International consultant to support the Review of the Vanuatu Cooperatives Societies Act

Job Description

The Office of the Registrar of Cooperatives and Business Development Services (ORCBDS) at the Ministry of Trade, Tourism, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business is seeking the services of an international consultant. Cooperatives are extremely important in Vanuatu, with the most recent audit revealing that there are 327 of them, including 49% of which are savings and loans. However, the current legislation is of insufficient standard for the current environment, and so the ORCBDS is seeking to update the legislation, including updating it in line with the recently launched National Cooperatives Policy, as well as other Government Policies, including the National Sustainable Development Policy.

The consultant will support the review of the Cooperatives Societies Act (CAP 152). There will be two missions – the first, of twenty working days, where the consultant will draft a situational analysis and a concept note for the review. The national consultant will then validate the concept note before the international consultant will return for a further thirty working days to support the review and drafting of the legislation. There will then be five further working days remotely to finalize all feedback.

The successful applicant will possess the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

Education

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Cooperative Laws, Economics or a relevant discipline, business, management, agribusiness. Alternatively, a bachelor degree in a relevant field with additional 8 years of relevant experience.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience with legal drafting background of cooperatives either as a manager or advisor. Or alternatively, a demonstrably relevant experience.
• Experience in Cooperative/ Business Laws and chain development
• Demonstrated competency in government planning, with experience in legal drafting and facilitation of corporate planning preferably related to cooperative development
• At least 3 years in a developing country context, preferably in the Pacific.
• Experience interfacing with the private and public sector at various levels.

Language skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.

The assignment will be based in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

About the Organization

The Office of the Registrar of Cooperatives and Business Development Services (ORCBDS) is Department under the Ministry of Trade, Tourism, commerce, and Ni – Vanuatu business. Its vision is to support the creation of sustainable, inclusive, owned and controlled cooperative business network for the social and economic benefit of members and for the nation of Vanuatu. Other services that the ORCBDS provides are;

Education

Cooperative provides education and training to members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative.

Cooperation

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structure.

Community

While focusing on member’s needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.