Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) Adviser

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• 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 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 (HRSD) Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies. It aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, equality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles. 

In line with its vision, the work of the Division encompasses the following objectives:

Objective 1: Governance for human rights and social development: Strengthen inclusive, transparent and active governance for human rights and social development.

Objective 2: Gender equality and social inclusion: Mobilise, empower and build conditions for gender equality, equity and social inclusion in society and development.

Objective 3: Culture: Promote, preserve and protect positive expressions of culture.

Objective 4: Enhance knowledge, learning and innovative solutions to accelerate impact on human development priorities. 

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 PWL at SPC programme goal is that Pacific women and girls, in all their diversity, are safe and equitably share in resources, opportunities and decision-making, with men and boys. There are three outcomes: (1) Women’s leadership promoted; (2) Women’s rights realised; and (3) Pacific regional partners increase the effectiveness of regional gender equality efforts. Joining PWL at SPC, other central partners include PWL Enabling Services (PWLES); AIR (Amplify – Invest – Reach) partnership of women’s funds, civil society organisations and coalitions; and the Australian Government’s direct relationships with development partners for regional programmes, such as the United Nations (UN). 

The role – Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Adviser for PWL at SPC will provide technical advice, assistance, and capacity building across the Pacific Women Lead programme. The role will also support other objectives across the HRSD Division. 

The key responsibilities of the role include: 

Provide technical assistance on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) across the PWL at SPC programme in the areas of women’s leadership, women’s rights, and disability inclusion.

• Provides advice and programme support to PWL at SPC activities in the areas of enhancing women’s voices in decision making spaces, women’s health, women’s safety, women’s economic empowerment, enhancing agency and ending violence against women.
• Assist in research and analysis that informs activity design and implementation,
• Implement the PWL at SPC Disability Inclusion Guidance Note to ensure a strategic approach to disability inclusion and interventions are inclusive of women with disability.
• Work closely with the management team to ensure the Annual Work Plan entails a strategic and inclusive approach to gender social inclusion and disability inclusion.
• Support the team in providing advice to DFAT Posts and other PWL partners.
• Ensure that activities are designed through a gender and social inclusion lens that is tailored to the country context.
• Engage in national, regional, and international fora, mechanisms, and processes for the purposes of integrating human rights and GESI perspectives in policies and programmes.
• Support monitoring, evaluation and learning for projects, programmes, and activities. 

Provide capacity development support to the PWL at SPC programme, including grantees, Technical Advisers, and other relevant stakeholders such as the HRSD on gender equality and social inclusion

• Assist the team in identifying capacity development needs and skills for the team and relevant partners and other stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver capacity support through formal and informal training on human rights and GESI through grants management, convenings, Community of Practice, Technical Assistance, Design/Evaluations, and other modalities.
• Monitoring and evaluation of capacity building support is conducted to meet desired outcomes.
• Continuous review and adaptation of capacity building and skills development initiatives. 

Support stakeholder engagement, networking, and coordination across the PWL at SPC programme, HRSD, SPC and other key stakeholders

• 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 PWL at SPC and HRSD throughout the region. 

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 sciences, gender, development, or a related discipline. 

Technical expertise   

• 5-10 years of development experience working in the field of human rights, gender equality and social inclusion, and/or youth development, in the Pacific region.
• Demonstrated understanding of contemporary gender issues in the Pacific region.
• Programming experience, including developing, delivering, and reporting against work plans.
• Experience developing capacity building initiatives and delivering sessions for diverse government and non-government audiences.
• Ability to provide practical gender and social inclusion analysis to a range of stakeholders.
• Skills and experience in the design and implementation of social development interventions that focus on transformative and social norm change.
• Ability to coordinate across programmes to develop strong and active working partnerships.
• Presentation, reporting writing and facilitation skills.
• Critical analysis and innovative thinking skills
• Complex multisector coordination, planning and design skills. 

Language skills 

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with strong writing ability at a project donor reporting level. 

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness 

• High level interpersonal skills with ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural team.

Salary, terms and conditions 

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

Remuneration – The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Adviser is a band 10 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,575‒3,218 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,595–9,494 (USD 3,450–4,313; EUR 3,268–4,085). 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: 23 April 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000411 

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. Describe your experience in providing gender-sensitive or gender-related technical assistance for programming and capacity support in women’s leadership, women’s rights, and disability inclusion.
2. Please describe five key gender inequality issues in the Pacific islands countries and how would you address them.