KEY INFORMATION

Engagement Title: Workshop Facilitators and Documenters (Prequalified Pool)

Reports to: Various SPRING technical teams, depending on the call-down assignment

Direct Reports: None

Location: Metro Manila and SPRING subnational locations, including Davao Oriental, Leyte, Occidental Mindoro, and other program sites as required

Period of prequalification: July 2026 to July 2027. Engagements will be issued on a short-term, call-down basis according to workshop and event requirements throughout the program period.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

The DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender equality (SPRING) program is Australia’s flagship investment of support to the Philippine Government on Social Protection, Gender Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion and Indigenous Inclusion. It is an AUD 40 million investment over 5 years that will support the joint Development Partnership Plan (DPP 2024-2029) between the Government of Australia and the Philippine Government. The investment will be the DFAT’s primary avenue in the Philippines for supporting poverty reduction and bilateral funding on gender equality and social inclusion at the national level and with some select Local Government Units (LGUs). SPRING supports efforts under Australia’s new International Development Policy and DFAT’s forthcoming new strategies on gender equality, disability equity and rights, and translate these into implementation in the Philippines. 

SPRING contributes to the goal that the social and economic transformation in the Philippines reduces poverty and provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos in line with the Philippines Development Plan.

The objective of SPRING is that Australia works in partnership with the Philippine Government to improve systems and structures that reduce poverty and inequality and advance gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities. 

SPRING has four mutually reinforcing End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs): 

1. Philippine Government social protection plans, policies and programs increasingly close gaps in the social protection floor.
2. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and select LGU systems increasingly deliver quality social protection that is inclusive, gender and shock responsive, and climate sensitive.
3. The Philippine Government increasingly invests in gender responsive policies, plans, programs and systems.
4. The Philippine Government improves data, systems and targeting to enable people with disability and Indigenous Peoples improved access to targeted services.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

SPRING invites expressions of interest from qualified facilitators and documenters to join a prequalified pool for short-term workshop and event support from July 2026 to July 2027. Individuals in the pool may be engaged by different SPRING technical teams through call-down assignments to support a range of activities, including research and policy forums, training sessions for government counterparts, high-level governance meetings, high-profile events, stakeholder consultations, and disability-focused workshops.

SPRING seeks both generalist and specialist practitioners. In addition to strong workshop facilitation and documentation skills, SPRING particularly encourages applications from facilitators and documenters with demonstrated experience designing or supporting inclusive events for persons with disabilities, including people who are blind, deaf, or have other accessibility requirements. Prequalification does not guarantee an assignment; rather, it enables SPRING to draw on a roster of suitable professionals as needs arise.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Successful applicants may be engaged to provide facilitation services, documentation services, or both, depending on their expertise and the needs of each assignment.

1. Facilitation services may include designing workshop agendas and facilitation plans in consultation with SPRING teams; facilitating plenary and breakout sessions; guiding participatory discussions; adapting methods for different audiences; supporting inclusive participation; and producing simple facilitation materials such as session plans, process notes, or discussion guides.

2. Documentation services may include preparing event notes, proceedings, synthesis reports, action trackers, presentation summaries, key messages, and other knowledge products; capturing key discussion points, decisions, and follow-up actions accurately and clearly; and tailoring outputs for technical, policy, and external audiences. It may also include taking basic event photos (following safeguarding, privacy, and consent requirements) suitable for reporting/documentation.

3. Specialist disability-inclusive support may include facilitating or documenting workshops that require demonstrated experience working with persons with disabilities; advising on accessible workshop design and inclusive participation strategies; and supporting workshop formats and approaches that are responsive to participants who are blind, deaf, or have other disabilities.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education

• A relevant tertiary qualification in social sciences, education, development studies, public policy, communications, disability inclusion, or another field relevant to the services being offered.

Core Minimum Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in workshop facilitation, event documentation, report writing, or related services.

Facilitator Profile

• Demonstrated experience designing and leading participatory workshops, consultations, training sessions, or multi-stakeholder forums for government, development, civil society, or community audiences.

• Ability to facilitate plenary and breakout sessions, guide group discussion, manage time effectively, and adapt facilitation approaches to suit different audiences and objectives.

Documenter Profile

• Demonstrated experience producing high-quality workshop outputs such as proceedings, synthesis reports, meeting notes, action trackers, briefs, or knowledge products under tight timelines.

• Ability to capture key discussion points, decisions, and follow-up actions accurately and present them in clear, concise, and audience-appropriate formats.

Disability-Inclusive Specialist Profile

• Demonstrated direct experience working with persons with disabilities and applying accessible and inclusive approaches in workshop facilitation, documentation, consultation, or event support.

• Ability to advise on accessible event design and participation strategies, including approaches responsive to participants who are blind, deaf, or have other accessibility requirements.

• At least three years of relevant professional experience in workshop facilitation, event documentation, report writing, knowledge management, training delivery, consultation processes, or related services.

Key Abilities and Skills

• Excellent facilitation, moderation, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical, policy, and public-facing settings.

• Strong writing, synthesis, and analytical skills, including the ability to prepare concise, accurate, and audience-appropriate documentation and knowledge products.

• Demonstrated ability to design or support inclusive and accessible events, including adapting methods, materials, and facilitation or documentation approaches for diverse participants.

• Strong organisational and time management skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within short turnaround periods.

• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of GEDSI principles, with knowledge or experience in promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion especially within adaptive programs like SPRING. This includes a clear understanding of and practical experience in safeguarding, particularly in the context of child protection (CP) and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH), with the ability to integrate safeguarding measures into program implementation. 

• Compliance to DFAT policies on fraud control, financing terrorism, child protection and other social safeguards 

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting social protection, gender equality, disability inclusion, governance, research, training, or stakeholder engagement initiatives in the Philippines.

• Experience working with government counterparts, donor-funded programs, or multi-stakeholder processes.

• Ability to travel to program locations and undertake in-person assignments when required.

HOW TO APPLY

SPRING welcomes expressions of interest from qualified professionals who would like to be considered for a prequalified pool of facilitators and documenters for short-term assignments between July 2026 and July 2027. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and shortlisted applicants may be contacted for clarification, interview, or inclusion in the pool.

To apply, please submit a cover letter of no more than two pages, an updated CV, and contact details for three professional referees. You may also include brief samples or descriptions of relevant facilitation or documentation work to strengthen your application.

In your cover letter, please indicate whether you are applying as a facilitator, a documenter, or both, and highlight any specialist experience in disability-inclusive workshops or accessible event delivery. Please send your application to hr@springphilippines.org with the subject line “SPRING EOI - Facilitators and Documenters Pool”. File names should follow this format: Surname, First Name, Date, SPRING EOI.

Candidates who are added to the pool may be approached for specific assignments based on technical fit, availability, location, and the requirements of each workshop or event. Inclusion in the pool does not guarantee work, but it enables SPRING teams to engage suitable professionals more efficiently as needs arise.

SPRING reserves the right to request interviews, writing samples, sample workshop designs, or additional information from shortlisted applicants as part of the prequalification process.

Women, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples are strongly encouraged to apply.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. Persons with disabilities may send a request for reasonable accommodation to participate in the recruitment process to hr@springphilippines.org. 

Cowater International adheres to the highest standards of protection of children and vulnerable adults in the delivery of programs and services. Cowater is committed to the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. 

Cowater International upholds standards of ethical conduct and has zero tolerance against fraud and bribery. 

Prior to any offer of employment, applicants will be subject to appropriate background checks. 

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those shortlisted for prequalification or a specific assignment will be contacted.

About Us 

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.