Program Overview:    

FPSP, also referred to as the ‘Platform’, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment, will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the 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 gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs.

The Platform has three functional Outcomes: 

1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.
2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality, disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies.
3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance, and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

The Platform implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.   

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sector programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted populations including those who are often marginalised. 

AFEP Overview:

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s education sector through the Australia Fiji Education Program (AFEP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Education (MoE). 

The objective of the AFEP is “to work with the Government of Fiji under the Vuvale Partnership to catalyse quality education delivery for all Fijian children”. 

The changes expected by the end of the five-year program are: 

• EOPO 1: Schools, particularly trial schools, have improved student literacy and numeracy outcomes, supported by enabling policies, plans and data from the Ministry of Education. 
• EOPO 2: Heads of schools and teachers, supported by enabling policies and data from the Ministry of Education, provide a safe, resilient and inclusive learning environment for all students, particularly in trial schools. 

Four intermediate outcomes will provide pathways to meet these end of program outcomes in priority areas, like implementation of the revised literacy and numeracy curriculum in primary and secondary schools, professional development interventions, analysis and improvement of the Fiji Education Management Information System (FEMIS), as well as GEDSI and student wellbeing.  

The funding for the program is approximately AUD45 million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend for a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities to achieve the program’s objectives. Implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs). 

Position Summary:   

The Teaching and Learning Specialist will oversee and guide, in close coordination with MoE CAS and LDU and DFAT, the planning and delivery of AFEP technical support on curriculum review, refinement and implementation, and teacher professional development, including supervision of AFEP curriculum  staff and consultants.

Key Responsibilities:

• Through collaboration with AFEP team, maintain cohesion of support to strengthen MoE systems for inclusive teaching and learning. Support the AFEP technical teams especially curriculum staff with integrated planning and delivery of program support activities in line with MoE priorities, and regular evaluation, reflection and learning processes to inform continuous improvement.
• Work closely with the AFEP Senior Manager, Education System Strengthening, to ensure that program support activities are designed and delivered in ways that sustainably strengthen MoE systems, policies and processes.
• Coordinate AFEP support to MoE on:
• the review and revision of primary literacy and numeracy and secondary English and maths curricula, and support for their implementation at school level assisted by AFEP coaches.
• support for the implementation and institutionalisation of MoE school and cluster level Professional Learning Communities and Networks for ongoing peer-led teacher professional development.
• work with the GEDSI Specialist to provide support to MoE (CAS and LDU) to review and improve systems, policies and plans for teacher and school leader professional development, to contribute to improved teaching and learning. [This may include support to develop and implement a new Teacher Competency Framework.]
• Working with the GEDSI Specialist to ensure cross cutting priorities of gender equality, disability equity, social inclusion, child protection and climate and disaster resilience are meaningfully integrated into AFEP teaching and learning support activities.
• Line manage the curriculum Coordinators on a day-to-day basis, including reviewing timesheets and leave forms, monitoring performance and ensuring they are effectively supported.
• Any other tasks relevant to the Program as required by the Team Leader Education

Key Working Relationships:

• The role will remain accountable on a day-to-day basis to the AFEP Team Leader. 
• The role will indirectly report to the Senior Manger Education Systems Strengthening.
• The role will maintain direct working relationships with relevant senior counterparts from MoE, including CAS and LDU staff.

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

• An advanced degree in Education, International Development or other relevant field – or equivalent professional experience.

Experience

• Experience as a teacher (primary or secondary)
• Demonstrated capacity to plan and oversee delivery of high quality and effective strategies to strengthen systems for teaching and learning.
• Experience building working relationships with government counterparts and university and civil society partners.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and manage a team of technical specialists.
• Proven experience helping implement practical and effective gender equality, disability equity and social inclusion approaches. 

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience in the Fiji education system. 
• Advanced knowledge in the development and application of system-wide strategies and processes to improve classroom teaching and learning. 
• Comprehensive understanding of teaching and learning for children across a variety of year levels and with diverse learning needs. 
• Demonstrated understanding of how to work in a child safe environment. 
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and the capacity to meaningfully integrate crosscutting themes into program activities, including gender equity, violence against women and girls, people with disabilities, child protection, and climate and disaster resilience. 

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About the Team
Abt is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation & Energy. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3000 staff in over 50 countries.