The i-Taukei Trust Fund Board (TTFB)[1] is an institution established under the i-Taukei Trust Fund Act, for the purposes of fostering the advancement of the Indigenous Fijians and Rotumans by promoting initiatives that will better their standard of living and enhance appropriate cultural traditions and values.  Furthermore, they function to support the preservation and promotion of indigenous Fijian and Rotuman languages, culture and heritage, and the development of entrepreneurial initiatives for improved well-being.

The Market Development Facility (MDF) is a multi-country Australian Government funded initiative with locations in Fiji, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. MDF aims to stimulate economic growth and hence employment and income-earning opportunities for the poor and underprivileged, by making selected sectors of the economy more competitive and stimulating business innovation. MDF is implemented by Palladium Group and Swisscontact and started operations in Fiji in July 2011.

Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) helps countries in the Indo-Pacific region to grow through improved productivity, economic diversification, competitiveness and trade. 

MDF helps business partners and government to identify markets that have high potential to grow, be profitable, and deliver social and environmental value. 

Our aim is to do good by supporting good business. MDF supports business investment and innovation that reduces poverty, economically empowers women and combats climate change. We currently operate in Fiji, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and Sri Lanka.

MDF is funded by the Australian Government. It is implemented by Palladium, in partnership with Swisscontact. 

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

Project Summary

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented by the RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under RISP.

• Project name: Promoting the utilisation of RCEP, especially in digital trade, through better understanding and enhanced engagement of the private sector, MSMEs and women-led businesses.

• Project Objectives: In celebration of the third anniversary of RCEP’s entry into force, this project aims to reinforce the practical utilization of RCEP commitments by MSMEs and women-led enterprises through the following objectives:

o to assess the awareness and utilization of RCEP among MSMEs, women led businesses in Viet Nam, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. 

o to address identified gaps by raising awareness and improving communication on RCEP benefits among MSMEs and women-led enterprises, especially in digital trade, through capacity-building workshops and the development of user-friendly materials to enhance understanding and utilization.

o to strengthen collaboration between the MSMEs and women-led enterprises, and policymakers to improve FTA implementation and support. 

Location: Canberra, ACT (preferred), other locations in Australia considered, with some international travel required

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming.

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

Project Summary

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under RISP and TGEI.

Project Name: Fostering Inclusive Policies and Practices in ASEAN’s E-Waste Management and Recycling Industry to support Manufacturing Related Services

Project Objective:

• To strengthen the capabilities of key stakeholders who are engaged in e-waste management and recycling services to use digital technologies, especially in the area of EV batteries and solar cell panel supply chains.
• To identify GEDSI issues and recommendations to support businesses, including those owned by women and people with disabilities, to effectively participate in e-waste management and recycling services.
• To encourage key stakeholders, particularly policy makers, to align trade-related policies and regulatory frameworks to advance GEDSI and circular economy practices at the national and regional levels.

Position

Communications Specialist

Duration

1 June 2025 – 31 December 2025

Location

Bangkok, Thailand

Reports to

Director, Performance

Closing date

25 Apr 2025

P4I Background

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I – the Program) is an Australian Government initiative partnering with Southeast Asia to drive sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth through quality infrastructure. P4I works with and provides services to Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The focus is on the early stages of the infrastructure lifecycle – infrastructure planning and prioritisation, procurement and project preparation, and policy and regulation – using infrastructure advisory services, government partnerships, and knowledge and learning. All services integrate the cross-cutting priorities of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change. P4I’s priorities are the economic infrastructure sectors of energy, transport, utilities, telecommunications and digital.

Delivered through a single team, P4I is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with Ernst & Young, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One.

Summary of Role

P4I is seeking an experienced Communications Specialist to manage the Program’s external communications functions in line with DFAT’s public diplomacy and strategic communications requirements. The Communications Specialist will drive and oversee all communications-related aspects of the program, including implementation of the communications strategy, managing communications processes (e.g. for content development and approval), driving the delivery and quality assurance of communications and knowledge products, and coordinating with relevant internal and external stakeholders involved in generating content, and supervision of communications team and consultants. The position will manage the delivery of long form content, social media and web content, and targeted video and photo production.  

Principal stakeholders include P4I activity teams, DFAT Canberra, and Australian embassies around the region.  

This position has the option for remote work with some travel required to the Program Hub, with strong preferences for candidates who are located in or who are willing be relocate to Bangkok.

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of more than 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities. We are seeking a consultant (individuals or firms) to produce a creative and appropriate Product, whether an animation or combination of animation and video, on Market Development Facility’s procurement and contracting guidelines and policies.

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development Program

Event Organisation and Management for an on-site event on AISP Project “Implementing AANZFTA Data Rules: Advancing Cross-Border E-Commerce.

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming.

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

Project Summary

The AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of AANZFTA through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under AISP.

•Project Name: Implementing AANZFTA Data Rules: Advancing Cross-Border E-Commerce.

•Project Objective:

• The Regional Workshop is intended to deepen mutual understanding of the regulatory landscape, promote alignment, and support the development of business-friendly policies. It will also provide an opportunity to seek preliminary recommendations for best practice principles, ensuring their relevance and practicality for AANZFTA economies.
• To foster discussions on challenges, successes, and best practices in implementing cross-border data rules. This activity directly supports the project’s objectives of enhancing regulatory alignment and strengthening the implementation of cross-border data rules across the AANZFTA region.

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development Program

Event Organisation and Management for an on-site event on RISP Project “Fostering Inclusive Policies and Practices in ASEAN’s E-Waste Management and Recycling Industry to support Manufacturing Related Services”

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming.

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

Project Summary

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under RISP and TGEI.

•Project Name: Fostering Inclusive Policies and Practices in ASEAN’s E-Waste Management and Recycling Industry to support Manufacturing Related Services

•Project Objectives:

• To strengthen the capabilities of key stakeholders who are engaged in e-waste management and recycling services to use digital technologies, especially in the area of EV batteries and solar cell panel supply chains.
• To identify GEDSI issues and recommendations to support businesses, including those owned by women and people with disabilities, to effectively participate in e-waste management and recycling services.
• To encourage key stakeholders, particularly policy makers, to align trade-related policies and regulatory frameworks to advance GEDSI and circular economy practices at the national and regional levels.

Request for Proposal – AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) - Promoting AANZFTA through Communications and Business Engagement

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28

Project Summary

This project will support a series of connected communications activities to promote AANZFTA throughout the Financial Year 2024-25 (until June 2025) under the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) to strengthen public and private sector stakeholders' awareness of its economic benefits.

Objectives:

(i) Increase understanding of AANZFTA, the AANZFTA Upgrade, and AISP activities.

(ii) Build on 2023 AISP-ECWP communications and business engagement initiatives, including:

• A Communications Package on AANZFTA Upgrade benefits.
• Regional and national business roundtables.

(iii) Develop business engagement resources to strengthen partnerships with diverse and potentially marginalised communities.

Key Outputs:

1. Explainers for ASEAN businesses
2. Business Roundtable Factsheets
3. Four Case Studies on AISP success
4. AEM-CER Communications Package and Video