Policy Adviser

• Short Term Adviser: Sep 2025 – Sep 2026 (up to 90 days in the term)
• Suva, Fiji and remote

FPSP, also referred to as the 'Platform', is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment, contributing to Fiji's national development priorities in line with Australia's International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan.

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and GEDSI (gender equality, disability and social inclusion) across and beyond sector programs.

The Platform has three functional Outcomes:

• The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including support for strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.
• The Platform has prioritised GEDSI, climate action, and resilience, in its systems and practices, including how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies.
• The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is value-for-money, maximises local supply chains, and supports good governance, public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

The objective of the GEDSI Program is to work together under the Vuvale Partnership to advance Fiji's commitments on gender equality, disability equity and social inclusion.

The GEDSI Program aims to achieve two End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs):

• EOPO 1: Select ministries are mainstreaming GEDSI in policy, programs and budgets; and
• EOPO 2: Strengthened service delivery and public education for the prevention of violence against women and girls.

The GEDSI Program will be situated within the Platform's governance and management arrangements, communications protocols, and approaches to monitoring, evaluation and learning. The Platform's core personnel include the "Cross-Cutting Priorities Hub", which comprises technical staffing to support the Platform's effective integration of GEDSI and climate change. The Cross-Cutting Priorities Hub team will oversee the implementation, day-to-day management and operations of the GEDSI Program.

Lead consultation, review and preparation of revised National Ageing Policy through:

• Review of existing policy
• Conduct situational and stakeholder analyses of ageing and the elderly in Fiji
• Consult with and build capacity of key stakeholders
• Draft policy aligned with international standards appropriate to local context
• Submit revised National Ageing Policy with Implementation Plan for government approval

The National Ageing Policy was designed through a partnership with the UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office. Fiji's population is ageing, with projections indicating growth from 69,000 (8% of the population) in 2010 to 170,500 (17%) by 2050. The oldest age group is also expected to increase substantially.

Fiji Bureau of Statistics data shows the female older population represented 53.8% of the older population in 2017, up from 52.3% in 2007. The male proportion declined over the same period. The proportion of older people in the population increased by 21.8% from 2007 to 2017.

The Ageing Policy goals concern the inclusion of older people in the community and family affairs, their health and welfare, and their ability to support themselves within the community. The policy recognises:

• Older persons deserve to live with dignity and to have their human rights realised
• Older persons should be supported in their communities and homes as long as possible
• Ageing is a normal part of the lifecycle
• Population ageing should be understood holistically and mainstreamed within all social and economic development plans
• Traditional customs, institutions and arrangements
• National poverty cannot be reduced unless poverty is alleviated amongst older persons
• Families and caregivers need support
• Particular attention to older women, who comprise a larger proportion of the older population and are more likely to be widowed, neglected and poor

Under direct supervision of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection (MWCSP) Permanent Secretary, and with support from the Chief Executive Officer – National Council for Older Persons (NCOP), the Adviser is expected to undertake the following tasks:

Phase 1: Research and Engagement

• Conduct a situational analysis on ageing and the elderly population in Fiji
• Review existing data and social protection initiatives and identify key stakeholders
• Coordinate with policy stakeholders, including government and civil society actors
• Support technical capacity building for MWCSP staff, NCOP members and sectoral stakeholders
• Identify FBoS national surveys and include older persons issues in all FBoS surveys, including national census
• Document and profile existing social protection programs targeted at older persons
• Prepare a request to the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) for data on coverage of social benefits
• Compile resource materials to assess living conditions of the elderly
• Review status of elderly population in institutional care

Phase 2: Consultation and drafting of Policy

• Assist NCOP in understanding and interpreting international ageing strategies and adapt them to Fiji's context
• Participate in NCOP meetings and lead policy dialogue with stakeholders
• Facilitate development of a revised policy framework for Fiji that incorporates international guidelines and stakeholder inputs
• Review potential social protection arrangements for the elderly
• Conduct simulation studies on options for a universal social pension in Fiji
• Identify capacity building needs for key ministries
• Liaise with multilateral agencies for additional technical support
• Draft Fiji's revised Policy on Ageing based on research and consultations

Key Deliverables

• Draft Situational Analysis presented for feedback and review
• Final situational analysis, amended with feedback
• Consultation plan presented for review and endorsement
• Draft Policy on Ageing presented for feedback and review
• Final Policy on Ageing endorsed by the MWCSP Permanent Secretary

Key Working Relationships

Reporting to:

• Adviser reports directly to the MWCSP Permanent Secretary
• Adviser will engage with MWCSP Principal Welfare Officer for day-to-day management
• Indirect report to FPSP Cross Cutting Priorities Lead

Other

• Other teams with MWCSP and other relevant Ministries
• UNFPA and other multilateral agencies, such as WHO
• DFAT
• Other partners

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Demography, Social Work, Social Policy, Social Gerontology or equivalent professional experience
• 7 to 10 years professional experience in social policy, preferably in Ageing Policy and working with Indigenous Populations

Skills and Experience

• 7 to 10 years professional experience in social policy, preferably in Ageing Policy and working with Indigenous Populations
• Professional experience in demographic data collection and analysis, preferably in a developing country
• Policy formulation experience in the Pacific region
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and an up-to-date comprehensive CV.

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