Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

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. 

Tetra Tech International Development is looking for an experienced HR Manager to support the Mekong-Australia Partnership Support Unit (MAP SU) with the planning, implementing, and overseeing efficient and effective support and enabling services, and delivery of selected MAP activities as directed by the Mekong Hub at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand to ensure that Australia is a trusted and visible partner in supporting a resilient, inclusive and sustainable Mekong subregion.

Contribute to a world where people, communities, and the planet thrive.

Tetra Tech International Development is a leading development consulting firm working with government, businesses, and NGOs to solve complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. For more information, please visit our website.

The opportunity:

• Join a dynamic international organization committed to global impact
• Be part of a collaborative team driving positive global change
• Bangkok, Thailand (This role is reserved for Thai nationals only)

The HR Manager will lead the implementation of HR and organizational policies with MAP SU, manage recruitment, ensure compliance with Thai employment law, and support the performance management and development of our team. You will partner with the executive management team in navigating complex scenarios to drive positive results, being an effective strategic partner for the Mekong Hub at Bangkok Post. Play a critical role in recruiting, hiring, and retaining top talent, managing employee relations, and ensuring compliance with labor laws for the MAP SU.

Aus4Growth is seeking an individual who has proven experience leading and managing trade/economic development projects or policies, preferably in the context of international development.

Position

Local consultant for Laos-Australia Sustainable Energy Partnership (LASEP)

Duration

May – September 2025 (15 days)

Location

LAO PDR

Reports to

Component 2 Lead and LASEP Team Lead

Closing date

20 May 2025

About P4I

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

P4I works with partners to strengthen infrastructure decision-making and practice across the transport, energy, utilities and telecommunications sectors. P4I’s focus is on the early stages of the infrastructure lifecycle, including planning and prioritisation, financing strategy, and procurement.

The four main services offered by P4I are linkages with Australian government agencies and other institutions, technical and policy advice, infrastructure project advice and knowledge-sharing and learning. 

As the foundation of quality infrastructure, P4I also integrates gender equality, disability, and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change considerations into all activities.

Delivered through a single team, P4I is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in collaboration with Ernst & Young, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. P4I has a head office in Bangkok, with other staff located around the region.

Scope of Work

Under the direction of the Component 2 Lead, through the LASEP in-country team, the consultant will undertake the following activities under Component 2 of this Activity: 

• Engage with government stakeholders (MEM, EDL, and other relevant agencies) to confirm the scope and workplan for Component 2 to ensure alignment with national priorities and capacities. 
• Support establishment of a working group involving MEM, EDL, and other stakeholders to oversee and guide the implementation of Component 2 activities and/or participate in the working group established to oversee the project activities of Component 1 and 2 if appropriate. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in conducting a literature review and analysis of: 
  • existing practices, agreements, and institutional frameworks related to disaster management and operational continuity in the Lao power sector; and
  • regional and international guidance and best practices on institutional preparedness and continuity planning for the power sector. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in facilitating and delivering the capacity-building workshops to strengthen institutional knowledge and preparedness for energy sector continuity planning. Workshops will incorporate international best practices and tools tailored to the Lao PDR context. 
• Support the preparation and facilitation of knowledge exchange sessions to introduce and discuss global examples of effective energy sector resilience strategies and continuity planning. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in the preparation of a concept note for the Continuity of Operation Plan (COOP) which sets out the broad purpose, scope, principles, structure and level of detail, for consultation with the relevant working group(s) and other stakeholders. 
• Support the Component 2 Lead in the finalisation of the COOP, including:
  • Facilitating a desktop exercise with relevant stakeholders to test the suitability of the draft COOP based on the most likely disaster scenarios and identify any gaps or challenges to be addressed. Refine the COOP based on feedback and results from this exercise. 
  • Facilitating a stakeholder workshop to present the finalised COOP, gather feedback, and provide recommendations for ongoing improvement, including potential areas for future collaboration and capacity building.

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia 

About the Proposal

People living with disabilities often encounter substantial barriers which can hinder them from having full and meaningful participation in society. Such obstacles can make those living with disabilities more vulnerable to all forms of exploitation, violence, abuse and exclusion.

