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CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISER (CCA)

Background

Applications are invited for the above position with SPREP in Samoa. Appointment would be for be 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 to protect and manage their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development. SPREP’s membership comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories, together with 4 developed countries . It has a total staff of about 70 professional and support staff.

The SPREP Strategic Programmes is to be delivered through two programmes; Island Ecosystems and Pacific Futures. The Island Ecosystems Programme includes components of Terrestrial ecosystems management, 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 respond to climate change, variability, sea level rise and stratospheric ozone depletions is an essential element of this mandate.

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.

Key Responsibilities and accountabilities

The Climate Change Adviser will be responsible to the Director and/or Deputy Director through the Manager – Pacific Futures for strengthening a balanced mix of policy, technical, scientific and outreach activities in the Climate Change, Climate Variability, Sea Level Rise and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Focus Area of SPREP’s Pacific Futures work programme. Specifically, he/she will be expected to:

•  Coordinate and provide advise to the development and implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015 and related Roundtable process;

•  Further refine the Action Plan that underpins the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015;

•  Coordinate and provide advise to SPREP management, members and Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP) on inputs to negotiations and processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of the Parties and its Subsidiary Bodies;

•  Coordinate and provide advise to SPREP members and CROP agencies on inputs to the Kyoto Protocol, the Montreal Protocol and the UN Commission on Sustainable Development processes;

•  Provide technical assistance to SPREP members on the preparations of their Second National Communications to the Conference of the Parties (COP);

•  Coordinate staff inputs into the Climate Change paper for the annual SPREP meetings and coordinate SPREP’s inputs into the Climate Change paper for the Forum meetings;

•  Advise and design climate change funding proposals in consultation with relevant staff to meet the needs of Members and SPREP on climate change, climate variability, sea level rise and stratospheric ozone depletion;

•  In conjunction with other programme staff assist Management identify and secure funds and other support for the work program of SPREP;

•  Assist programme staff in the development and implementation of climate-related projects; and

Any other duties consistent with the above as assigned by the Director and/or Management from time to time.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Candidates must have appropriate tertiary qualifications (preferably post-graduate qualifications in a relevant field) from a recognised institution in a climate change related field, specifically with the following :

•  good understanding of the policy aspects of climate change but also possess adequate technical and scientific knowledge of adaptation, mitigation, meteorology and the global politics surrounding these areas;

•  at least 5 years’ work experience, preferably within the Pacific islands region, in climate change related activities at a very senior level;

•  proven project management experience and ability to prepare proposals, meeting papers and reports;

•  ability to manage the work of consultants and to meet project deadlines often under difficult circumstances; and

•  proven ability to live, work within and understand and empathize with the needs and aspirations of Pacific island communities and to work as part of an inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural team.

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration: Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with renewal for a further period, up to a maximum of six years, depending upon the officer’s performance during the first term and availability of funds.

Grade: Appointment will be at Grade J 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 32,234 SDRs to a maximum of 42,832 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. From 1 June 2005, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$126,712 to a maximum of SAT$168,373 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 (SAT) 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 SAT equivalent. The international currency exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD1.00 = SAT2.88.

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. Termination is by way of either (i) completion of term of contract or (ii) by way of one month’s notice by either party.

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; and
- reasonable cost of packing, insuring, shipping and unpacking furniture, household and personal effects as follows:

- for each dependent 6m3 for the staff member;
- 2m3 for dependent spouse;
- 1m3 child; and

- up to 20 kilos of excess baggage per person.

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 (or up to 12 days in circumstances as approved by the Director). Appointee will be assisted to settle into Apia. This will include help in finding suitable rental accommodation.

School Holiday Travel: One return economy class airfare between the place of education (home) and Apia each year (except the last) to enable a dependent child being educated outside Samoa to visit parents.

Home Leave Travel: One return economy class airfare home after each completing eighteen months of service (for a 3-year term) except the last year, for the appointee and dependent(s).

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 basic salary, upon successful completion of contract.

For ALL professional staff, the following applies:
Cost of living differential allowance: Cost-of-living differential allowance reflects the difference in the cost of living 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. For expatriate officers, the entitlement is limited to tuition and boarding fees up to a maximum of SAT15,600 per child with a maximum of SAT46,800 per family per annum. For local professional officers, the entitlement is limited to a maximum of SAT3,200 per child with a maximum of SAT9,600 per family per annum. This benefit is currently under review.

Housing Assistance: A rental assistance of 75% of the rent payable in Samoa for expatriate executive furnished housing is a component of remuneration for all professional staff. This supplement is currently under review.

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 legally and financially dependent natural or legally adopted child who is:

- under the age of 16 years; or
- under the age of 19 years if undertaking full-time study at a secondary school; or
- under the age of 22 years if enrolled and undertaking full-time study at a university or other tertiary institution; or mentally or physically incapacitated.

“expatriate” means a professional staff member, not a citizen or permanent resident of Samoa, who resides in Samoa only by virtue of employment with SPREP.

Equal Opportunities: SPREP is an equal opportunities 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

Applications should be accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae containing full personal details (birth date, sex, 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. References, if available, are to accompany your application from three recent employers and/or supervisors. In addition, application should include copies of academic qualifications. Application should also indicate how soon you are available to start if successful, and must be addressed to:

The Director
SPREP Telephone: (685) 21 929
PO Box 240 Fax: (685) 20 231
Apia, Samoa E-mail: SPREP@sprep.org

Closing Date:    15 August 2005. Late applications will not be considered.