• Commence date: October 2024
• Completion date: September 2025 (with possible extension)

The tasks and dates specified in this Terms of Reference are subject to change and flexibility is expected to accommodate for such changes.

About P4SP

The Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has commissioned the Partnerships for Social Protection program (P4SP), which is being implemented by Development Pathways.

P4SP contributes to greater coverage of quality, sustainable social protection systems in Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor-Leste, that reduce poverty and exclusion, address vulnerabilities through the life-course and stimulate economic growth.

The End-of-Investment Outcome is that PICs and Timor-Leste have established or strengthened formal social assistance systems to reduce gender inequality, vulnerabilities, and economic and social exclusion, while promoting stability and economic growth through increased government ownership and commitment to increasing and institutionalising formal social assistance systems. 

P4SP commenced on 20 September 2021 and will operate until 19 September 2025. 

Background to the assignment

Vanuatu is one of few countries in the region – and globally - without any government expenditure on social assistance. While contributory schemes, such as the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF), provide an important safety net for (predominantly) formal sector workers, it only protects a small portion of the population, and is insufficient for coping with Vanuatu’s recurring disasters. When in place, social assistance programs play an important role in helping governments and citizens increase their economic and social resilience to shocks, as evidenced by other countries in the Pacific region.

P4SP recently conducted a scoping mission to Port Vila to better understand the Government of Vanuatu’s (GoV) ambitions around social assistance and assess where Australia and its specialist program – P4SP - may be able to provide support. This incorporated several areas of exploration on both the policy and programming front.

Findings from the mission indicated that sentiments are starting to shift, with the GoV committed to strengthening their social protection policy, and increasingly open to providing transfers for vulnerable groups, not just as disaster response, but also in normal times. The GoV is currently planning to roll-out its first Cash Transfer Program (CTP) to the 66,000 households impacted by twin cyclones that devasted Vanuatu in 2023.

Given the importance of traditional kastom practices for community support and resilience-building, it is critical to the GoV and community leaders that social protection policy and programming build upon these local systems. It is widely acknowledged that these local systems are under increasing strain, and the GoV therefore has a vital role to play in supporting its citizens, while also ensuring that communities do not lose their willingness to look after one another.

As a follow-on from this mission, the GoV has requested Australia (through its P4SP program) for further technical support. P4SP is therefore recruiting a Senior/Social Protection Specialist to be based in Port Vila for approximately one year (with a possible extension) to work closely with GoV and Australian High Commission colleagues, to develop a deeper understanding of Vanuatu’s social protection priorities and to shape P4SP’s social protection technical assistance moving forward.

Scope of the assignment

This is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated, dynamic, and passionate Senior/Social Protection Specialist to deepen Australia’s understanding of the social protection context in Vanuatu and develop P4SP’s workplan for further technical support to the GoV.

The Consultant will be based in Port Vila, within the Australian High Commission’s Governance for Growth program,[1] with a view to moving to the line ministry ultimately responsible for social protection.[2]

The Consultant will work closely with the P4SP team (based in Australia) and the Governance for Growth Team Leader (based in Port Vila) to achieve the following objectives:

• Establish relationships with key government actors responsible for social protection, as well as influential non-government actors.
• Increase GoV’s understanding of life-cycle based social protection for vulnerable groups, and its role in strengthening individual and community resilience through delivering presentations to high-level government officials, social protection trainings, and other relevant fora.
• Provide high quality technical advice to GoV and Australian High Commission counterparts, as needed.
• Based on the above, develop a workplan for P4SP’s continued technical support, in close collaboration with the P4SP team.
• Assist with assessing the fiscal space for social protection expenditure in the short to medium-term, as well as funding and costing options (taking into account both domestic revenues and ODA flows).
• Provide technical support for the National Adaptive Social Protection policy (NASPP), including:
  • Reviewing the technical background paper and other relevant inputs to inform the development of the NASPP for Vanuatu.
  • Participating in meetings and preparing minutes of the meetings in relation to the development of the NASPP for Vanuatu.
  • Working closely with MFEM, DSPPAC, and members of the ASP Task Force to produce a draft of the NASPP for Vanuatu.
  • Consulting with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that the draft policy document is in line with the existing laws and regulations.
  • Helping to arrange stakeholder validation meetings, as needed.
• Provide technical support on the comprehensive National Social Protection Policy (NSPP), including:
  • Transitioning the ASP Taskforce to a comprehensive SP taskforce.
  • Participating in meetings of the comprehensive SP taskforce and preparing minutes of the meetings in relation to the development of the NSPP.
  • Working closely with members of the comprehensive SP taskforce to produce a draft of the NSPP for Vanuatu.
  • Consulting with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that the draft policy document is in line with the existing laws and regulations.
  • Helping to arrange stakeholder validation meetings, as needed.
• Other technical support to GoV and the Australian High Commission as needed, as agreed with P4SP line manager.

