COORDINATION AND LIAISON OFFICER, PRSIP

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an international organisation that provides technical and policy advice and assistance, training and research services to its Pacific Island members. SPC works in a wide range of sectors with the aim of achieving three development outcomes – sustainable economic development, sustainable natural resource management and development, and sustainable human and social development.

SPC was established in 1947. It has 26 member countries and territories and its working languages are English and French. SPC’s headquarters are in Noumea, New Caledonia. It has regional offices in Suva, Fiji Islands, and Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and country offices in Honiara, Solomon Islands and Port Vila, Vanuatu. Additional information on SPC, particularly regarding its work in specific sectors, can be found on its website: www.spc.int.

PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION

SPC’s Public Health Division (PHD) supports the development of healthier Pacific Island communities through four broad objectives under the strategic plan 2010–2014.

1. Combat and reduce the overall impact and burden of diseases.
2. Contribute to strengthening national health systems.
3. Increase the capacity of Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to address non-health sector determinants of health.
4. Increase the efficiency and impact of interventions.

PHD’s primary focus is to provide technical assistance and to implement programmes in support of countries’ priorities and plans. PHD has staff based in Noumea, Suva, Pohnpei, Honiara and Port Vila. Information on PHD and the division’s strategic plan is available at www.spc.int/php.

Within the Disease Surveillance, Control and Research Unit of the PHD, the HIV/STI team is responsible for coordinating the regional response to HIV and other STIs in the Pacific region through the Pacific Regional Strategy Implementation Plan (PRSIP) on HIV and other STIs. The team comprises a Team Leader and a small technical team and is responsible for providing technical support to countries in the areas of HIV and STIs treatment, care and support. The Team Leader is also responsible for PRSIP coordination across Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) and participating regional and local partners.

The Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV and STIs (2009–2013) is designed to support national efforts to prevent and control HIV and AIDS and to strengthen work at the regional level through improved coordination, collaboration and partnership among regional organisations and national programmes.

The collective efforts under the framework of PRSIP have a primary focus on capacity building across the numerous Pacific Islands as a way of supporting efforts by PICTs to achieve expanded and sustainable responses to HIV and other STIs. The primary objective of PRSIP is to reduce the spread and impact of HIV and other STIs, while embracing people living with and affected by HIV in Pacific communities through:

1. increasing the capacity of PICTs to achieve and sustain an effective response to HIV and other STIs;
2. strengthening coordination at the regional level;
3. mobilising resources and expertise to assist individual PICTs to achieve their national and international targets for HIV and other STIs;
4. assisting PICTs to report on their Millennium Development Goals, United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS (UNGASS) and Universal Access targets.

PRSIP II is yet to establish a governing body mechanism, although a number of options have been considered. The Regional Strategy provides an overarching framework for the region’s approach and a platform to bring together all stakeholders involved in the delivery of services in the area of HIV, AIDS and other STIs to PICTs. SPC is responsible for managing PRSIP II, which includes managing grant mechanisms and monitoring regional trends and achievements that have resulted from activities funded by the Global Fund Round 7 and the HIV / STI Response Fund.

Reporting to the HIV & STI Team Leader, the Coordination and Liaison Officer PRSIP will work with team members and other PHD staff to coordinate SPC’s contribution to achieving the objectives of PRSIP and with other PRSIP partner organisations and agencies. The incumbent will assist with the implementation of key objectives of PRSIP and other regional programmes supported by PHD.

As a result of the organisational reform, the overall scope of the role and in particular the internal and external working relationships at SPC may be affected.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The position encompasses the following major roles and responsibilities in support of PHD’s strategic plan objectives.

1. Strengthening effective coordination mechanisms to support effective coordination and communications in relation to PRSIP, both at regional and national levels.

• An effective governing and coordination mechanism for the support and effective implementation of, and communication in relation to, PRSIP.
• An effective collaboration mechanism in ensuring Government and civil society coordination of regional and national level is functioning.
• Actively participate in regular meetings of the HIV & STI cross-functional teams and in PHD cross-cutting activities, as well as in other working groups external to SPC.

2. Ongoing PRSIP improvement, implementation and reviews.

• In liaison with key stakeholders, mobilise resources through the PRSIP mechanism to support the regional and national programs on HIV & STIs.
• Maintain productive working relationships with key stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of PRSIP.

