Pakistan Flooding Canadem GIS Expert Will Map Out Unicef Nutrition Response
NOVEMBER 5, 2010
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4 months later, 20.36 million Pakistanis are still affected by the floods, with 546,000 children suffering from malnutrition. LONDON, ONTARIO – London resident William Braunsch is heading out this weekend to Pakistan to assist the United Nations Children’s Fund’s flood relief efforts as an information management specialist for UNICEF’s nutrition activities. Braunsch is being seconded by CANADEM, a non-profit agency dedicated to advancing international peace and security.
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4 months after floods first struck Pakistan, the number of victims remains at 20.36 Million – one in ten Pakistanis. Among these, UNICEF estimates that 126,000 children under five suffer from severe acute malnutrition, while another 420,000 are malnourished. To coordinate relief efforts and deliver food provisions to affected victims, a proper mapping of the areas affected and of current aid distribution networks is essential. Herein lies Braunsch’s specialty: GIS mapping and information management.
“It is deeply gratifying to have a chance to take part in something much bigger than myself,” says Braunsch. GIS – geographic information system – is a set of tools that captures and analyzes statistical and geographical data to reveal trends and relationships. “I have never worked in a disaster context as widespread as this, and I am looking forward to applying my knowledge and the experience I’ve picked up throughout my years working in GIS to assisting these communities in need. It is amazing to be a small part of a much greater effort to change peoples’ lives.” His expertise will be vital in helping the UNICEF nutrition team map out the nutrition patterns in Pakistan and better target their delivery of humanitarian assistance to the flood victims.
The Project: Braunsch is seconded to UNICEF through CANADEM’s Rapid Onset Humanitarian Emergency Experts Fund (RAP Fund), with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). RAP-Fund is a stand-by partnership with major UN agencies, established to rapidly deploy Canadian experts to assist field offices in providing prompt and effective assistance in the wake of humanitarian disasters. Since RAP-Fund’s inception in 2007, close to 100 Canadian experts have been deployed overseas in support of UN emergency operations. 5 Canadians are already at work in Pakistan, and another 4 will be deployed in the coming weeks.
CANADEM: Established in 1996, CANADEM is a non-profit agency dedicated to advancing international peace and security through the rapid mobilization and mission management of experts committed to international service. To do this, CANADEM manages a roster of 13,500 experts skilled in various fields of international cooperation.
William Braunsch and CANADEM reps available for interview.
For information: Léa Beaudry – Communications, CANADEM
Tel. (613) 789-3328, (819) 360-3252 (After hours) Ottawa, ON.
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Who can register with CANADEM?
Registration is open to applicants of all nationalities.
CANADEM registrants typically have several of the following attributes:- At least 5 years of work experience
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CANADEM will not release any of your personal details without your express written permission. For every position that we recommend you for, you must authorize us each time to disclose your resumé and contact details. It's worth mentioning that our procedures are fully confidential and not subject to access to information.
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CANADEM uses a registrant's skills list and resume to determine whether an individual is the ideal match for a position. When an agency contacts us, we search our roster of 15 000+ experts for candidates whose skills, knowledge and experience best meet the posting requirements. Although CANADEM registrants all have valuable skills and work experience, with such a large roster, competition can be quite strong. Candidates that best match the job requirements are contacted individually by email to determine their interest and availability.
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Yes. Registrants' resumes are submitted only with their permission. If a registrant's profile matches an agency request or need, CANADEM will first contact the registrant with a Call for an Expression of Interest. Registrants are under no obligation to have their candidacy forwarded to the recruiting agency and refusal to do so will not adversely affect their standing in the roster.
How does CANADEM send out vacancy notices?
CANADEM usually contacts registrants who meet the requirements of a position by email. In some cases ,the time frame is extremely short and we will contact registrants directly by telephone. For this reason, it is imperative that registrants keep their email address and phone number up to date. Many vacancies are also posted on CANADEM's Jobpostings webpage.
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Simply fill out the online application form. The application form takes roughly 30-40 minutes to complete.Once submitted, your application will be screened to see if you meet CANADEM’s Roster requirements. Those selected for the Roster will be emailed a Welcome Package within 2-4 weeks providing more information specifically for registrants.
Why haven't I received a posting from CANADEM in some time?
If a registrant has not received a vacancy notice from CANADEM in some time, it is likely because there has not been a request for their specific qualifications. Continue to check our jobpostings for potential matches to your skills and experience.
Am I notified before my name is put forward to an organization as a candidate?
Yes. Registrants' resumes are submitted only with their permission. If a registrant's profile matches an agency request or need, CANADEM will first contact the registrant with a Call for an Expression of Interest. Registrants are under no obligation to have their candidacy forwarded to the recruiting agency and such a refusal will not adversely affect theirs status as registrants.
If I receive a job offer after CANADEM has put my name forward, can I refuse it?
In order to maintain our credibility with requesting agencies, we encourage registrants to accept employment offers made to them. Registrants should carefully consider a vacancy before responding affirmatively. If a registrant refuses without good reason more than two positions offered to them after they have clearly indicated they are interested and available for a position, they will be removed from the Roster.
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Yes, all applicants are pre-screened upon registration. Once you have successfully registered with CANADEM, you are automatically considered for most positions. Some positions with the UN & the OSCE, particularly government secondments, require more thorough screening. We will contact you if advanced screening is required.
What does CANADEM expect from me once I am registered?
It is important to keep your file updated with your current email address, field location, resume, and any upgrades to your language abilities. As a CANADEM registrant, you are required to notify us if a hiring agency contacts or hires you after we have submitted your name for a position.
How do I update my CV and other documents with CANADEM?
You can update your CANADEM profile, (e.g. your résumé, field location, contact information or additions to your skills list), at update your profile.
How does CANADEM send out vacancy notices?
CANADEM usually contacts registrants who meet the requirements of a position by email. In some cases ,the time frame is extremely short and we will contact registrants directly by telephone. For this reason, it is imperative that registrants keep their email address and phone number up to date. Many vacancies are also posted on CANADEM's Jobpostings webpage.
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Price: $199 for up to 4 weeks. Your first posting is free!!
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No! CANADEM’s services are risk-free. If you are unsatisfied with the short-listed veiled resumés that we provide for you, there is absolutely no charge to decline them. We will of course propose to pursue our research for the perfect candidate(s) that will meet your requirements.
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Yes! First-time clients are eligible for one free job posting on the CANADEM website.
Do you offer job posting packages or bulk specials?
We currently do not offer job posting packages. At $199 per posting, CANADEM is amongst the most affordable of job listing services for international development organizations.e.