Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) Adviser

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation 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.

As the key implementing partner for the Pacific Women Lead portfolio, SPC leads the Pacific Women Lead (PWL) at SPC programme (PWL at SPC), located within SPC’s HRSD Division. The PWL at SPC programme receives more than AUD 55 million under the Australian Government’s AUD 170 million PWL portfolio. PWL at SPC has funding for five years from 2021−2026.

The role – Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Adviser will deliver technical advice and capacity building on gender equality and social inclusion approaches for the Pacific Women Lead at SPC programme. This support will be delivered to governments, civil society and internal SPC stakeholders. The role will also contribute to and work closely with broader gender and social inclusion initiatives undertaken by the Human Rights and Social Development Division.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Provide technical assistance and advice on gender equality and social inclusion

• Provide advice and programme support to PWL at SPC activities in the areas of promoting women and girls’ leadership; realising women’s rights to health, economic empowerment and ending gender-based violence; and promoting Pacific ownership and effectiveness of regional gender equality efforts.
• Provide support to Pacific Girl (a PWL at SPC funded programme to support adolescent girls in the region) on gender equality and social inclusion.
• Conduct analysis on key and emerging regional gender and social inclusion issues in line with the PWL at SPC programme and the priorities of SPC and Pacific Island countries and territories.
• Research, develop and write concept notes, thematic briefs and other knowledge and communication products for PWL at SPC to deliver identified needs for the programme, government partners and other stakeholders.

GESI capacities, skills development and people management  

• Assist the PWL at SPC in identifying GESI capacity development needs for the implementing team, other HRSD colleagues, implementing partners and other stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver capacity building on GESI, disability inclusion, safeguarding and child protection through diverse modalities for relevant SPC staff and key implementing partners, in coordination with other HRSD capacity building initiatives.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of capacity building initiatives.
• Monitor the performance and workload of staff members and service providers to ensure that objectives are met.

Support stakeholder engagement, networking and coordination

• Support stakeholder engagement, networking, and coordination to advance programme and divisional objectives at national, regional, and institutional levels.
• Actively engage in working groups, communities of practice, task forces, and other technical committees.
• Represent and promote SPC, HRSD and PWL at SPC at national, regional, and international forums, as delegated.

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, gender, international relations or other relevant social science from a recognised university.

Technical expertise

• 10 years of development experience working in the field of human rights, gender equality and social inclusion, child protection and safeguarding and/or youth development with experience working in the Pacific region.
• Experience in mainstreaming gender, social inclusion and human rights in development programming.
• Programming, developing, delivering, and reporting against work plans.
• Experience developing capacity building resources and delivering sessions for diverse government and non-government audiences.
• Ability to translate text-heavy documents or information into user-friendly materials for a wide range of audiences
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with strong writing ability at a donor project reporting level. High level interpersonal, mentoring and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural team.

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 – Until 30 June 2026 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) 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: 4 August 2024 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: MC000105

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. Please describe three key gender inequality issues in the Pacific islands region and how would you address them.
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. One of the key roles of this position is to build and maintain relationship with stakeholders and partners, how would you go about doing that?

Position Description