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. 

Position Summary:

The Cross Cutting Priorities (CCP) Hub is responsible for providing specialist GEDSI support across program teams to strengthen program performance in addressing gender equality and disability inclusion; for supporting GEDSI officers in partner Government of (GoF) agencies and administering a flexible fund for the provision of technical assistance to GoF agencies. The Hub will also be responsible for managing and implementing safeguarding, identifying and addressing climate risks, providing disaster resilience advice, as well as facilitating participation of First Nations Australians and indigenous-to-indigenous engagement. The Hub will support the achievement of End of Platform Outcome (EOPO) 2 by integrating and coordinating cross cutting priorities throughout the portfolio and across the program management cycle. 

The Lead is responsible for the effective delivery and performance of the Hub. They will drive meaningful cross-cutting approaches across the Platform-managed investments. The Lead will work in close collaboration with Abt partners Talanoa Consulting, Clear Horizons and Ninti One; and oversee Hub priorities including the development of GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan, the Climate and Disaster Resilience Strategy, Risk and Safeguarding Management Plan and the First Nations Engagement Framework and Implementation Plan.   

The Lead plays a crucial role in linking and integrating GEDSI, safeguarding, climate and disaster resilience, locally led development (LLD) and indigenous engagement strategies across sector programs. 

GEDSI 

• Oversee the development and implementation of the FPSP GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan. 
• Ensure understanding of and alignment with relevant DFAT policy documents, including DFAT’s forthcoming International Gender Equality Strategy, International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, and other existing DFAT guidelines, tools and resources available to support sector-program work, including monitoring progress against agreed gender and diversity targets.   
• Guide the participation of women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised or vulnerable groups in program activities. 
• Work with the Performance, Learning and Communications (PLC) Hub to ensure GEDSI outcomes, indicators and measures of progress / evaluation are identified and appropriate data collection is managed to inform MERL and annual work planning processes (at the Platform and sector program level). 
• Lead and support GEDSI integration (principles, minimum standards, deliverables) in all program activities and operational units including human resources, grants, operations and others. 
• Develop and support systems for senior management accountability for GEDSI programming and results.  
• Encourage recruitment, mentoring and professional development of staff from GEDSI and other under-represented groups to develop leadership skills.  

Safeguarding  

• Lead the development and compliance of Risk and Safeguarding Management Plan. 
• Oversee the implementation of compliance strategies to mitigate safeguarding risks and ensure comprehensive child protection, PSEAH, environmental and social safeguarding, and fraud and corruption measures are implemented across the Platform. 
• Ensure understanding of, and alignment with relevant DFAT policy documents, including DFAT’s Environment and Social Safeguard
• Policy, Child Protection Policy, PSEAH Policy and Fraud and Corruption Policy.  
• Guide the completion of risk assessments and required corrective actions for program activities, including in downstream activities with sub-contracts and partners as per Abt risk management procedures. 
• Oversee that application of environmental safeguarding tools.  
• Conduct investigations and reporting of potential breaches of PSEAH, Child Protection and fraud and lead associated response, in accordance with Abt and DFAT policies. 

Climate and Disaster Resilience  

• Oversee the development of the FPMP Climate and Disaster Resilience Strategy  
• Continuously work to strengthen integration of climate and disaster resilience across Platform and sector program activities. This includes active consideration of the climate-GEDSI nexus and the specific risks faced by marginalised and vulnerable groups.  
• Ensure understanding of and alignment with relevant DFAT policy documents, including DFAT’s International Aid Policy, and its Climate Change Action Strategy, and other existing DFAT guidelines, tools and resources available to support sector-program work, including monitoring progress against climate targets.   
• Work with the Performance, Learning and Communications (PLC) Hub to ensure climate outcomes, indicators and measures of progress / evaluation are identified and appropriate data collection is managed to inform MERL and annual work planning processes. 
• Lead and support climate and disaster resilience mainstreaming in Platform and sector level programming and ensure these are implemented as per respective CDR Strategies and Annual Work Plans.  
• Ensure FPSP monitors the climate context and measures the results of climate change activities carried out by sector programs.  