A more detailed workplan fleshing out the above objectives will be established during the Consultant’s first month in Port Vila. The Consultant must be comfortable working independently.

[1] https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/governance-for-growth-final-evaluation.pdf 

[2] The social protection mandate is currently shared across multiple ministries, and discussions on the lead ministry are currently underway.

Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Senior Social Protection Specialist within the P4SP team in Australia. The Team Leader for the Governance for Growth program will provide in-country support and management to the Consultant.

Place of work

This position is based in Port Vila, Vanuatu, working from the Governance for Growth, located within the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The position will eventually move to the government line ministry nominated to carry forward the social protection agenda.

Adherence to Development Pathways and P4SP Policies

During the assignment, the Consultant will be required to adhere to Development Pathways and P4SP policies including, but not limited to, the Development Pathways Code of Conduct, Child Protection Policy and Workplace Behaviours Policy, DFAT’s Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy and DFAT’s Anti-bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy and P4SP’s Fraud Control Plan and training.

Child protection

P4SP is committed to protecting the rights of children and ensuring a child-safe environment in all aspects of our work.

As this role is likely to include contact with communities over the course of the contract, P4SP will implement the following measures as part of the recruitment and management of the role:

• All interviews will include child safeguarding competency checks.
• The proposed candidate is required to undertake a National and/or International Police Clearance, prior to being contracted and as determined by Development Pathways.
• Referee checks will include questions on child safeguarding.

The successful candidate will be required to read, sign and adhere to the Development Pathways Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct, and will be required to undertake periodic training on child safeguarding.

Gender equality, disability and social inclusion

P4SP is committed to technical excellence in gender equality and our team will work closely with our partners to ensure a context-specific and consistent approach is applied to all our programs to improve the livelihoods of the world’s most marginalised groups.

Preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

P4SP is committed to respectful workplaces and does not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment of any kind.

Diversity Statement

Development Pathways is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and a work environment that values diversity and inclusion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, female applicants, and people with a disability who meet the requirements of this position are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application.

Special Conditions

• The proposed candidate is required to gain a National and/or International Police Clearance, prior to being contracted and as determined by Development Pathways. The police clearance is required to be renewed periodically as advised by Development Pathways.
• The proposed candidate will be required to obtain a medical clearance as a condition of this engagement, which is required to be renewed annually or as determined by Development Pathways.
• The successful candidate will be required to undertake mandatory trainings as advised by Development Pathways.
• Some out of hours and weekend work may be required.

Selection Criteria

Essential

• An internationally recognised qualification in social policy, international development, economics, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of social protection technical expertise, related to supporting: life-cycle based social protection policies and programs; capacity building; and advocacy. A thorough practical and conceptual understanding of social protection best practice is required.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with partner governments to establish social protection programs and policies, preferably in contexts with limited social protection investment and nascent systems.
• Proven track record of conducting political economy analyses and stakeholder/institutional mapping - examples of previous work will be requested.
• Ability to work independently, drawing on support and advice as required.
• Highly confident in presenting and strategically communicating to senior government officials and other influential stakeholders.
• Strong representational skills and adept at building relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Highly developed written and verbal skills, and the ability to present information clearly and effectively to a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Highly developed cross cultural and interpersonal skills, and an ability to build collaborative networks and influence people and outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion.

Desirable

• Experience working on adaptive/ shock-responsive social protection.
• Experience working in the Pacific.

Ability to understand and easily communicate complex concepts related to poverty measurement, targeting, and the impacts of social protection.

How to Apply

We invite interested candidates to please apply for this position by clicking the Apply Now button below and following the prompts to upload their CV and brief Cover Letter describing your skills and experience to the selection criteria (no more than 3 pages).

Enquiries

Queries on this position can be directed to: [email protected].