About the Program 

A stable, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient PNG is critical to Australia's interests. Australia is PNG's largest development partner, its main partner on economic and security issues. 

The Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP) is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including: Bougainville Partnership (BP), Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP), and the Western Province Partnership (WPP). Each program has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems. 

The APSP also includes the Subnational Governance Implementation Plan (SGIP) that proposes a scalable foundational delivery model of subnational engagement. The SGIP is referenced in the APSP Contract and Strategic Framework as the continuation of the current network of subnational advisers (SNA) in the Western Province, Highlands, Sepik’s and Morobe.

There are five high level objectives which span all APSP programs:

• Output one: Effective gender-centred programs delivered for Bougainville, Kokoda, and Western Province
• Output two: Support DFAT to coordinate Australian inputs in selected subnational contexts.
• Output three: Technical assistance targeted at key institutions and policy reforms.
• Output four: Rapid programming of resources in support of DFAT priorities.
• Output five: Analysis, learning, and adaptation.

Managed by Abt Global under a single contract from 2022 to 2026 and guided by the APSP Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) the centralised approach is aimed to ensure and drive value for money by realising back-office efficiencies, ensure gender is consistently at the forefront of each program and deliver opportunities for learning and adaptation between programs.

About the Program Activity

The Western Province Partnership (WPP) is a component of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Subnational Program (APSP). The objective of the WPP is for Australia and Western Province foster stronger ties and greater coordination to improve human and economic development, enabling infrastructure and regional security.

The WPP will work toward the realisation of the following end of program outcomes (EOPO) by 2026:

1. Women and men participating in program activities have diversified livelihoods from agriculture and fisheries.
2. Improved community governance strengthens welfare, production, and resilience in targeted communities.
3. Women contribute to decision-making and take on leadership roles in targeted provincial, district, and community structures.
4. Policy and practice at provincial and district levels supports delivery of minimum priority services. 

The WPP is nested under the PNG-Australia Western Province Strategy which aims to unify Australia’s development assistance and captures Australia’s whole-of-government engagement in Western Province.

About the Opportunity

The MERLA Officer will assist the MERLA Manager and MERLA team to implement the MERLA Plan and MERLA related activities including field monitoring, conducting evaluations and researches, program reviews and reporting of the WPP program in accordance with the program design, the Development Results Framework and program logic. He/she will also support in collecting evidence for the key policy priorities, especially Gender, Disability, Governance, Climate change.

The MERLA Officer will support processes that build upon the WPP Results Framework and develop and work with the WPP team to extend relevant baseline information, improve WPP monitoring and evaluation systems, processes and tools, and strengthen a culture of learning within the partnership. The MERLA Officer will mainly support field monitoring, data quality assessment, implementing partner monitoring, quality and validity of program reports and performance data and support the delivery of evidence-based reporting.

A key function of the position will be the demonstration of a visible and systematic commitment to achieving the key policy priorities at Abt including Gender equality, Diversity, Governance, and Climate Changes performance objectives.

About You 

For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided. 

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications (bachelor’s degree) in monitoring and evaluation, project management, public policy, development or relevant field (statistics, economics, agriculture, demography, etc)

Knowledge 

• Theoretical understanding of MERLA, with the ability to translate theory into practice and deliver evidence-based reporting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management principles and methodology. 

Skills/Experience 

• Demonstrated 3 years’ experience in performing MERLA (or similar) activities across large and complex politically sensitive environments in PNG.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective teams collaborate and influence others, especially in a cross-cultural context.
• Demonstrated analytical skills, preferably with IT skills in excel.
• Strong written communication skills with demonstrated experience preparing high quality reports and professional documents for senior and executive audiences.
• Ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders to collect, clarify, collate and share data.
• Effective time management, with proven delivery of activities and reports on schedule.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate and promote principles of gender equity and social inclusion in all aspects of this role including in program design, implementation and evaluation.

Personal Attributes 

• Delivers Results
• Builds Internal and External Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
• Develops People
• Sets Vision and Direction
• Demonstrates Sound Financial and Business-Related Practices
• Builds Teams and Cooperation
• Promotes Technical Excellence and Quality
• Promotes Diversity
• Acts as a Role Model

For more information on the role and how to apply, please click on ‘GO TO PROVIDER WEBSITE’