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Post Description: Climate Change Adaptation Officer (CCAO)

Background:

Applications are invited for the above position with SPREP in Samoa. Appointment would be for a 3-year term initially with possible renewal up to a maximum of 6 years.

SPREP is an Intergovernmental Organisation that assists Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to protect and manage their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development for present and future generations. SPREP’s membership comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories, together with 4 developed countries 1.

It has a total staff of about 70 professional and support staff.

SPREP’s work is delivered through two Strategic Programmes: Island Ecosystems and Pacific Futures.

• The Island Ecosystems Programme includes components of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems management, species of special interest and people and institutions.
• The Pacific Futures Programme includes components of waste management and pollution control, environmental planning, climate change and atmosphere, environment monitoring, reporting and multilateral environmental agreements and regional coordination mechanisms. Assisting the region to understand and address sustainable development issues is an essential element of this mandate.

1 American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Sates of America, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

The Climate Change Adaptation Officer is responsible to the Programme Manager - Pacific Futures (PM-PF) under the supervision of the Climate Change Adviser (CCA) to perform the following key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement adaptation proposals to assist Pacific Island countries and territories in their efforts to respond to climate change, climate variability and sea level rise;
• Assist Pacific Island parties to implement the relevant provisions and decisions of the UNFCCC related to adaptation, subject to priorities and resources of the organisation;
• Provide the Secretariat with advice on the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol and where requested, facilitate the development or implementation of national adaptation projects to be funded by the Adaptation Fund of the CDM;
• Progress the development of the Type II initiative on Adaptation;
• Assist with a regional adaptation strategy to inform the Action Plan of the Pacific Islands Regional Framework for Action on Climate Change ;
• Assist the Secretariat to progress adaptation financing in collaboration with relevant CROP Agencies, as well as assist PICs access adaptation funding under the GEF-PAS;
• Work with SPREP staff to ensure an integrated approach to adaptation including communications;
• Assist the organisation and PICTs with its efforts to secure funds and assistance for adaptation;
• Assist with the preparation of reports for donors/sponsors and governments as required on programme outcomes and performance;
• Other duties as required from time to time.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications relevant to the scientific or socio-economic aspects of climate adaptation (a post-graduate qualification in a relevant field would be an advantage) from a recognised institution with at least 5 years’ work experience in climate change related activities within the Pacific islands region;

• Substantial experience in the following areas:
• Social, economic and environmental aspects of climate change;
• Participatory methods of project development and implementation , community assessment and public education; and,
• Knowledge of community structures in the Pacific Islands;
• Proven ability to:
  • Organise/manage training and/or technical assistance programmes, for Pacific Island countries; and,
  • Work with a diverse range of interested stakeholders, e.g., government officials, communities, the private sector and aid administrators.

Highly Desirable:

• Demonstrated interest and involvement in island issues with excellent written and oral communication skills in English - familiarity and knowledge of a second language will be highly regarded;

• Demonstrated ability to live, work and operate effectively in multidisciplinary, multi-cultural teams particularly in the context of the needs of Pacific island countries.
• Willingness to travel and work, sometimes to remote locations.

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration:   Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with possible renewal up to a maximum of 6 years.

Grade:   Appointment will be at the Grade I of SPREP’s authorised salary scale for professional staff.

Salary: The basic salary range for this position is expressed in International Monetary Fund Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The salary range is from 26,885 SDRs to a maximum of 36,771 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. Currently, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$109,591 to a maximum of SAT$149,890 per annum (including COLDA).

Adjustments: Professional staff salaries and appropriate allowances are paid in Samoan Tala and adjusted every month based on the monthly average in the value of the SDR relative to the Samoan Tala (WST) at the time the salary payment is processed. SDR movement however is limited to within 5% above or below a reference point set annually. Remuneration is paid monthly in WST equivalent. The international currency exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD1.00 = SAT2.65

Term: For those recruited from outside Samoa, the term begins from the day the appointee leaves his or her home to take up the appointment. Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical examination, as well as a 6 months’ probationary period.  An appointment is terminated by (i) completion of term of contract (ii) one month’s notice by either party (iii) without notice by either party paying one month salary in lieu of notice or (iv) dismissed with or without notice as a disciplinary measure.

