The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) is Australia’s largest and most significant infrastructure investment in the Pacific. This $4 billion infrastructure initiative is actively engaging with countries in the region to significantly boost Australia’s support for infrastructure development in Pacific countries and Timor-Leste. The Facility uses grant funding combined with loans to support the development of high priority, quality infrastructure.

The AIFFP Investment Preparation and Support Unit (SU), managed by Tetra Tech International Development, is contracted to support the AIFFP meet its objectives.

The AIFFP requires an Independent Environmental and Social Consultant (IESC) to assess the E&S compliance of AIFFP projects for the lender of record, Export Finance Australia (EFA). The IESC will be required for up to five projects over the contract period. The IESC will be required initially for three port projects under the AIFFP funded Papua New Guinea (PNG) Ports Infrastructure Investment Program: 1) Oro Bay, 2) Kavieng, 3) Lae Tidal Basin.

The purpose of the IESC role is to provide an independent assessment of the adequacy of the E&S project documentation for EFA and AIFFP and provide an opinion as to whether the Borrower (project proponent) has the capacity to implement the project in accordance with the following safeguards standards:

• Equator Principles, 4th Edition
• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards 2012
• World Bank Group General Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines
• Other relevant sector-specific World Bank Group EHS Guidelines (e.g. ports, roads)
• DFAT Environmental and Social Safeguard Policy
• National laws, regulations and permits that pertain to environmental and social issues.

EFA will be relying on the IESC to inform their risk screening and approval processes to comply with the EFA Policy for environmental and social review of transactions.

Contribute to impactful change in the Pacific! We’re seeking an experienced Climate Science Specialist to assist the Republic of Marshall Islands’ Climate Change Directorate mitigate the impacts of climate change.

KEY INFORMATION

• Job Title: Program Specialist
• Sector: Facility Management, Expert Deployment Mechanism and Framework Agreements
• Position Type: Full-time 
• Duration/Level of Effort: Long-term 
• Position Location: Manila, Philippines

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 will support 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 will contribute 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 Philippine 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.