vsa assignment management - vsa.org.nz · page 1 / vsa assignment description ... final appointment...

/ VSA Assignment Description

VSA Assignment Description

Assignment title Investment Adviser

Country Vanuatu

Location Lakatoro, Malekula

Partner organisation Malampa Provincial Government Council Sustainable Development Goals

Duration One year

41080

1. Assignment goal The Malampa Provincial Government Council (MPGC) has an appropriate investment policy, implementation plan and bylaws that will provide a framework for guiding investment in Malampa province.

2. Assignment outcomes Outcome 1

The MPGC has an agreed investment policy and implementation plan. Outputs

Work with the Provincial Investment Officer to:

Review relevant government strategies, including the provincial corporate plan, and the national sustainable development plan, and other policies and bylaws of other provinces to feed into the investment policy

Carry out consultation meetings with stakeholders including area councils and community leaders to inform the development of the investment policy, implementation plan and subsequent bylaws

Map resources1 available in the province to inform the development of the investment policy

Present draft investment policy and implementation plan to the MPGC for approval

Outcome 2 The MPGC has bylaws to guide the work of investors, derived from the investment policy. Outputs Work with the Provincial Investment Officer to:

Review relevant government laws and policies

Present draft investment bylaws to the Provincial Government Council for approval

1 Resources such as retail shops, industries/factories especially manufacturing products such as Nuts & Oil, coconut oil, copra, cocoa, handicrafts, tourism and also famers especially in cattle farming

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/economic-growth/

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/cities/


Outcome 3 MPGC staff understand and are able to implement and enforce the investment policy, implementation plan and accompanying bylaws. Outputs Alongside the Provincial Investment Officer and other planning staff:

Ensure that copies of the investment policy and bylaws are produced and distributed amongst relevant provincial government officers

Conduct training for all relevant government staff

3. Reporting and working relationships The volunteer will work with investment officer, planner, and project officer. Their roles are to look at policies, bylaws, and planning for the province. All three staff and the volunteer will work under the planning unit and report to the Secretary-General. These officers will participate in all processes involved in the development of the investment policy and bylaws. The volunteer and the MPGC will have an ongoing relationship with the VSA programme manager in terms of assignment monitoring, reporting, professional advice and personal support.

4. Capacity building The volunteer will work closely with planning unit staff and in particular the Investment Officer. Training will be given to relevant MPGC staff and the volunteer will liaise with the extension officers working in other parts of the provincial government under particular sector priority areas (e.g. agriculture) to build their understanding of their role in the planning and bylaw enforcement process.

5. Person specifications (professional) Essential

Strong experience working in planning or investment, ideally in a government context

Strong knowledge and understanding of investment business and financial planning concepts

Knowledge and understanding of how bylaws are established and implemented

Experience reviewing, drafting and facilitating the implementation of policies

Clear and well-articulated written and verbal communication skills

6. Person specifications (personal)

Essential

Willingness to work in a challenging rural environment with limited resources

Willingness to learn Bislama

Excellent communications skills and a participatory approach to working with others

An interest in working with Ni-Vanuatu and learning about local culture

Ability to work with people with varying educational backgrounds

As needs on the ground may change over time, the volunteer is encouraged to review and update the assignment description on arrival in consultation with the partner organisation and VSA programme manager.


Additional information Residency status VSA volunteers must be New Zealand citizens or have New Zealand permanent residency status, and currently living in NZ.

Partner organisation The volunteer's partner organisation will be Malampa Provincial Government Council.

Pre-departure briefing As part of the volunteer’s contract, successful candidates will be required to take part in a pre-departure briefing course run by VSA in Wellington and complete all required pre-reading.

Final appointment Final appointment will be subject to satisfactory medical and immigration clearances (costs covered by VSA), partner organisation acceptance, and successful completion of the pre-departure briefing course.

Family status VSA supports partners to accompany volunteers on assignments of six months or longer. However, volunteers with accompanying dependents will not be considered for this assignment.

Fundraising Volunteers are encouraged to fundraise at least $2000 with the support of VSA’s fundraising team. Accompanying partners are encouraged to raise the same amount. All funds raised will help VSA keep its programmes in action and support future volunteers.

Vaccination requirements Potential volunteers are advised that VSA’s insurers require volunteers to be inoculated, prior to departure, in accordance with the instructions of VSA’s medical adviser. VSA covers the cost of any required vaccinations. Volunteer package The volunteer’s package includes the following:

Reimbursements and grants 1. Volunteers will receive an establishment grant of NZ$1000 to help them set up in their country of assignment.

For volunteers with an accompanying partner (whether or not that partner is also a VSA volunteer), VSA will pay an establishment grant of NZ$1,500 per couple.

2. For two year assignments, the volunteer will receive a rest and respite grant of NZ$1000 on completion of the first year.

3. A resettlement grant of NZ$250 will be paid for each month the volunteer is on assignment, for up to a maximum of 24 months. This is payable on completion of the assignment.

