiences that have experienced, or are in danger of experiencing violence. A prototype of such a campaign is its African operation, “Great Lakes Reconciliation Radio,” a regional project that has been in operation in Rwanda , the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi since 2003.

We are looking for an experienced media professionals to manage a mixed media project for promoting reconciliation, trauma healing and peace building in the DRC. This is an ambitious scheme centered around radio broadcasts and backed up by community-based activities.

Essential Skills
1. Proven experience (five years) in developing, managing and supervising educational radio drama and other radio production work including feature making and live studio work.
2. Evidence of sound editorial judgment.
3. Experience of media reconciliation.
4. Fluency in French (preferably a native speaker). Working knowledge of English. Knowledge of Kiswahili a definite plus.
5. Proven experience in NGO project management, especially financial, administrative and logistic management.
6. Good communication and team-building skills.
7. Experience in managing media related grass roots activities.

Desirable
1. Knowledge of digital radio production.
2. Experience in working in Africa (preferably five years), especially the Great Lakes Region and by preference in (post) conflict zones.
3. Experience in social action broadcasting/campaigning.
4. Strong computing skills - Word/Excel.
5. Experience in local capacity building.
6. Abilities to work long hours in an unstable, complex and sensitive political environment.

Must be self-motivating and able to relocate to Eastern DRC. The post will be based in Goma or Bukavu and will require extensive travel between both towns. This is a non family duty station.

Contracts will initially be offered for one year with likely extension as the project progresses. Likely start: around April 2008.

Candidates should e-mail a CV and cover letter to George Weiss at info@labenevolencija.org.

Radio La Benevolencija
PO Box 15838
1001 NH Amsterdam
The Netherlands

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