• Assignment name: Senior/Social Protection Specialist (Fiji)
• Commence date: 1 October 2023
• Completion date: 30 September 2024 (with a possibility of 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. 

Introduction

P4SP has recently completed a comprehensive review of Fiji’s social assistance system to inform the Ministry of Women Children and Poverty Alleviation (MWCPA)’s broader social assistance reform. As a part of this review, P4SP presented a set of detailed recommendations, with the objectives of:

• Enhancing the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the country’s six key social assistance schemes.
• Establishing a framework for developing an integrated beneficiary management system (MIS) to support program implementation.
• Strengthening the broader social assistance system through greater coverage of vulnerable groups (e.g. children).

The review and recommendations have been well-received by MWCPA colleagues and will guide key priorities for Fiji’s broader social assistance reform. P4SP is now recruiting a Senior/Social Protection Specialist to be based within the MWCPA and help the Ministry take forward these priorities and the implementation of the reform.

Background to the assignment

The MWCPA, Government of Fiji, has outlined an ambitious package of reforms for their social assistance programs. The focus of the reform agenda is on strengthening program efficiency and effectiveness, in alignment with the national Social Assistance Policy (2021), across six major social assistance benefits administered by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW). These include the Poverty Benefit Scheme (PBS), Social Pension Scheme (SPS), Care & Protection Allowance (C&P), Disability Allowance Scheme (DAS), and, to a lesser extent, the Bus Fare Concession program (BFC) and Expanded Food Voucher for Rural Pregnant Mothers (EFVRPM). The PBS and C&P are supplemented by the Food Voucher Program.

Based on MWCPA’s reform priorities, and through close dialogue between the Ministry and DFAT Suva Post, Partnerships for Social Protection (P4SP) were approached to provide technical assistance to DSW in a phased manner. The first phase of this support comprised a technical review of these six social assistance schemes, as well as analysis on the performance of these schemes regarding targeting effectiveness, coverage, and impacts on poverty reduction. The findings and recommendations from the review are expected to inform the next phase of technical assistance, focusing primarily on implementation support, but also working with MWCPA to undertake more detailed analysis and discussions to take forward some of the policy recommendations presented in the review.

As a part of the second phase of support, P4SP has been requested to recruit a Senior/Social Protection Specialist to support MWCPA to implement key priorities of the social assistance reform, which include:

• Agreeing on operational revisions to ensure greater harmonisation across schemes and revising the SOPs in line with these revisions.
• Implementing these operational reforms, including the development of communications strategies and refining M&E indicators and tools.
• Developing an integrated beneficiary management system to ensure that DSW staff have a 360-degree view of beneficiaries, including the status of applications, payments, grievances, etc.
• Considering broader policy reforms that would ensure greater coverage of children; more effective targeting performance; and an MIS system that enables quick response to shocks.

Purpose of the assignment

The key objective of this assignment is to support MWCPA to reform its social assistance schemes and systems so that they are more effective and efficient, both from the perspective of DSW staff and the program beneficiaries. Considering that current processes are all manual and beneficiary data is dispersed, there is also some urgency in developing an MIS solution that will automate processes and act as a central repository of beneficiary data.

Scope of the assignment

The Senior/Social Protection Specialist will be responsible for driving the following actions, managing technical inputs from a range of specialists as required to deliver on the following.

Output 1: Operational processes across the six schemes are streamlined and reflected within revised SOPs. This can be achieved through the following actions:

• Foster discussions within DSW and agree on harmonisation strategies to ensure that all SOPs follow similar processes and protocols.
• Support the revisions to the SOPs and program forms to reflect these changes.
• Communicate changes to DSW staff and ensure that they feel supported in implementing the revisions (also reflected in Output 4).

Output 2: The social assistance schemes are supported by strong communication and M&E strategies:

• Once the SOPs have been revised, work with DSW (and external consultants as required) to develop a communication strategy for the individual schemes, and the social assistance sector more broadly.
• Support the development of an M&E framework (in collaboration with the Poverty Monitoring Unit) to ensure that the implementation and impacts of the schemes are effectively monitored.
• Once endorsed, integrate the communications and M&E elements within the SOPs more broadly.

Output 3: A comprehensive, integrated, and robust management information system is developed and implemented. This can be supported through the following actions:

• Support MWCPA and P4SP with the MIS procurement process.
• Ensure that revised operational requirements are reflected within the MIS design.
• Play a supporting role in the MIS development and implementation.

Output 4: The various units within DSW have the capacity and confidence to implement the reforms, including through the following activities:

• Provide trainings and workshops as needed to ensure that DSW staff are confident in implementing the revised SOPs for the schemes.
• Use the MIS and monitoring data to help DSW staff reflect and refine program implementation on an ongoing basis.
• Review resourcing within the department to ensure that the SP reform is supported through adequate human resources and staffing.

Output 5: Government stakeholders (within MWCPA and outside) are well-versed on the review’s recommendations to strengthen the broader social assistance system and have been given the evidence required to consider these policy shifts.

• Convene discussions within MWCPA and other relevant ministries/stakeholders on the policy recommendations presented within the social assistance review.
• Work with P4SP staff and consultants to provide additional evidence to government stakeholders as required.

Other tasks related to this position:

• Maintain strong communication channels with DFAT High Commission in Fiji.
• Support coordination with other development partners, civil society organisations, and other government bodies as required.
• Ensure that gender, disability, and social inclusion remain at the forefront of all of the above outputs and activities.
• Support P4SP activities including planning, reporting and other engagements as required.

Reporting

The Senior/Social Protection Specialist will report to the National Coordinator, MWCPA for day-to-day management, and the P4SP Program Manager on all other matters.

Place of work

This position is based in Suva, Fiji, working from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Poverty Alleviation office.

Adherence to Development Pathways and P4SP Policies

During the assignment, the Senior/Social Protection Specialist 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 will be required to provide a police check(s)
• Referee checks will include questions on child safeguarding   

The successful candidate will be required to read, sign and adhere to the P4SP 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.

Essential

• An internationally recognised qualification in social policy, international development, economics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated social protection technical expertise (in particular, related to social protection operations and Management Information Systems development/implementation) and a thorough practical and conceptual understanding of social protection best practice.
• Demonstrated experience working with partner governments to implement social protection reforms in low-income settings.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically, analytically, and strategically, and offer creative, practical, and effective solutions and advice.
• Highly developed communication (written and verbal) 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

• Excellent representational and advocacy skills.
• Experience working in the Pacific

Due to the high number of applications expected, unfortunately only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as they can. High-quality applicants may be interviewed earlier than the closing date and we retain the right to close this role without notice.

A position description is attached.