Program Background

Australia and Lao PDR (Laos) came together to deliver the Laos-Australia Connectivity Partnership, which focuses on supporting the Government of Laos (GoL) to improve transport connectivity and infrastructure decision-making and practice. The LACP Memorandum of Subsidiary Arrangement (MSA) was signed on 7 July 2022 by GoL and Australian Government with a budget of at least $10 million to 30 June 2024 ($13.2 million has been committed), with an option to extend. LACP is delivered by the Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) initiative and complement GoL’s Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity (SEARECC) project, which the World Bank funds.

P4I is now continuing to work with MPWT in the transport sector during the bridging period January to December 2025, in preparation for a second phase of work beyond December 2025. During the bridging period, P4I will continue to support GoL to improve transport connectivity and infrastructure decision-making and practice - building on Laos’ ASEAN chair year connectivity and resilience agenda. P4I will support the implementation of the National Transport Strategy and will help to balance national and regional transport connectivity interests and consensus on priority regional issues as it transitions to become a land-linked country.

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

The PNG Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE) Program is seeking a highly qualified Team Leader. This role is based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and provinces as required and open to all applicants.

The Program

The Vanuatu Australia Infrastructure for Development (VAI4D) program is a five-year (2024-2029) investment funded by the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). VAI4D supports the Government of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU) to achieve sustainable and well-maintained infrastructure and services for all, through inclusive and effective partnerships. VAI4D continues Australia’s assistance to MIPU/PWD to effectively and efficiently managed Vanuatu’s public roads network while expanding support for strengthening the capacity of MIPU to deliver infrastructure projects in civil aviation, ports and marine, and public buildings.

The VAI4D investment is focused on three end of program outcomes (EOPOs):

• EOPO 1: MIPU PWD manages Vanuatu’s public roads network effectively and efficiently.
• EOPO 2: MIPU (civil aviation &/or ports and marine &/or public buildings) use improved systems, processes, and technologies.
• EOPO 3: GoV agencies deliver infrastructure portfolios and projects more coherently, effectively, and efficiently, in coordination with GoA partners.

VAI4D also mainstreams and spotlights cross-cutting areas, including gender equity, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate change & disaster risk resilience, social and environmental safeguards, localisation, and asset management through the identification, planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of projects.

DT Global is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Team Leader to manage the Australia–PNG Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ) program in PNG. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people in PNG.

Location:        Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) – with periodic travel to other locations in PNG

Duration:        2-year initial contract (6-month probation period) with possibility of extension

Program

Strongim Bisnis

Location

Honiara, Solomon Islands with provincial travel

Duration

Starting February 2025

Line manager and Directly report to

Program Director or Senior Partnership Manager

Works with

Strongim Bisnis Partners, other Partnership Managers, Communications, MRM, and Operations team members

Background to Strongim Bisnis

Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership’s Strongim Bisnis is an economic development initiative to increase economic opportunities and participation for people and businesses in Solomon Islands.

Recognising that Solomon Islands has a small consumer market and economy, dispersed population, and high cost of doing business, we identify and analyse specific sectors that have a high potential for growth and can consequently create new employment and income generation opportunities.

We facilitate strategic partners (including businesses, government, civil society, and associations) in those sectors to address the root constraints to growth and inclusion (Women, Youth and People living with disabilities) through innovative solutions.

Position summary and  justification for the role

Strongim Bisnis is seeking Partnership Managers of all levels of experience to expand its team. We are looking for people with experience or enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and social inclusion in Solomon Islands. Working closely with the team, the selected individuals’ focus will be to support the program implement, monitor, and communicate uptake of partnerships.

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Social Protection Officer
Sector: Women Empowerment and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion
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 Philippines 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.

Abt Global is seeking a qualified professional for the position of Finance and Contracts Lead with the Australia Timor-Leste Partnership for Human Development. Long-term contract to May 2026, based in Dili, Timor-Leste.

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 realizing 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 RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realize 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: Developing access for people with print disabilities to accessible format copies of published works
• Project Objectives: Viet Nam made its accession to The Marrakesh Treaty on December 6, 2022, coming into force on March 6, 2023. However, being a newer member of the Treaty, country officials have raised their need for technical assistance to better implement the Treaty and create better conditions for people with disabilities in the country to practice the rights to equality and community integration in the best possible manner.

This project aligns with the strategic direction of fostering RCEP Parties’ capabilities in implementing The Marrakesh Treaty, contributing to equality and social integration of Persons Who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.

Project Summary

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realize 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: Developing access for people with print disabilities to accessible format copies of published works
• Project Objectives: Viet Nam made its accession to The Marrakesh Treaty on December 6, 2022, coming into force on March 6, 2023. However, being a newer member of the Treaty, country officials have raised their need for technical assistance to better implement the Treaty and create better conditions for people with disabilities in the country to practice the rights to equality and community integration in the best possible manner.

This project aligns with the strategic direction of fostering RCEP Parties’ capabilities in implementing The Marrakesh Treaty, contributing to equality and social integration of Persons Who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.

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

The following project is approved under AISP.

• Project name: Assessing ASEAN Members State’s (AMS’) Readiness and Developing a Guideline for AMS to implement its trade-in services commitment of transposing from a Positive Listing to a Negative Listing approach in AANZFTA.
• Project Objectives: Regarding the liberalization of services among AANZFTA Signatory Parties, each country’s understanding, progress, and institutional capacity are variable. The Strategic Directions and Priorities of the Committee on Trade in Services look to narrow the regional gaps in institutional capacity to liberalize services trade and ensure the transition to the Negative List schedule for trade in services within the agreed timeframes.

Aligning with the Strategic Directions and Priorities of the Committee on Trade in Services, this project aims to support interested AMS, specifically The Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and others with a smooth transition to a Negative List approach within the committed timeframe, enabling trade in services liberalization.