4. The volunteer will receive a monthly living allowance of VUV 105,990.

5. A location grant of $500 will be paid each 6 months

Accommodation Basic, comfortable furnished accommodation will be sourced by VSA.

Airfares and baggage allowance VSA will provide the volunteer with economy airfares to and from New Zealand for their assignment plus a baggage allowance.

Insurance VSA will provide travel insurance to cover baggage and personal property, and non-routine medical expenses for the duration of the assignment. Further details of the insurance cover will be provided during the volunteer pre-departure briefing.

Utilities


VSA will reimburse volunteers reasonable expenses for household utilities while on assignment.

Attachments Appendix 1: Background to the assignment Appendix 2: Living situation Appendix 3: Vanuatu

Final terms and conditions relating to the specific volunteer assignment will be confirmed in a personalised volunteer contract prior to departure.


Appendix 1: Background to the Assignment Assignment focus

The Malampa Provincial Government Council (MPGC) aims to promote economic growth, motivated by business and employment opportunities, by putting in place a plan and associated bylaws to help attract both local and foreign investors to set up businesses in Lakatoro and the wider Malampa Province. The MPGC is developing a corporate plan (this is an overall plan for the province) for the next 5 years which will guide the development of policies for different sectors. This assignment has been requested to assist with the development of the Provincial Investment Policy (derived from the corporate plan) including an implementation plan and bylaws that will translate into a framework for guiding investors, allowing the MPGC to directly and efficiently manage investment in the province The Investment sector plays a vital role in planning and coordinating investment activities within Malampa Province. Malampa province is currently experiencing rapid growth given the new investments that are making use of available resources to establish their operations in the province. Lakatoro, where the provincial headquarters is situated, has grown into a Municipal town and is attracting more local and foreign investors. It is therefore crucial for the MPGC to have a framework for managing the development of these activities within the province. The provincial government is focusing on investment activities such as retail shops, industries/factories especially manufacturing products such as Nuts & Oil, coconut oil, copra, cocoa, handicrafts, tourism and also farmers, particularly in cattle farming. Malampa Provincial Government Council The Malekula local government was established in 1982 two years after Vanuatu gained independence. In 1984, after the adoption of the decentralisation law, Malekula local government was merged with Ambrym and Paama local governments to establish the Malampa Provincial Government Council. The Malampa province is headed by the Secretary-General (SG) who is appointed by the Public Service Commission under the Decentralisation Act. The SG acts as the executive officer of the province mandated with the duties to execute all decisions made by the Provincial Government. The province has 21 councillors elected to the council through provincial elections, the council is mandated under the Decentralisation Act to make decisions relating to the running and management of provincial affairs. The council is headed by an executive cabinet comprising of the President, Vice-president, the second vice president and four other council members. At the administrative level, the SG oversees different sectors managed by officers who are mandated to carry out development activities within the province. Some of the key sectors include the investment sector, planning, development projects, and the Area Council Development Offices (ACDO). Purpose The province’s goal is to prompt economic growth motivated by business and employment opportunities. The Provincial Administration aims:

To build up the skills/capacity of the whole staff through training and exposure.

To focus on the management of human resources. a) Staffing policy. b) Teamwork building, discipline and self-discipline, sports facilities. c) Professionalism, accountability, rewards and sanctions, salaries.

To improve the work environment - building, offices, equipment, furniture, water supply.

To improve the communication system and the communication skills.

To improve the internal organisation and procedures, especially planning and monitoring and evaluation.

To increase internal and external revenues and contain costs. o Putting in place investment policies and bylaws as a legal base for strengthening revenue

collection. o Build capacity of enforcement officers to help facilitate effective revenue collection in order to

boost the provincial budget.


o Develop and adopt an investment plan to attract both local and foreign investors to set up businesses in Lakatoro and Malampa Province in general.

o To help build the capacity of the provincial investment office to adopt and carry out the investment policies and bylaws.

Working situation

The office is located in the provincial headquarters in Lakatoro. There are shops nearby, and the volunteer will also live in the provincial grounds. The house and office are close to the Police station. The Hospital is about a 20-minute drive away. The volunteer will share an office with the investment officer and have access to a fan, a chair and a desk. The volunteer will need to bring their own computer.


Appendix 2: Living Situation Malekula

Malekula (Malakula in Bislama) is the second largest island in Vanuatu and while ‘Christianised’, continues to be steeped in custom and tradition. 28 different languages are spoken on the island. Malekula is renowned for its two distinct cultural groups, the Big Nambas from the north-west and the Small Nambas from the south (the ‘big’ and ‘small’ refers to the size of the ‘nambas’ or penis sheaths). Some of the country’s finest art comes from here - clay heads, puppets, tall head-dresses, masks and sand drawings. Malakula and Ambrym are especially known for the beauty of their carvings and the richness in culture. Malekula's economy is largely based on agriculture with extensive copra and cocoa plantations on the eastern coastal plains around Norsup and Lakatoro. Lakatoro and Norsup

