Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Based in Suva, Fiji (some domestic travel may be required)
• Long Term Personnel to 30 June 2029 

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, GEDSI, 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.
    

Position Summary:    

The Cross Cutting Priorities (CCP) Hub is responsible for providing specialist GEDSI support across program teams to strengthen program performance in addressing gender equality and disability inclusion; for supporting GEDSI officers in partner Government of (GoF) agencies, administering a flexible fund for the provision of technical assistance to GoF agencies and manage technical, funding and operational support to deliver the Fiji National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. 

The Lead is a member of the Platform Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and is responsible for the effective delivery and performance of the Hub. They will drive meaningful cross-cutting approaches across the Platform-managed investments. The Lead will work in close collaboration with Abt partners Talanoa Consulting, Clear Horizon and Ninti One; and oversee Hub priorities including the development of GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan, the Climate and Disaster Resilience Strategy, Risk and Safeguarding Management Plan and the First Nations Engagement Framework and Implementation Plan.   

The Lead plays a crucial role in linking and integrating GEDSI, safeguarding, climate and disaster resilience (CDR), locally-led development (LLD) and indigenous engagement strategies across sector programs. 

Key Responsibilities: 

GEDSI 

• Oversee implementation of the FPSP GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan. 
• Oversee implementation of the Platform GEDSI Program Services Order.
• Ensure understanding of and alignment with relevant DFAT policy documents, including DFAT’s forthcoming International Gender Equality Strategy, International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, and other existing DFAT guidelines, tools and resources available to support sector-program work, including monitoring progress against any agreed gender and diversity targets.   
• Guide the participation of women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised or vulnerable groups in program activities. 
• Work with the Performance, Learning and Communications (PLC) Hub to ensure GEDSI outcomes, indicators and measures of progress / evaluation are identified and appropriate data collection is managed to inform MERL and annual work planning processes (at the Platform and sector program level). 
• Lead and support GEDSI integration (principles, minimum standards, deliverables) in all program activities and operational units including human resources, grants, operations and others. 
• Develop and support systems for senior management accountability for GEDSI programming and results.  
• Encourage recruitment, mentoring and professional development of staff from GEDSI and other under-represented groups to develop leadership skills. 

 Safeguarding 

• Lead the review and compliance of Risk and Safeguarding Management Plan. 
• Oversee the implementation of compliance strategies to mitigate safeguarding risks and ensure comprehensive child protection, PSEAH, environmental and social safeguarding, and fraud and corruption measures are implemented across the Platform. 
• Ensure understanding of, and alignment with relevant DFAT policy documents, including DFAT’s Environment and Social Safeguard Policy, Child Protection Policy, PSEAH Policy and Fraud and Corruption Policy.  
• Guide the completion of risk assessments and required corrective actions for program activities, including in downstream activities with sub-contracts and partners as per Abt risk management procedures. 
• Oversee the application of environmental safeguarding tools.  
• Conduct investigations and reporting of potential breaches of PSEAH, Child Protection and fraud and lead associated response, in accordance with Abt and DFAT policies. 

Climate and Disaster Resilience

• Oversee the implementation of the Platform CDR Strategy  
• Continuously work to strengthen integration of climate and disaster resilience across Platform and sector program activities. This includes active consideration of the climate-GEDSI nexus and the specific risks faced by marginalised and vulnerable groups.  
• Ensure understanding of and alignment with relevant DFAT policy documents, including DFAT’s International Aid Policy, and its Climate Change Action Strategy, and other existing DFAT guidelines, tools and resources available to support sector-program work, including monitoring progress against climate targets.   
• Work with the PLC Hub to ensure climate outcomes, indicators and measures of progress / evaluation are identified and appropriate data collection is managed to inform MERL and annual work planning processes. 
• Lead and support CDR mainstreaming in Platform and sector level programming and ensure these are implemented as per respective CDR Strategies and Annual Work Plans.  
• Ensure FPSP monitors the climate context and measures the results of climate change activities carried out by sector programs.  