Indigenous participation and engagement  

• Oversee FPSP partner, Ninti One and other specialist consultants’ development of a Platform-wide, First Nations Engagement Framework and Implementation Plan. 
• Continuously work to encourage meaningful engagement of First Nations Australians across Platform and sector program activities. 
• Guide the establishment of partnerships between Indigenous Fijian and Australian groups and peak bodies, with particular attention to elevating the voices and representation of indigenous women. This work should span conservation, health, arts, Indigenous languages, intellectual property, and sports sectors, in support of the priorities outlined in the Vuvale Partnership.  

General 

• Oversee communities of practice for GEDSI and safeguarding, climate change and disaster resilience to support their sustainability and evolution as required to keep them relevant, engaging and fit-for-purpose. 
• Build and foster productive relationships with external stakeholders, partners and grantees.  
• Track, mitigate, manage and report on operational, program and reputational risks.  
• Other duties as requested by Platform Leader.  

Key Deliverables:  

• Development, submission and acceptance of head contract deliverables, including GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan, the Climate and Disaster Resilience Strategy, the Risk and Safeguarding Management Plan and the First Nations Engagement Framework.  
• High-quality strategic input and technical contributions to progress reports, annual reports, workplans and activity designs as needed. 
• Regular Communities of Practice meetings to ensure cross-program learning and coherence. 
• Gender equality, disability equity, safeguarding, and climate and disaster resilience priorities are integrated and coherent across FPSP and sector programs.  
• Ensure implementation and accountability for high quality and timely FPSP deliverables.  
• Work collaboratively with key Platform partners and stakeholders including Ninti One, Talanoa Consulting and Clear Horizon. 
• Ensure all reports are prepared in accordance with FPSP, Abt and DFAT’s reporting guidelines. 

Senior Leadership Team Deliverables:  

• High level of responsiveness to DFAT issues and requests measured by Program receiving a Partner Performance Rating of 5 or above.  
• Quality reporting, milestones, deliverables and KPIs are submitted on time and meet internal (Abt) and external (DFAT) requirements.   
• Program is delivered on time and within budget and value for money principles drive all Program resourcing decisions.  
• Build and maintain open, productive and outcome-oriented relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including DFAT.   
• Innovative approaches to the delivery of aid are actively pursed and incorporated into the delivery and design of the Program.  

Key Working Relationships: 

• Platform Leader and senior management team 
• PCL Hub 
• FPSP Whole-of-Program Personnel 
• FPSP Stakeholders including DFAT, Government of Fiji, Program partners 
• FPSP Consortium Partners: Talanoa Consulting, Clear Horizon, Ninti 
• Abt GEDSI Adviser 
• Fiji Women’s Organisations and networks and Fiji OPDs and networks  

Selection Criteria:  

• Post graduate degree or higher (or equivalent experience) in International development, gender/women’s studies, disabilities studies, public policy, economics, law or related field. 
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in gender equality and disability inclusion, social development, public services delivery or related field of work. 
• Strong understanding of DFAT’s Environmental and Social Safeguarding Policy. 
• Demonstrated ability to design and adapt program approaches and strategy that promote GEDSI transformative programming and that are simultaneously climate and disaster resilience focused. 
• Proven experience supporting program teams, and advisers to ensure that GEDSI, safeguarding, climate change and disaster resilience considerations are incorporated in the program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, policy advocacy, research and learning. 
• Sound problem solving and decision-making skills working both independently and with teams. 
• Proven record of strong networking and stakeholder engagement experience, with the ability to work in sensitive situations and challenging policy environments. 

About Abt 

Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation, Environment & Energy, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable social impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3,700 staff in over 50 countries. For more information about us and what we do, visit our website at www.abtglobal.com  

Commitment to Equity  

Abt Global values individuality and celebrates difference with a strong commitment to diversity, equality, racial equity, gender, and disability inclusion. We strongly encourage people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for this position. We offer flexible work arrangements and a culturally safe environment for staff members from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. 

Commitment to Safeguarding  

We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any form, and expect everyone to be treated with respect and dignity.