Pacific People Advancing Change (PPAC) Officer – Solomon Islands

• Solomon Islands-based position
• Join the principal development organisation in the 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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Human Rights and Social Development Division – For over 20 years SPC has operated as the region’s pioneer in human rights and gender capacity building to Pacific states, institutions and civil society. Through a team of regional advisors and Country Focal Officers (CFOs) based in member states, it provides a comprehensive suite of policy and legislative advice, technical assistance and capacity building to support Pacific states to respond effectively to priority regional human rights priorities, such as gender equality, ending violence against women and children, disability rights, climate change and equitable, sustainable development.

The role – the Pacific People Advancing Change (PPAC) Officer – Solomon Islands will support PPAC grantees to have increased capacity to monitor and advocate for human rights in Solomon Islands.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Training and Capacity building 

• Provides Technical Assistant, coaching and mentoring support to PPAC grantees in advocacy, lobbying, forming coalitions to design and implement human rights advocacy campaigns.
• Identifies PPAC grantee’s capacity development needs and designs training programs and collate resources to address the capacity development needs identified.
• Provides training and capacity building that will enable PPAC grantees to mainstream human rights, gender and disability inclusion into their advocacy campaigns.
• Supports grantees to develop advocacy plans that are linked to national strategic/Development Plan and host-country national, regional and international human rights commitments and obligations.
• Ensures advocacy plan and budgets are results-focussed, strategic, accurate and realistic, and are regularly monitored and reviewed.
• Ensures effective implementation of PPAC activities and programmes in the annual country work plan.

Networking and Partnership

• Establishes partnership with existing NGOs in Solomon Islands, and provide advice on partner selection.
• Encourages and support NGOs in Solomon Islands through the PPAC proposal process.
• Supports coalition-building, and ensures that key civil society stakeholders at the national level are communicating with each other towards common human rights goals.
• Represents HRSD effectively to civil society and other stakeholders in Solomon Islands.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Leads six-monthly learning and reflection process with PPAC grantees and provide reports to HRSD PPAC focal points.
• Supports MEL with PPAC grantees both internally and externally (reports to HRSD).
• Identifies and documents performance stories, case studies and outcomes of PPAC programme in Solomon Islands.
• Supports donor-specific reporting on the Solomon Islands PPAC programme.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Tertiary (diploma) qualification in political science, public policy, law, human rights, gender, international relations.

Technical expertise

• At least five years’ experience in Solomon Islands working to advance human rights and social development (in government and/or civil society).
• Strategic planning experience and in-depth understanding of Solomon Islands cultures, context, human rights and social development challenges and opportunities.
• High-level diplomatic skills and ability to successfully engage and influence stakeholders across a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Knowledge of undertaking advocacy within the Pacific context.
• Experience in community development, non-formal adult education and/or community outreach.
• Experience in financial management, budgeting and acquittals.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office suite.

Language skills

• Advanced written and verbal communication skills in Pijin and English.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively represent SPC HRSD at external meetings and conferences.
• Proven ability to work independently, with remote supervision.
• Commitment to teamwork and ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This position is budgeted for 2 years and is subject to renewal depending on performance and funding.

Remuneration – the Pacific People Advancing Change (PPAC) Officer – Solomon Islands is a Band 7 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SBD 74,494–93,117 per year, plus local staff benefits. An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. Salary is subject to income tax.

Benefits – SPC provides medical and life insurance for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 days of annual 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 bilinguism, 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 private policy.

Please note that applicants must be Solomon Islands Nationals currently residing in the country, or hold the proper work permit for salaried employment there.

Application procedure

Closing date: 5 May 2024 – 11:00 pm Noumea time

Job Reference: CR000221

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

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.

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:

1. In your view, what role should Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) play in terms of human rights?
2. Please briefly describe any previous experience you might have working on advocacy campaigns.
3. This role includes supporting Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to meet their reporting obligations (including financial). Why is it important that CSOs meet these obligations and what could you do to ensure they are consistently able to do so?

Position Description