Human Rights and Social Development Adviser - PPAC and PCA

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organization in the Pacific region

Description

The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Human Rights and Social Development Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies and it aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, equality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles. The work of this Division includes work previously undertaken by the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) in the area of human rights and the Social Development Programme (SDP) in the areas of gender equality and social inclusion, culture and youth development.

In line with its vision, the work of the Division will encompass the following focal areas:

• Objective 1: Pacific institutions are strong, transparent, and responsive for upholding and promoting human rights and implementing inclusive, gender sensitive and culturally respectful development.
• Objective 2: Pacific Civil Society understand and can advocate for their rights and uphold cultural values.
• Objective 3: Pacific culture is protected, preserved, and promoted and culturally relevant and appropriate knowledge and systems are integrated across all work.
• Objective 4: All PSC programs and operations are grounded in people centered approaches and consider the rights and cultural values of diverse groups including women, children, youth and persons with disabilities.
• Objective 5: HRSD Division teams work collectively, coherently, and efficiently and to a high standard to achieve shared success for Pacific societies.

The role – Human Rights and Social Development Adviser will manage the Pacific People Advancing Change (PPAC) Programme, a CSO human rights and social development advocacy capacity building and small grants programme; lead the PPAC capacity-strengthening modality, providing oversight and delivering training and mentoring to PPAC grantees; and mainstream a People-Centered Approach through the PPAC programme and other work as required.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Management of the PPAC Programme

• Undertake regular project planning, prepare/ revise project annual work plans and budgets.
• Lead and coordinate the day-to-day activities of the PPAC programme and the PPAC small grants phase transition process.
• Lead the shortlisting, evaluation and granting process and take ownership of overall supervision of at least two PPAC countries.
• Ensure compliance of both PPAC process and sub-grantees with SPC Procurement and Grants Policies, other relevant policies, and all applicable donor policies and requirements.
• Support the monitoring, evaluation and learning of the PPAC programme, lead the reporting of PPAC to donors and contributing to overall HRSD donor reporting as required.

Lead the PPAC capacity-strengthening modality, providing oversight and delivering training and mentoring to PPAC grantees

• Identify the capacity-strengthening needs of PPAC grantees.
• Develop and deliver capacity-strengthening on advocacy, human rights, GESI, proposal development, and reporting through multiple people-centered modalities.
• Provide oversight of the capacity-strengthening work under the PPAC programme, and support to PPAC Officers and other trainers engaged under the programme.
• Lead adaptation of the training and mentoring approach to ensure it remains cutting-edge and responsive to grantee needs.

Mainstream a People-Centered Approach through the PPAC programme and the other work as required

• Ensure all aspects of PPAC management and capacity-strengthening incorporate a People-Centered Approach.
• Provide technical assistance to PPAC grantees to implement and deliver on human rights, gender equality and social inclusion commitments.
• Support the general People-Centered Approach Mainstreaming work of HRSD as required.

Project management and staff supervision

• Collaborate with in the PPAC Officers, Country Focal Officers (CFOs) and other in-country staff to develop implement, monitor and report against project, programmes and activities work plans and budgets.
• Supervise PPAC officers in at least 2 PICs.

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• A postgraduate qualification in development, human rights, law, gender, international relations or other relevant social science from a recognized university or a bachelor’s degree in one or more of the above disciplines.

Technical expertise

• At least 10 years of development experience working in the field of human rights, gender equality, CSO engagement and social inclusion, and/or youth development with at least 5 years of working in the Pacific.
• Programming, developing, delivering, and reporting against work plans.     

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Human Rights and Social Development Adviser is a band 11 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,091‒3,864 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 9,211–11,513 (USD 4,111–5,138; EUR 3,831–4,789). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. Remuneration of expatriate SPC staff members is not subject to income tax in Fiji; Fiji nationals employed by SPC in Fiji will be subject to income tax.

Benefits for international employees based in Fiji – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,350–3,000 per month. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).

Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.

Recruitment principles – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilingualism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 2 June 2024 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000655

Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/

Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.

For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:

• an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

For international staff in Fiji, only one foreign national per family can be employed with an entity operating in Fiji at any one given time. SPC may assist on a case-by-case basis with submissions to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their consideration and final approval. SPC cannot and does not make any guarantee whatsoever of approval for such applications to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will subject to such terms and conditions as may be set from time to time by the Ministry.

SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.

Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):

1. Part of the role is to manage granting to Civil Society Organisations to support grassroots human rights advocacy. Please outline the key steps in a grant cycle as well as 2-3 core principles you might apply to ensure effective and impactful granting.
2. Share with us an experience where you have ensured a people centred approach within a project. How did you do this?