Lakatoro is the administrative centre for the Malampa Province. VSA will provide basic furnished accommodation in Lakatoro or nearby. Accommodation in the area is very simple, often combining local and permanent materials. The house will have solar power and cold running water. Windows and doors will be fly/mosquito screened. Living in rural Vanuatu can be noisy, dogs, in particular, take a bit of getting used to at night. Pack earplugs if you are a light sleeper! Apart from the government offices, there is also a fresh produce market, several trade stores, bank (National Bank of Vanuatu), Air Vanuatu office, post office, cultural centre, wharf and Unelco Electricity Supply Office in the town. Five kilometres from Lakatoro is Norsup, where the Provincial Education Office and Provincial Hospital for Malekula, Ambrym, Paama and other smaller surrounding islands are based. Both Norsup and Lakatoro have telephones and 24-hour electricity. Lakatoro has a multi-purpose store called Lakatoro Consumer Co-op that has a range of imported goods ranging from food products to hardware. Food items available include long life milk, pasta, beer and a range of canned and bottled products, and fresh bread. The market at Lakatoro operates daily during the week and sells a range of fresh fruit and vegetables. Crabs feature amongst the produce for sale. Adjacent to the market is food stalls where cheap local meals can be bought. There is also a recently opened meat and a fish store selling local produce next to the main market. Mobile phone services are available through two providers – Telecom Vanuatu Ltd (TVL) and Digicel. There are no restaurants, pubs, or hotels There is a sealed airstrip at Norsup and flights go daily to either Port Vila or Luganville. It is a short 15-minute flight to Luganville, Santo where the VSA office is based. There is plenty of transport between Norsup and Lakatoro weekdays and a one way trip on the back of a utility truck is inexpensive. Transport can be difficult to find on the weekends. The road between the towns is unsealed but is suitable for cycling. There are a very small number of expatriates in the area, mainly volunteers and a few plantation managers (mostly French). In such a small place, a new arrival becomes quickly known! Leisure activities in and around the town including, football, swimming, snorkelling, tramping/walking. There is a good swimming beach (Aop) by the airport at Norsup, which is also good for snorkelling. Parts of East Coast Malekula do have sharks, but locals will let you know where it is safe to swim. All areas outside of Port Vila experience problems with malaria. The volunteer will be required to take malarial prevention medication while on assignment. The climate is superb for about eight months of the year (from about April to November), warm to hot dry days, and cool evenings. The other four months are very hot and humid with temperatures ranging from a low of 25° to a high of 34°. Most New Zealanders find these months a bit of a trial.


Appendix 3: Vanuatu

Vanuatu comprises 86 islands, stretching in a Y-shaped archipelago

from the east of New Caledonia to just below the southern-most

islands of the Solomon Islands. Prior to independence in 1980, the

New Hebrides, as Vanuatu was then known, was jointly ruled by

Britain and France. The joint administration has left Vanuatu with a

complex political and administrative legacy and this complexity is

enhanced by the diversity of Vanuatu's culture and language. The

politics of Vanuatu since 1980 have been very lively, with the initial

post-independence stability giving way more recently to a series of

coalition governments which have, at various times, crossed the

Francophone/Anglophone divide.

Vanuatu has a population of 221,552 (called ni-Vanuatu, or of

Vanuatu) who live on approximately 80 of the country's 86 islands.

There are 81 languages actively spoken, and a nationally spoken

Pidgin called Bislama, which is spoken by about 60% of the

population. French and English are the official languages, Bislama the

national language.

The climate is generally hot and humid although in winter the

evenings can be cool. Temperatures range from 21 to 32 degrees. The

rainy season is January to March. Most New Zealanders will find the

climate very agreeable most of the time, although somewhat humid

in the wet season.

For more information on Vanuatu, see:

Government of Vanuatu website:

https://governmentofvanuatu.gov.vu/

Economic overview:

http://data.worldbank.org/country/vanuatu

New Zealand Aid Programme in Vanuatu:

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/our-work-in-the-pacific/vanuatu/

VSA in Vanuatu

VSA has been working in Vanuatu since 1965. Our volunteers work in five out of Vanuatu’s six provinces. They are

helping to strengthen economic development, develop education, contribute to disaster risk reduction, correctional

services and disability rights. VSA has a field office in Luganville staffed by a Programme Manager and a Country

Programme Officer.

General Security

Volunteers are required to be security conscious and adhere to the advice of their partner organisations, VSA, and

the NZ High Commission in Port Vila on security matters. If there is a major emergency or should security

deteriorate, VSA has established emergency procedures and volunteers will be fully supported by the field staff in

Luganville. The VSA field staff will go through the ground security measures with the volunteer on arrival in country

and develop an individual security plan.

It remains good practice to secure belongings and valuables out of sight, not move about alone at night and avoid

demonstrations, street rallies and public gatherings.

Map courtesy of wikipedia.org

https://governmentofvanuatu.gov.vu/

http://data.worldbank.org/country/vanuatu



vsa assignment management - vsa.org.nz · page 1 / vsa assignment description ... final appointment...

Documents