Overseas Work
Since 1989, we have completed a wide range of overseas projects for the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Asia Development Bank. In recent years, much of our overseas work has involved establishing systems to manage the social impacts of redundancies resulting from public sector restructuring. Countries we have worked in include the Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Niue, and Tuvalu.
Examples
Completion of the second report on the Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) exercise in Tuvalu.
This project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was established to measure the effects of an Island Development Programme (IDP) on the quality of life in Tuvalu over a six year period. Input involves designing survey tools, training a team of local researchers to collect the data every second year, analysing the data collected and preparing a "state of the country" report with input from key individuals in Tuvalu.
Conservation Project Review, Samoa
Review of a Division of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Support Project in Samoa. The team assessed whether the objectives of the project had been achieved and recommended possible future directions for the DEC. This project was undertaken for the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Technical Assistance – Public Sector Reform, Solomon Islands
Providing technical assistance to the Solomon Islands Public Sector Reform Programme. Responsibilities included overseeing the establishment and operation of the Transition Services Unit, and providing advice to the Solomon Islands Government and donor agencies on technical and social issues involved with the reform of the public service. This involved two-monthly visits to the Solomon Islands to establish systems, develop programmes, train and supervise TSU staff and agents in all the provinces, and to liaise with representatives of the private sector, NGO communities, public servants, Government Ministers and other donor organisations. (Undertaken for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.)
Social and Gender Impacts – Comprehensive Reform Programme, Vanuatu
Project management of a team of three contracted to design structures and systems to monitor and manage the social and gender impacts of the Comprehensive Reform Programme (CRP) in Vanuatu. The report included social indicators and monitoring mechanisms for the public sector reforms, including tax systems, health and education systems, and small business development. It included recommendations for the involvement of women in the CRP, and the management of impacts on women, youth and those made redundant from the public service.
Social Impact Assessment – Economic Reforms, Cook Islands
A community-based social impact assessment of the first year of the economic reforms in the Cook Islands. This involved training a group of public servants in the practice of social impact assessment and the development and administration of questionnaires; supervising the collection of data in Rarotonga and the Outer Islands; analysing the data; and reviewing the findings in consultation with the local people.
Technical Assistance – Public Sector Reform, Cook Islands
Assisting the Cook Islands Government in establishing structures, policies and programmes for managing the transition of surplus public servants into private sector employment. These measures included a small business advisory service with enterprise loans and grants, an employment service, skills training, and a subsidised wage scheme. A Community Action Programme was also established to mobilise the communities on Rarotonga and the Outer Islands to help manage the impacts of the economic reforms. (Undertaken for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.)
Conservation Field Manual, IUCN
Contracted to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Switzerland to complete a manual for field workers on processes and techniques for involving communities in planning, implementing and monitoring conservation initiatives. This manual was translated into three languages and is available to conservation organisations world-wide (entitled Beyond Fences: Seeking Social Sustainability in Conservation).
Rural Skills Training Programme, Vanuatu
Development of a rural skills training programme in Vanuatu for the NZ Ministry of External Relations and Trade, based on local decision making and barefoot teachers. This involved three weeks of field work, consulting with local authority staff, community groups and government officials in Port Vila, Epi, Santo, Malo and Paama.
Other Overseas Work:
1995-96
Contracted to RAMSAR (the International Wetlands Convention) to prepare a background paper for their Brisbane conference (March 1996) on involving communities in the management of wetlands, and to prepare and present the keynote address on behalf of the secretary general.
1991
Project manager for an evaluation of development projects implemented by non-government organisations in Tonga. This work was undertaken for the NZ Ministry of External Relations and Trade and involved two weeks of field work. The evaluation highlighted the importance of involving all stakeholders in project decision-making and implementation. Report titled: VASS-Funded Projects in Tonga. Evaluation.
1990
Organising, on behalf of Ministry of External Relations and Trade, a study tour of small business and community development projects in New Zealand for a Ministerial delegation from Niue. This involved identifying projects appropriate to the Niuean context, organising the community presentations to the Niuean delegation and accompanying the delegation throughout their two-week tour. The purpose of the study tour was to identify opportunities for increasing the economic independence of Niue and to develop a plan of action for the Niuean Government.
A privately funded tour of Montreal, Paris and the Netherlands which included interviews with a variety of individuals and organisations working in the fields of business start-up support services, social policy research and development, and community development.
1989
Consultant to the Canberra-based Interim Territory Planning Authority (ITPA) on the theory, methodologies and practice of social impact assessment during the development stages of their resource management legislation. The ITPA is the planning department of the independent state government of the Capital Territory.