Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Adviser – Fiji

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 Land Resources Division (LRD) provides effective expert scientific advice, capacity building and services on conservation, development and utilization of plant genetic resources, forest and landscape management, resilient agricultural systems, diversification of livelihood strategies and access to markets to maintain ecosystem services and improve land productivity and the food, nutrition security and resilience of Pacific communities. LRD has expertise in genetic resource conservation, resilient agriculture, biosecurity, pest and disease management, agricultural extension, plant pathology, entomology, and animal health. It collaborates with governments, regional organisations, civil society and other SPC divisions to pinpoint the needs and priorities of Pacific countries and communities and provide technical expertise to address them. This mission is realized through four main thematic work areas, or pillars, and a progressively integrated approach to programming that works towards achieving SPC’s development goals.

The role

Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Adviser will be responsible for mainstreaming the gender equality and social inclusion components of the people-centered approach across LRD’s projects and programmes. The GEDSI Adviser will also work closely with Human Rights and Social Development Division and the people-centered approach community of practice at SPC in contributing to the mainstreaming of the other elements of the people-centered approach, being human rights and positive expressions of culture, across LRD’s projects and programmes, including the SPC Food Systems Flagship.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Lead the mainstreaming of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) within LRD, SPC member countries and territories and LRD project and programme partners and beneficiaries, including the SPC Food Systems Flagship:

• In collaboration with the SPC- PCA community of practice, undertake GEDSI analysis of the current and planned programs, projects, plans, operations, monitoring, evaluation and learning, knowledge management and communication (MELKMC) of LRD to identify actions needed to strengthen GEDSI across all aspects of LRD’s work.
• In collaboration with the SPC -PCA community of practice, undertake a GEDSI analysis of the agriculture and forestry strategic plans and policies in selected SPC member countries to identify actions needed to strengthen GEDSI.
• Collaborate with the SPC- PCA community of practice, to develop and deliver GEDSI technical assistance and capacity building for the LRD staff, the SPC Food System Flagship, LRD agriculture and forestry stakeholders and beneficiaries in selected SPC members) to strengthen the mainstreaming of GEDSI.
• In partnership with the SPC PCA community of practice, continuously review and adapt GEDSI capacity building and skills development materials and tools based on sector developments, reflections and learning experiences.

Support HRSD and the PCA community of practice at SPC to mainstream the other elements of the PCA being human rights and positive expressions of Pacific culture within LRD, SPC member countries and territories, and LRD project and programme partners and beneficiaries, including the SPC Food Systems Flagship:

• In collaboration with HRSD and the SPC – PCA community of practice, undertake a human rights and positive expressions of Pacific culture analysis of the current and planned programs, projects, plans, operations, MELKMC of LRD to identify actions needed to strengthen human rights and positive expressions of Pacific culture across all aspects of LRD’s work.
• In partnership with the SPC – PCA community of practice, undertake an analysis of agriculture and forestry strategic plans and policies under the lens of human rights and positive expressions of Pacific culture for selected SPC member countries to identify actions needed to strengthen human rights and positive expressions of Pacific culture in the agriculture and forestry strategic plans and policies.
• Collaborate with the SPC – PCA community of practice, to develop and deliver human rights and positive expression of Pacific culture technical assistance and capacity building for the LRD staff, staff engages in the SPC Food System Flagship, LRD agriculture and forestry stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Contribute to the delivery of corporate and programme enabling services through the enhancement of structures, processes, systems / tools that ensure PCA principles and intent are well understood and applied:

• Ensure that new concept notes and project/program proposals have integrated PCA principles and concepts relevant to the agriculture and forestry sector.
• Support the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) Adviser on monitoring, evaluation and learning initiatives to ensure linkages to the PCA.
• Contribute to the review and design of the new LRD Business Plan to ensure that PCA is applied and prominent in appropriate context.
• Work closely with the Information, Communication and Knowledge Management (ICKM) Adviser to ensure that all PCA knowledge products are prepared, informative and widely disseminated.

Support programme/project development and resource mobilisation through the provision of effective PCA mainstreaming guidance and advice:

• Ensure that new concept notes and project/program proposals have integrated appropriate PCA relevant to the agriculture and forestry context.
• Ensure donors and development partners priorities, global and regional undertakings/commitments on PCA are well understood and information is workshopped with LRD management and relevant internal/external stakeholders to support resource mobilization efforts.
• Lead the coordination of stakeholder engagement and networking efforts to advance divisional objectives at national, regional, and institutional levels. New funding opportunities within the PCA agriculture and forestry space are explored and shared with LRD management.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications:

• A post graduate qualification in social science, human rights, law, social policy, international relations or other relevant area.

Technical expertise:

• At least 10 years of working experience in the field of human rights, gender equality and social inclusion, Pacific culture with at least 5 years of working in the Pacific.
• Experience in mainstreaming human rights-based, gender and social inclusion, positive expression of Pacific culture approaches in agriculture and forestry.
• Proven track record in quality programming, developing, delivering, and reporting against work plans.
• Experience developing capacity building resources and delivering sessions for diverse government and non-government audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work with and influence a wide range of individuals from different backgrounds.
• Ability to translate text-heavy documents or information into user-friendly materials for a wide range of audiences.
• Familiarity with donor human rights and GEDSI requirements.

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 Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) 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 10% 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

• Job Reference: JM000713

Please click ‘Apply Now’ to submit your application. 

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. How would you ensure that GEDSI considerations are included within project or program design?
2. Can you please give us an example of how you have mainstreamed gender and social inclusion or applied a rights-based approach in your previous roles?
3. Please provide examples of two (2) indicators that would support SPC’s LRD to monitor GEDSI within projects/programmes.

A position description is attached.