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. 

AFHP Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (the Platform) implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.  

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised.

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s health sector through the Australia Fiji Health Program (AFHP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

The program’s high-level End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are:

• Improved systems are used by MHMS and health workers for evidence-based planning and resource allocation (workforce and budget), clinical care, digital health and medical supply chains; and 
• Targeted healthcare facilities equitably deliver improved primary health services, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and non-communicable disease (NCD) services. 

The funding for the program is approximately AUD 45million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities (interventions) to achieve the program’s objectives where implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs).

AFHP is designed to support the MHMS achieve the goals and objectives in its Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans, and AFHP’s workplans are targeted to support specific components of the Ministry’s plans.

Recent natural disasters such as cyclones, and public health emergencies in Fiji including COVID-19 have highlighted major challenges for pandemic preparedness and response during epidemics and other health emergencies. In this context, around 10% of program funding will be allocated for MHMS to assign to emerging needs and priorities as they arise. Funding may be allocated toward preparedness and responses to public health emergencies, or related opportunities for reform and innovation. 

Position Summary:

As a senior member of the AFHP team, the GEDSI Specialist (the 'Specialist') reports to the Team Leader and provides expertise in gender equality, disability, and social inclusion.

The Specialist provides technical expertise and support to program implementation teams, ensuring the effective integration of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) across all programs. Additionally, the Specialist collaborates with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) teams to track and assess GEDSI-related outcomes.

The Specialist also engages with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to identify opportunities for strengthening GEDSI integration within ministry systems and processes. This includes exploring potential short-term (STA) or long-term (LTA) technical advisory support. 

Key Responsibilities: 

GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan  

• Lead development and implementation of the AFHP GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan, building on the achievements and lessons from previous phases of Australian support.  
• Contribute to Platform GEDSI stocktake and analysis with a specific focus on a GEDSI analysis of the health sector, MHMS strategies and plans ensuring consultations with Fiji government and civil society partners, and other sector stakeholders will be conducted.  
• Draw on findings of GEDSI analysis to provide recommendations and agree actions with to MHMS to strengthen GEDSI in policies, plans and budgets. 
• Together with AFHP Team Leader and other AFHP staff, support MHMS to implement recommendations from the GEDSI analysis to strengthen GEDSI outcomes across the health sector. 
• Support to MHMS to identify, analyse and address the barriers to women’s, people with disabilities and other marginalized groups access to health service. 

Women in Health Leadership 

• Review evidence and recommendations of local and regional programs to strengthen women’s leadership in the health sector, as prepared by the Women’s Leadership Consultant 
• Scope development of a women’s leadership program to provide professional development opportunities and advancement pathways for MHMS staff, health managers and nurses 
• Support the development of policies to promote equitable and inclusive recruitment and career pathways within the health sector, and promotion of equitable and inclusive practice in health services delivery. 

Partnership management 

• Lead partnership engagement with Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs), disability service providers, women’s rights organisations and other CSOs representative of marginalized groups engaged to strengthen inclusive health services delivery 
• Manage grant and service delivery agreements with CSOs to ensure achievement of deliverables and reporting requirements met 
• Engage with Platform GEDSI and Safeguarding team to ensure that CSO partners meet DFAT minimum standards in fraud, CP and PSEAH 

General    

• Provide project management support as needed for Project Leads to ensure that implementation and monitoring of GEDSI specific and GEDSI mainstreaming activities. 
• Engage with and contribute to Platform GEDSI analysis and learning participation in the GEDSI and Safeguarding Communities of Practices  
• Provide training, technical support and analysis for the AFHP team to strengthen integration of gender equality, disability inclusion and social inclusion (GEDSI) through all AFHP activities. 
• Work with the MEL Specialist to support monitoring, evaluation and learning of GEDSI outcomes achievement of the AFHP  
• Support communications and public diplomacy activities in relation to GEDSI activities in collaboration with the Platform's Performance Learning and Communications Hub.
• Undertake additional Program support and operations management duties as required by the Team Leader.  

Key Working Relationships: 

Reporting to:  

• Team Leader – Health 

Other:  

• Platform Cross Cutting Priorities Lead 
• Platform GEDS and Safeguarding Manager 
• Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) 
• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) 
• Civil Society Organisations (CSOS), especially women’s rights organisations (WROs), Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs), disability service providers and other organisations representative of marginalised groups. 

Selection Criteria: 

Qualifications  

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as public health, gender and/or development studies.  

Experience  

• Demonstrated experience in GEDSI analysis, strategy development, activity design and delivery, preferably in the health sector 
• Demonstrated experience supporting GEDSI mainstreaming, preferably in the health sector   
• Demonstrated experience in project/activity conception and design based on a consultative approach.  
• Experience in monitoring evaluation and learning activities for projects and preferably with DFAT MEL requirements.  
• Experience working as part of a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined team.  

Knowledge/Skills  

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills  
• Knowledge of, or familiarity with DFAT’s compliance standards for development programs, particularly child protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and fraud awareness and control requirements and practice.  

Personal Attributes  

• Ability to be flexible, pragmatic and quickly adapt to change
• Willingness and enthusiasm to act as a champion for gender equality, disability and social inclusion, and safeguarding (including child protection and PSEAH).  

About Us
Abt Global is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Global is regularly ranked as one of the top global research firms and one of the international development innovators.  The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in more than 40 countries.

About the Team
Abt 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 & Energy. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable 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 3000 staff in over 50 countries.