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.

The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP) is seeking to engage consultants to assess potential models of support and design a new initiative to assist the Solomon Islands Government sustainably grow its participation in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. 

Role Summary

Reporting to the DFAT Counsellor (Development) and with a high degree of autonomy, the Communications Adviser will assist in the development and delivery of the Mekong Australia Partnership’s communications functions. The role will be responsible for helping develop and implement a communications strategy, determine MAP core messages and ensuring that these core messages reach identified stakeholders and intended audience. The role will work with Investment Managers located in Bangkok and across DFAT’s Posts in the Mekong sub-region to collect, create and disseminate information and messaging. The Adviser will work with the Adviser – Performance, Quality and Risk, to create content to support Monitoring and Evaluation.

The Adviser will be located in the Mekong Hub in Bangkok and work closely with sector specialists, Australian Government posts in the region, implementing partners, Australian Government agencies and DFAT Canberra. 

The Adviser will directly supervise one Locally-engaged Public Diplomacy Officer.

Role Summary

The Adviser is responsible for assisting the MAP Advisor – Performance, Quality and Risk, implement the MAP Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) system, and managing information flows to inform management of lessons learned from investment implementation. This includes working closely with delivery partners to ensure investment MEL systems are fit for purpose, contribute to MAP objectives, are in line with DFAT requirements, and supportive of the overall MAP Performance Assessment Framework (PAF). The Advisor will support DFAT Investment Managers prepare Investment Monitoring Reports (IMRs) for MAP regional programs managed from Bangkok, and assist Posts across the region to report bilateral activities, including through IMRs, within the MAP MEL framework as required.

The Adviser will be located in the Mekong Hub and report to the Advisor – Performance, Quality and Risk. The Advisor will work closely with sector specialists, Australian Government posts in the region, implementing partners, Australian Government agencies and DFAT Canberra.  The position will support coordination within and between Mekong countries and facilitate cross-fertilisation and learning between MAP investments.

Role Summary

Reporting to the DFAT Counsellor (Development) and with a high degree of autonomy, the Operations Adviser will manage a small team to deliver Mekong Australia Partnership accountability and administration functions to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of Official Development Assistance (ODA) investments across the MAP portfolio.  The position will work closely with DFAT staff to design, establish and implement core integrity and administrative measures across the entire MAP portfolio. The position will represent DFAT with external stakeholders across the Mekong sub-region, as we deepen our partnerships. This position will also work closely with Australian Posts in the Mekong subregion, implementing partners, and other Australian Government agencies based in Australia and the region. 

Location: Gorontalo, Indonesia

• Opportunity to provide strategic leadership and program oversight of the -Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership for Governance 
• Long Term contract from September 2024 - to December 2025 (with possible extension)
• Based in Honiara, Solomon Islands 

About the Program

Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership for Governance commenced in January 2022 and is an AUD $35.8 million investment where Australia partners with the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) to support its critical priorities over four years. The goal is to build economic resilience and promote policies and practices for sustainable economic recovery and growth. Australia’s objective for this partnership is to strengthen accountable and inclusive governance in partnership with SIG and other stakeholders. The program will contribute to the goal through four end-of-program outcomes (EOPOs):

• EOPO1: SIG has strengthened public financial management and oversight.
• EOPO2: SIG has improved domestic revenue generation and improved capability in targeted areas.
• EOPO3: SIG has strengthened inclusive democratic processes and expanded opportunities for stakeholder engagement in public policy dialogue.
• EOPO4: The program generates strengthened relationships between SIG and the Government of Australia.