FILE : STF 5/13/1 DATE : 8 November 2002
SUBJECT : HIV/AIDS/STI ADVISER

SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY

The HIV/AIDS Adviser has the overarching responsibility for SPC HIV/AIDS initiatives. Effective and efficient coordination of these projects and cooperation with country stakeholders and regional or international agencies involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS/STI will be critical for the successful achievements of these initiatives.


RESPONSIBLE TO: Public Health Programme Manager.

BACKGROUND

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an independent intergovernmental agency providing technical advice, assistance, training and research in the service of the 22 Pacific Island countries and
territories of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. It currently has a staff of more than 230. SPC is o
fficially bilingual, with English and French being the working languages.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an independent, intergovernmental agency providing technical advice, assistance, training and research services to its 22 Pacific Island member countries and territories of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. SPC currently has more than 230 staff members. SPC is officially bilingual, with English and
French as the working languages.

In Papua New Guinea, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has reached an alarming level and is already affecting territories such as French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Guam; most of the Small Island States are also reporting limited numbers of cases. A prompt reaction is required to prevent the spread of the epidemic in the region, which would have devastating effects on the small island communities.

National health authorities have called on SPC to coordinate a number of initiatives focusing on prevention, reviewing the HIV/AIDS regional strategy, and assisting in the implementation of national strategic plans.

The HIV/AIDS Adviser has the overarching responsibility for SPC HIV/AIDS initiatives. Effective and efficient coordination of these projects and cooperation with country stakeholders and regional or international agencies involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS/STI will be critical for the successful achievements of these initiatives.


RESPONSIBLE TO: Public Health Programme Manager.


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General

ýÿ Coordinate initiatives at the regional level to prevent the spread of
HIV/AIDS in the Pacific Island region.
ýÿ Coordinate the review, redevelopment and implemention of the
HIV/AIDS/STI regional strategic plan.
ýÿ Advocate for the importance of effectively addressing HIV/AIDS/STI in
the region, and for the importance of a multisectoral approach.
ýÿ Supervise the work of SPC staff involved in the HIV/AIDS/STI
initiatives.
ýÿ Develop within SPC a coordinated multidisciplinary and multisectoral
approach to HIV/AIDS/STI prevention.
ýÿ Prepare necessary plans, reports and budgets, and monitor performance
against these documents.
ýÿ Prepare articles and presentations upon request from the Public Health
Programme Manager or SPC Executive.
ýÿ Identify additional sources of funding for HIV/AIDS/STI-related
activities.




Specific responsibilities relating to the AusAID-funded HIV/AIDS/STI
project's regional component

ýÿ Ensure the development of work plans and reports as required in the
project design, and communicate regularly with the Suva-based Australian
Team Leader who assists countries in the implementation of their National
Strategic Plans.
ýÿ Ensure project performance targets are met in relation to the components
undertaken by SPC.
ýÿ Develop and maintain effective and efficient working relationships with
country stakeholders (e.g. health authorities, NGOs) and regional (Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat) or international agencies (e.g. UN agencies,
WHO, etc.) involved in the project.
ýÿ Chair the Project Coordination Committee (PCC).
ýÿ Oversee - with the Australian Team Leader - the work of the Monitoring
and Evaluation Adviser in developing a framework for capacity development
and the implementation of a regional strategy.


QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ýÿ Postgraduate public health qualifications.
ýÿ Thorough knowledge of accepted and emerging public health concepts,
principles and practices, and their application to health and development
in Pacific Island countries.
ýÿ Thorough knowledge of accepted and emerging public health concepts,
principles and practices, and their application to health and development
in Pacific Island countries
ýÿ Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of effective
prevention of HIV/AIDS/STI
ýÿ Knowledge and understanding of donor and multilateral UN agencies and
regional health agencies in the Pacific region
ýÿ Demonstrated extensive experience in public health, and particularly the
prevention of HIV/AIDS/STI
ýÿ Demonstrated experience in the design, management, implementation and
evaluation of public health projects
ýÿ Demonstrated experience in the development of healthy public policy
ýÿ Demonstrated experience in undertaking consultation processes
ýÿ Demonstrated work experience in developing countries, especially in the
Pacific region
ýÿ Demonstrated experience in the development and submission of public
health/HIV/STI project funding proposals


Other highly desirable skills and qualifications:

ýÿ Project planning and management skills including project design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
ýÿ Financial management skills.
ýÿ Effective communication, networking and co-ordination skills within PHP,
within SPC and with donors and other stakeholders, e.g. countries and
other regional/international health organizations
ýÿ Advocacy skills to encourage and sustain the development and
implementation of HIV/AIDS/STI policies and programmes in the region and
in individual PICTs.
ýÿ Public speaking skills and the capacity to be a formal representative
for PHP and SPC at external meetings and conferences.
ýÿ Cross-cultural skills and ability to work with team members from
different cultural backgrounds
ýÿ Computer skills and proficiency in report writing.
ýÿ Familiarity with donor's reporting requirements, and knowledge of one or
more Pacific languages would be value.

SALARY AND ALLOWANCE

The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications in the
salary range: SDR 3,123-4,076 per month (which is equivalent to CFP
500,430 - 653,138 francs per month at the prevailing reference exchange
rate of 1 SDR = CFP 160.24 francs) in Grade J of the SPC Staff
Classification and Salary Plan for Professional Staff based in Noumea, New
Caledonia. It is expected that an offer of appointment for an initial
contract would be made in the lower half of this range.

In addition, an Establishment Grant will be payable to non-residents of
New Caledonia. Where appropriate, other allowances such as child and
education allowances will be paid. SPC emoluments are not subject to
income tax in New Caledonia at the present time. The international
currency exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD 1.00 =
127 francs CFP, 1 Euro = CFP 119.33 francs.


TENURE

The appointment will be for a period of three years in the first instance,
subject to a one-year probationary period. The contract may be renewed for
a further three years subject to performance and continued funding
availability.


DUTY STATION

Noumea, New Caledonia.


ACCOMMODATION

An SPC-owned house or flat will be made available with the staff member
contributing 25% of the normal rental of the accommodation.


LEAVE

Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty.
For expatriate staff members, home leave fares are payable after 18 months
of active duty service.


SICK LEAVE

Thirty working days per annum.


MEDICAL BENEFITS

The SPC's Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors' fees, cost 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.


PROVIDENT FUND

The appointee will be eligible for membership of the SPC's Staff Provident
Fund. Staff members contribute eight per cent of base salary to which SPC
adds a matching contribution.




FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES

For an appointee recruited outside New Caledonia, air fares by the most
direct and/or economic route for the appointee 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 OPPORTUNITIES

SPC is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment to SPC staff vacancies
is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two shortlisted candidates
are judged to be of equal rank by the Selection Committee, preference will
be given to Pacific Island nationals.


ADDRESS

Applications should be addressed to the Director General, Secretariat of
the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia, to arrive
by 15 January 2003. Applicants should provide full personal details,
describe their qualifications and experience, and explain how these suit
them for the specific requirements of the advertised position. Relevant
previous appointments, present position and salary, and the names and
addresses (including telephone, fax, e-mail contacts) of three referees
should also be provided. Testimonials may be provided with the
application, but are not necessary and will not be considered a substitute
for confidential referee's reports, which will be commissioned directly by
SPC.

Applications may alternatively, or additionally, be submitted by email to
spc@spc.int, preferably in plain text or Rich Text Format (RTF).

More can be learned about SPC through the website http://www.spc.int.