Governance and Human Rights 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 (HRSD) Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies. It aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, GESI 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.

The role – Governance and Human Rights Adviser will provide activity management, technical advice, assistance, and capacity building under the PROJECT Governance and HRSD work programmes with a focus on human rights and good governance.  As the role requires working across the objectives of the HRSD work program, the Adviser will have a matrix reporting relationship with other Team Leaders in this regard. 

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Provide technical assistance and support on human rights and good governance

• Support Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs) governments and civil societies to implement, and deliver on human rights and good governance commitments.
• Leads delivery of activities under PROJECT Governance.
• Supports the implementation of the Pacific People Advancing Change (PPAC) programme in two PICTs.
• Provides support to HRSD colleagues leading on PROJECT Governance funded activities.

Human rights and good governance capacities and skills development

• Identify needs for development of human rights and good governance capacities and skills for PICTs and other stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver capacity building on human rights, and good governance.
• Conducts training and mentoring of PPAC grantees.
• Monitoring and evaluation of capacity building is conducted to meet desired outcomes.

Stakeholder engagement, networking and coordination

• Support stakeholder engagement, networking, and coordination to advance PROJECT Governance and divisional objectives at national, regional, and institutional levels.
• Engage in working groups, task forces and other technical committees.
• Represent SPC at national, regional, and international forums as delegated by the Director.

Project management and people management

• Matrix management of PROJECT Governance Officers.
• Support the team to implement project commitments and ensure the team is able deliver on good governance commitments and country interventions.
• Provide management support to relevant project staff to report against project work plans and budgets.
• Collaborate with in country staff to develop, implement, monitor project activities.

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, good governance, human rights, law, gender, international relations, or related discipline from a recognized university or a Bachelor’s degree in one or more of the above disciplines.

Knowledge and experience

• Seven (7) years of development experience working in the field of human rights, and/or good governance with at least 5 years of working in Pacific.
• Programming, developing, delivering, and reporting against work plans.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Good interpersonal skills, team player and ability to network and effectively 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 Governance and Human Rights Adviser is a Band 11 position in SPC’s 2023 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,091‒3,864 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 9,118–11,397 (USD 4,142–5,177; EUR 3,923–4,904). 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: 19 June 2023 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: MC000013

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 provide an example by outlining the steps you would take to design, deliver, and evaluate a regional forum/dialogue on good governance or human rights for the 12 Pacific Islands countries covered by PROJECT Governance.
2. Please describe how you will build institutional and individual capacity of a governance or human rights institution and provide examples of the capacity building techniques that you have used in previous roles and the results achieved.
3. The role involves supporting the team to implement project commitments and ensure the team is able deliver on good governance commitments and country interventions. Please list 3 important factors in project management that you will need to priorities to ensure successful project implementation. Pick two and explain in detail why these are important.