Indigenous participation and engagement  

• Oversee FPSP partner, Ninti One and other specialist consultants’ implementation of the Platform-wide, First Nations Engagement Framework and Implementation Plan. 
• Continuously work to encourage meaningful engagement of First Nations Australians across Platform and sector program activities. 
• Guide the establishment of partnerships between Indigenous Fijian and Australian groups and peak bodies, with particular attention to elevating the voices and representation of indigenous women. This work should span conservation, health, arts, Indigenous languages, intellectual property, and sports sectors, in support of the priorities outlined in the Vuvale Partnership.  

General 

• Oversee communities of practice for GEDSI and safeguarding, climate change and disaster resilience to support their sustainability and evolution as required to keep them relevant, engaging and fit-for-purpose. 
• Build and foster productive relationships with external stakeholders, partners and grantees.  
• Track, mitigate, manage and report on operational, program and reputational risks.  
• Other duties as requested by Platform Leader.  

Key Deliverables:  

• Refinement and ongoing management of head contract deliverables, including GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan, the CDR Strategy, the Risk and Safeguarding Management Plan and the First Nations Engagement Framework.  
• Contribute to Platform Management Unit Annual Work Plan, MERL Framework, Six monthly and Annual Reports, Completion Report and IMR Report
• Development and delivery of GEDSI Service Order deliverables, including Annual Work Plan, MERL Framework, Six monthly and Annual Reports, Completion Report and IMR Report
• High-quality strategic input and technical contributions to progress reports, annual reports, workplans and activity designs as needed. 
• Regular Communities of Practice meetings to ensure cross-program learning and coherence. 
• Gender equality, disability equity, safeguarding, and climate and disaster resilience priorities are integrated and coherent across FPSP and sector programs.  
• Ensure implementation and accountability for high quality and timely FPSP deliverables.  
• Work collaboratively with key Platform partners and stakeholders including Ninti One, Talanoa Consulting and Clear Horizon. 
• Ensure all reports are prepared in accordance with FPSP, Abt and DFAT’s reporting guidelines. 

Senior Leadership Team Deliverables:  

• High level of responsiveness to DFAT issues and requests measured by Program receiving a Partner Performance Rating of 5 or above.  
• Quality reporting, milestones, deliverables and KPIs are submitted on time and meet internal (Abt) and external (DFAT) requirements.   
• Program is delivered on time and within budget and value for money principles drive all Program resourcing decisions.  
• Build and maintain open, productive and outcome-oriented relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including DFAT.   
• Innovative approaches to the delivery of aid are actively pursed and incorporated into the delivery and design of the Program.  

Key Working Relationships: 

• Platform Leader and senior management team 
• PCL Hub and FPSP Whole-of-Program Personnel 
• FPSP Stakeholders including DFAT, Government of Fiji, Program partners 
• FPSP Consortium Partners: Talanoa Consulting, Clear Horizon, Ninti 
• Abt GEDSI Adviser 
• Fiji Women’s Organizations and networks and Fiji OPDs and networks  

Direct Reports

• GEDSI and Safeguarding Manager
• GEDSI Coordinator
• Senior Safeguarding Coordinator
• Disability Inclusion Specialist 
• Disability Inclusion Coordinator
• Climate and Disaster Resilience Manager
• Climate and Disaster Resilience Coordinator 

Selection Criteria:

• Post graduate degree or higher (or equivalent experience) in international development, gender/women’s studies, disabilities studies, public policy, economics, law or related field. 
• Significant demonstrated development sector experience in gender equality and disability inclusion, social development, public services delivery or related field of work. 
• Demonstrated ability to design and adapt program approaches and strategy that promote GEDSI transformative programming and that are simultaneously climate and disaster resilience focused. 
• Proven experience supporting program teams, and advisers to ensure that GEDSI, safeguarding, climate change and disaster resilience considerations are incorporated in the program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, policy advocacy, research and learning. 
• Sound problem solving and decision-making skills working both independently and with teams. 

Abt Global values individuality and celebrates difference with a strong commitment to diversity, gender equality, and racial and disability equity. We strongly encourage people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and persons with a disability to apply for this position. We offer reasonable accommodations, flexible work arrangements and a culturally safe environment for staff members.

About Us
Abt Global is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Global is regularly ranked as one of the top global research firms and one of the international development innovators.  The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in more than 40 countries.

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.