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Post Description: COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND PARTICIPATION SPECIALIST (CAPS), IWP

Background

The International Waters Project (IWP) is a 7-year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The Project Co-ordination Unit (PCU) for the IWP is based at SPREP’s headquarters at Apia, Samoa.

The IWP has two components. The oceanic component is specifically targeting management and conservation issues associated with the regional tuna resource in the Central Western Pacific. Responsibility for this aspect of the IWP rests with the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC), based in New Caledonia, and the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) based in Solomon Islands.

The second component is concerned with coastal and watershed issues. The PCU is responsible for this component, which will focus on the implementation of 14 Pilot Projects, one in each island country participating in the Project.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

The Community Assessment and Participation Specialist (CAPS) will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager of the Project. He/she will assume direct responsibility for the substantial social assessment tasks for each Pilot Project. In association with economists working with the IWP, the CAPS will design and implement strategies that provide socio-economic assessment and monitoring capacity to the IWP throughout Project implementation. Supporting the Community Communications Specialist and the Natural Resource Economist the CAPS will also assist with the information dissemination and education activities of the Project. He/she will work closely with the existing community participation specialists in SPREP or working elsewhere in the region. In particular, the CAPS will:

•  Liaise with other Programme staff, particularly the Community Communications Specialist (CCS), the Natural Resource Economists (NRE) and National Coordinators (NCs), to develop and execute appropriate strategies for the implementation of the 14 national projects;

•  Coordinate the full range of Project activities related to the community participation and assessment;

•  Provide support to the CCS and the NRE in relation to communications, public relations and the preparation of educational material relating to the activities of the SAP for community, local, national and international audiences;

•  Provide support to the NRE in relation to the design and implementation of economic assessments and appraisals that may be associated with the IWP

•  Support the Project Manager as appropriate during meetings of the Meetings of National Coordinators, National Task Forces (NTF) and their sub-committees and the annual Mutipartite Review;

•  Serve as an expert resource for the various committees and working groups of the Project;

•  Contribute to the development of an Annual Work Plan for the IWP, including annual country work plans where projects are operational;

•  Facilitate liaison and networking between and among the 14 country participants, in particular the communities involved in pilot activities, the private sector, relevant regional organisations, other relevant organisations, non-governmental organisations, key stakeholders and other individuals involved in Project implementation on social assessment issues associated with community-based conservation initiatives;

•  Promote public awareness of social assessment issues in relation to resource allocation necessary for sustainable development;

•  Assist with the development and co-ordination of IWP activities with related activities implemented by other CROP agencies and by NGOs;

•  Collect and disseminate information related to IWP implementation;

•  Assist with the co-ordination of IWP activities with related activities implemented by other SPREP programmes;

•  In association with other PCU team members, develop and maintain a database of IWP-related activities implemented by other stakeholders in the South Pacific region;

•  Assist with the preparation of technical and feasibility studies;

•  Assist with the preparation of the substantive and operational reports and reviews relating to IWP implementation;

•  Assist with the preparation and oversight of Terms of Reference for consultants and contractors;

•  Assist with the preparation of progress reports concerning project activities;

•  Participate and prepare project reviews; and

•  Other related activities as required.

Desired Qualifications and Experience

•  An advanced degree in social anthropology (or related science) with at least eight (8) years post graduate experience working in natural resources management and conservation in a developing country context. Pacific Island experience will be favourably viewed.

•  Previous experience in conducting, analysing and reporting on community-based work involving stakeholder analysis and participation.

•  Demonstrated strong analytical capacity combined with the ability to rapidly grasp new concepts.

•  Demonstrated capacity to work independently, in multidisciplinary and multi-cultural teams and be highly productive under pressure.

•  Demonstrably excellent English verbal and written communications skills, both at a technical level and in the preparation of information destined to the general public.

•  Capacity to undertake extensive Pacific Island regional travel.

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration: Appointment is for a term of up to 31 December 2006, initially with renewal for a further period depending upon the officer’s performance during the first term, continuity of related programme activities and availability of funds.

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 25,681 SDRs to a maximum of 35,084 SDRs (including COLDA), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. In April 2005, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$103,905 to a maximum of SAT$141,950 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 = SAT2.70.

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:- 6m3 for the staff member;- 2m3 for dependent spouse;- 1m3 for each dependent 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.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 or recognized home and Apia each year (except the last) to enable a dependent child being educated outside Samoa to visit parents, or either parent to visit the child.

Home Leave Travel: Not applicable for a short term 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.

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 allowance 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.

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 (birthdate, 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:    31May 2005.  Late applications will not be considered.