About the Program: 

Aviation is an important enabler of economic activity and human development in the Pacific. It connects Pacific countries to the world and each other, facilitating tourism, trade, labour mobility and access to health and education services. Aviation either directly or indirectly enables over one-third of the economy in Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu. However, aviation in the Pacific is disadvantaged by the small size of Pacific Island countries and their geographical remoteness, both from within each country, the region, and from international hubs.   

The strategic intent for Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) is to improve the Pacific aviation sectors’ efficiency and effectiveness in organisational decision-making, governance, safety and reliability, and coordination to enable aviation to better contribute to sustainable development outcomes. It is recognised that the small populations, lack of economic diversification and geographic remoteness of the Pacific constrains its growth and international competitiveness. However, aviation’s intersection with tourism, trade, labour mobility, and access to critical services such as healthcare and education can enable Pacific growth and prosperity. 

P4A will be delivered through three key outcome areas, including (but not limited to): 

1. A stronger enabling environment, including improved management, regulations, policies, and plans that strengthen the Pacific aviation sector and reform unsustainable practices. 

2. Improved Safety, Quality and Reliability through strengthened technical capability and more common approaches that improve aviation operations' safety, quality, and reliability. 

3. Greater coordination, cooperation, and connectivity are needed to maintain connectivity between Pacific Island countries and strengthen regional and bilateral coordination and cooperation in regulatory and operational areas. 

P4A will also mainstream cross-cutting sectors to ensure outcomes strengthen child protection and safeguarding, climate change resilience and adaptation, support locally led leadership and improve Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) outcomes.  

P4A is currently a five-year program directed by DFAT and implemented by Adam Smith International.  

Position Summary: 

The Admin and Travel Manager will provide vital support to the P4A Operations Lead in managing the office, human resources, travel and event management, and operational systems necessary to implement P4A activities. This role will be instrumental in ensuring the operational efficiency of the program, contributing to the establishment of the P4A hub, the recruitment of staff and advisers, and the mobilisation of personnel across the region. 

The Admin and Travel Manager will report to the Operations Lead and the wider Operations Team. 

Abt Global is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the role of Procurement Officer to be based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (with travels to Daru, WP).

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.

• Project Name: Study on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Reform – Introducing Safeguards in Modern Investment Agreements
• Project Objective: The project addresses the AANZFTA Committee on Investment’s (COI) Sectoral Strategic Directions Priorities Document (SSDP) to ‘Progress in Advancing the Work Programme for the Upgrade AANZFTA Investment Chapter’ and in particular, the COI Work Programme activity to review Section B (Investment Disputes between a Party and an Investor) of the Upgraded AANZFTA. It aims to support AANZFTA Parties’ consideration of modern ISDS safeguards included in recent agreements and ISDS reforms discussed in international fora, in the context of the review of the AANZFTA ISDS provisions. The project is designed with the following objectives:

o Provide AANZFTA Parties with the latest discussions and outcomes on ISDS reform in other fora.

o Enhance AANZFTA Parties’ understanding of the safeguards to protect governments’ right to regulate as introduced in newer International Investment Agreements (IIAs), and its usage under arbitration cases.

o Align AANZFTA Parties’ understanding on the potential benefits of introducing safeguards to the current ISDS provisions under the AANZFTA.

o Provide recommendations for AANZFTA Parties on the potential modern ISDS safeguard elements that are suitable to be considered for inclusion under the AANZFTA ISDS review.

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Locally engaged role; commencing March 2025 to 31 December 2027
• Based in Suva, Fiji

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, 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.