Despite the magnitude of the problem and the critical need for improved understanding and responses, the current research and action surrounding the nexus of disability and trafficking in persons remains limited. The recent study conducted by the Australian government-funded ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program (ASEAN-ACT), has identified significant gaps – whether in laws, policy, and practices including in victim support and data – which will require all stakeholders to work together towards the full and meaningful participation and inclusion of persons with disability in countering trafficking in persons.

ASEAN-ACT seeks to provide small grants for selected Organisations of Persons with Disability (OPDs) and/or relevant Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam building on the success of similar initiatives in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. The grant intends to foster changes in policy and practices towards counter-trafficking responses, ensuring they are more inclusive of and sensitive to the needs of persons with disabilities.

Overview on Investing in Women:

Investing in Women: Women in Inclusive Sustainable Economic Recovery (IW) is a multi-country Australian Government initiative in Southeast Asia that seeks to accelerate women’s economic empowerment through increased and equitable opportunities in the private sector, contributing to inclusive, sustainable economic recovery and growth in targeted countries. Our objective is to support women to thrive in the workplace and succeed in business. 

Building on the results, partnerships and lessons established under the first seven years of the program, IW’s new phase will extend and deepen Australia’s contribution to advancing gender equality in Southeast Asia through influencing and growing an ecosystem of policymakers, business leaders, capital providers and women’s economic empowerment actors. 

Positioning women at the centre of economic resilience and accelerating their economic empowerment is critical to achieving a wide range of sustainable development objectives in Southeast Asia. As the region recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, gender-sensitive economic recovery strategies will be critical to prevent further deterioration in women’s economic empowerment indicators as seen during COVID-19. Focus on an inclusive recovery seeks to harness the productivity, skills, capacity, talent, innovation, and leadership that women offer, and realise the benefits of women’s economic empowerment for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

IW continues the ambitious agenda of advancing women’s economic empowerment through: 

• Workplace Gender Equality (WGE) – We support Business Coalitions that work with influential businesses on shifting workplace cultures, practices, and policy barriers to achieve workplace gender equality, with member companies together employing more than one million people; 

• Enabling Policy Reforms – We support locally identified reform agendas that promote women’s workforce participation, generate support for the business case for WGE, and build the case for the value and importance of the care economy to business, the economy and women’s economic empowerment;  

• Campaigns and Communities of Practice – We support locally driven campaigns in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam that highlight positive examples of gender equality to strengthen public support for women’s economic participation. Through fostering a community of gender equality advocates, IW will continuously build evidence that supports the broader adoption of progressive attitudes and behaviours; and 

• Gender Lens Investing – We work to increase investment in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that disproportionately benefit women in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. We do so by increasing capital providers’ demand for Gender Lens Investing strategies and products, catalysing the supply of financial instruments available to small businesses owned or led by women, and investing in the growth of SMEs that support women through a ‘fund of funds’ strategy.  

In collaboration with corporations and business leaders, policymakers and implementers, capital providers, entrepreneurs, and advocates, we are working with those who are driving change for women's economic equality in our region. 

Investing in Women supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda and the leveraging of private sector investments to achieve the Goals. The SDGs recognise that gender equality is not only an essential human right, but a necessary foundation for peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies.  

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has contracted Abt Associates Australia to implement Investing in Women. Abt Associates Australia is a mission-driven, global leader in research, evaluation and implementing programs in health, social and environmental policy and international development. 

Investing in Women’s new phase is anticipated to be up to AUD 80 million in value, initially for four years (from January 2023 to June 2027), with an option to extend for a further six years. Initial countries of focus will be at least Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with some activities engaging at a regional level. Further information about Investing in Women can be found on the website: www.investinginwomen.asia.

Cowater International seeks to engage three (3) Solar Forecasting Service Providers (SFSPs) to participate in a pilot project in Cambodia.

PARTISIPA is seeking qualified organisations or consortia — to support applied research that will inform future programming to improve the climate resilience of the water sector in Timor-Leste.