3. Strengthening multi-sectoral planning processes of programmes and joint programming between programs and agencies.

• Liaise with relevant officers of regional partner organisations and relevant HIV & STI governing bodies to facilitate the ongoing development, implementation and monitoring of implementation plans under the current and future Pacific regional strategies on HIV and other STIs.
• Organise and lead annual joint planning meetings of PRSIP partners, in close liaison with the Disease Control Team Leader, monitoring and evaluation and administrative support teams.
• Ensure that all relevant stakeholders are well informed about PRSIP and its role in supporting HIV responses at both regional and national levels.

4. Monitoring of the PRSIP framework and reporting.

• Work with monitoring and evaluation teams from partner agencies to monitor the implementation of PRSIP and provide reports to stakeholders.
• Ensure that timely reports in relation to the implementation of PRSIP are provided to development partners in formats that meet their requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

1. Bachelor’s degree in public health, project management, international relations or related field.
2. At least 3 years’ experience international development, with expertise in applying development partner strategic approaches and log frames.
3. At least 3 years’ experience in public health, with a demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of effective prevention and care of HIV and other STIs.
4. Strong interpersonal and capacity building skills, ideally with 3 years’ experience in training, facilitation and mentoring.
5. Experience in developing and implementing quality communication strategies.
6. Experience in data gathering, validation, analysis and interpretation, ideally within a public health setting.
7. Sound communication, networking and co-ordination skills, with the ability to work with diverse stakeholders in a multicultural, multilingual team environment.
8. High level report writing skills in English, with expertise preparing reports for institutional donors and other stakeholders.

Desirable

1. Demonstrated work experience in a developing country, preferably in the Pacific region.
2. A familiarity with current HIV programmes in the Pacific region.
3. Experience in resolving questions of data/information ownership and sharing in an international context.
4. For English speakers, a knowledge of French.

SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SALARY AND ALLOWANCES

The position is in Band 10 of SPC’s salary scale.

Salaries for staff recruited internationally are set in SDR (special drawing rights) and paid in the local currency (i.e. the Fiji dollar, FJD, in Fiji). As per SPC’s 2012 salary scale, the salary range for this band is SDR 2,133–3,200 per month. At prevailing exchange rates these amounts convert to approximately FJD 5,900–8,900 per month (USD 3,300–5,000; € 2,500–3,800).

Offers of appointment for initial contracts will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications.

The organisation subsidises housing. A housing allowance of 75 per cent of the total rental, up to a limit of FJD 2,625 per month, will be provided. The minimum housing allowance payable is FJD 1,170 per month.

In addition, an establishment grant will be payable to non-residents of Fiji. Where appropriate, other allowances, such as an education allowance, may be payable.

While SPC remuneration is not subject to income tax in Fiji at the present time, this status is currently under review by the Government of Fiji. Any change in this status will apply to Fiji nationals.

PROVIDENT FUND

The appointees will be eligible for membership in SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute eight per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution.

TENURE

The successful candidate will be awarded a contract until 31 December 2013, renewable subject to performance and funding availability.

DUTY STATION

Suva, Fiji.

LEAVE

Annual leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum.

Sick leave is 30 working days per annum.

MEDICAL BENEFITS

SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctor fees, costs of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits.

FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES

For appointees recruited outside of Fiji, the cost of air fares by the most direct and/or economic route for the appointees and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination.

COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT

SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows.

SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT

Smoking is not permitted in the work place.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

SPC is an equal-opportunity employer. Recruitment is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two short-listed candidates are ranked equal by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The closing date for applications is 4 June 2012.

Applicants are asked to use SPC’s online recruitment system by following the link http://www.spc.int/job.html.

Applicants who cannot access the online recruitment system may send their documents to: Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, 98848 NOUMEA CEDEX, New Caledonia or submit them by fax (+ 687 26 38 18) or email (spc@spc.int), preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format.

Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position in their cover letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees.

Important note: prepare and save your curriculum vitae, response to qualifications and experience criteria and referee information as Microsoft Word documents BEFORE attempting to submit your application online. It is not possible to partially complete your application via the online system, save it and return to complete later.