For staff recruited from outside Samoa, the following applies:

Relocation Expenses: SPREP will meet certain appointment and termination expenses for professional staff recruited from outside Apia, Samoa, including transport and accommodation en-route for the appointee and accompanying dependent(s) between home and Apia, and return, by the shortest and most economical route. This includes:

- economy class airfares;

• reasonable cost of packing, insuring, shipping and transporting furniture, household and personal effects as follows:

• 6m 3 for the staff member;
• 2m 3 for dependent spouse;
• 1m 3 for each dependent child; and
• up to 20 kilos of excess baggage for the appointee and family.

Establishment Grant: A lump sum, of SDR1,100 is payable upon taking up appointment and arrival in Apia.

Temporary Accommodation and Assistance: On arrival in Apia, the appointee and dependent(s) are entitled to temporary accommodation at a suitable hotel or other fully furnished accommodation for up to 6 working days. The appointee will be assisted to settle into Apia. This will include help in finding suitable rental accommodation.

School Holiday Travel: One return economy class flight each year between the place of education (taken to be recognized home) and Apia by (i) each dependent child being educated outside Samoa or (ii) the staff member or spouse to visit the child, providing the journey is not made within the final 6 months of the contract.

Home Leave Travel: Return economy class airfares between Apia and the recognised home for the staff member and dependents after completing 18 months of service for 3-year contracts providing no travel is undertaken within the final 12 months of the contract.

Privileges and Immunities: SPREP remuneration is tax-free for non-citizens or non-residents of Samoa, including duty-free importation of household and personal effects which have been owned and used by them for no less than six months, within 6 months of taking up appointment.

Repatriation allowance: The appointee is entitled to a repatriation allowance equivalent to two week’s salary, upon successful completion of contract, provided the contract is not extended or renewed.

For ALL professional staff, the following applies:

Cost of living differential allowance: Cost-of-living differential allowance reflects the comparative cost of living difference between Suva and Apia. This allowance is reviewed periodically based on data determined by an independent reviewer.

Education Allowance: Education expenses maybe reimbursed against actual receipts for dependent children, to cover up to 75% of the actual cost of tuition and boarding fees only. Currently the allowance is up to a maximum of Samoan Tala $15,600 per annum per dependent child, with an overall maximum of Samoan Tala $46,800 per annum per family of 3 or more eligible children.

Housing Assistance: Professional staff shall receive housing assistance of 75% of the typical rent payable in Samoa for expatriate executive furnished housing. The current rate is SAT$2,138 per month.  This assistance shall be reviewed annually and adjusted on relative movement in the local rental market.

Annual Leave: 25 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 50 days).

Sick Leave: 30 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 90 days).

Other Leave: Provisions also exist for maternity, family (compassionate and paternity) and special (without pay) leave.

Duty Travel: SPREP meets travelling expenses at prescribed rates necessarily incurred by staff required to travel away from Apia on official business.

Personal Accident Insurance: All employees are covered by SPREP’s 24 hour Life and Personal Accident Insurance Policy.

Medical Insurance: All employees and their dependents are entitled to have all reasonable medical, dental and optical expenses met by SPREP or by SPREP’s medical insurance scheme.

Superannuation: An expatriate contract staff member will receive a superannuation allowance of 7% of basic salary. For local contract staff, SPREP will pay 7% of basic salary to the Samoa National Provident Fund.

Definitions:

'Dependent' means the financially dependent spouse or dependent child of an employee.

'Dependent child' means an employee’s unmarried, financially dependent, natural or legally adopted child ho is:

Equal Opportunities: SPREP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Men and women are equally eligible for all posts in SPREP.

General: Appointment will be under the terms and conditions of SPREP’s Staff Regulations, a copy of which will be made available to the successful applicant.

Applications

• A detailed curriculum vitae containing full personal details (birth date, gender, nationality, marital status, number of dependents and age/s, health status, home address, and full contact numbers); qualifications and experience relevant for the position; previous and current appointments with salaries, names and contact addresses/numbers/E-mail of three professional referees who are prepared to provide testimonials.
• A statement to address how each Essential Selection Criteria is met.
• Available references from at least three recent employers and/or supervisors.
• Copies of academic qualifications.
• Indication of possible starting date if successful.

The Director

SPREP                                                       Telephone:  (685) 21 929

P O Box 240                                                Fax:           (685) 20 231

Apia                                                            Email:         SPREP@sprep.org

Samoa

Closing Date: 9 November 2007. Late applications will not be considered.

For further enquiries, the Personnel Officer can be contacted on telephone (685) 21929 ext 230 or Email: litiab@sprep.org