KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Regional Director - Southeast Asia GBV Prevention Platform
Sector: Gender-Based Violence Prevention
Duration/Level of Effort (long/short term): Full-time
Position Location (e.g. city, country, remote): Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste, Thailand, or Vietnam). The Platform has a hub in Bangkok Thailand, and Manila, Philippines - there is a strong preference for candidates with working rights within these countries, or the ability / willingness to travel extensively to these two hubs.
 
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The Southeast Asia Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Platform is a pivotal initiative supported by a AUD20 million investment from the Australian Government over five years (2024 to 2029). The Platform aims to enhance GBV prevention efforts across Southeast Asia by fostering collaboration among governments, civil society organisations, international bodies, and other stakeholders. We are guided by the principles of being locally driven, evidence-based, inclusive and diverse, survivor-centred and trauma informed, adaptable, collaborative, minimising harm, accessible and innovative. We seek to build capacity, amplify evidence, and innovate in the prevention of GBV. 
 
 
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
The Regional Director will lead the establishment of the Platform, represent the Platform in high-level fora and liaise with DFAT and the Advisory Committee to set the strategic direction of the Platform. The Regional Director is responsible for the technical direction of the program, external engagement and partnerships as well as the overall coordination and management of the Platform and strategic direction to the three Pillar Leads.  This includes a Facilitate Lead, Demonstrate Lead, and Advocate Lead. The Regional Director is supported by a Deputy Regional Director, who will, under the guidance of the Regional Director lead on distinct areas of the program (program management, implementation and reporting, HR, finance and operations).
The Regional Director (and the Deputy Regional Director) will receive strong technical and organisational mentoring support from the Collaborate and Technical Partner teams.
 
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Leadership, Technical and Strategic direction
The Regional Director will be provided with mentorship support from the Collaborate Strategic Advisor / Program Director.  They will also be supported to lead on all technical aspects of the Platform through a GBV Technical Partner who will provide quality primary prevention expertise and guidance. Leadership and coordination duties include:
 

• Provide high-level strategic leadership and oversight of the Platform ensuring program activities align with the program principles, objectives and design, Government of Australia and partner governments priorities and partners’ needs.
• Represent the Platform at relevant meetings, forums, events, and committees, to the highest professional standard, and facilitate the brokerage of relationships between Cowater, DFAT, relevant governments entities, and Program Partners.
• Prepare and facilitate the Program’s annual Advisory Committee meetings.
• Provide overall leadership to the Secretariat team, including direct line management of the Deputy Regional Director ensuring effective coordination between all units.
• Ensure and embed an intersectional approach across Platform initiatives, working closely with the GEDSI, Safeguarding and Localisation lead to operationalise this.
• Work closely with the Deputy Regional Director, Collaborate and Technical Partner teams, DFAT and partner UN agencies in the overall management and implementation of the program.
• Oversee the implementation and coordination of program activities, in line with DFAT performance management standards, working with the MEL Director to ensure activities align with the Platform’s Theory of Change.
• Oversee the implementation of a communications strategy, working closely with the Communications Director to ensure the appropriate sharing of information, between and across key program partners and program stakeholders.
• Identify strategic opportunities for potential collaboration with other DFAT funded programs.
• Lead the Platform’s approach to risk management, including proactive and ongoing risk assessment, design and implementation of risk mitigation strategies and active risk management.

 
External engagement and Partnerships
While the Regional Director is the senior most representative of the Platform and will lead much of the external engagement, it is a shared responsibility with the Deputy Regional Director and Pillar Leads. This area of work includes:
 

• Work closely through consultation and coordination with Southeast Asia country governments and ASEAN, including but not limited to, the Commission on the promotion and protection of the rights of Women and Children (ACWC) and Committee on Women (ACW), to ensure continued government ownership and engagement with the Platform, including alignment with relevant governments priorities.
• Work in close collaboration with civil society and women’s rights organisations (CSO/WROs) to support their work as frontline prevention and response workers by sharing evidence and lessons captured and generated by the Platform, while drawing on their expertise and knowledge to enhance Platform learning and evidence.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination between all program stakeholders, including DFAT, GBV Prevention practitioners, CSO/WROs, UN and policy makers in the region, and other relevant stakeholders. This could include but is not limited to:

1. Facilitating connections across and between different networks and stakeholders to facilitate shared learning and collaboration.
2. Scope potential partnerships with existing and suitable feminist grant making facilities.
3. Facilitate engagement and connections with existing regional and global GBV prevention organisations, researchers and evaluators.

Program Management
The Collaborate team and GBV Technical Partner will provide program management support initially and will progressively transfer responsibilities and accountabilities to the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director (as program management and implementation lead) with a target of full oversight by Year 5. Program management duties include:
 

• Support the Deputy Regional Director by providing oversight, advice and strategy input on all program financial management, risk management, grants management, procurement, contracting, administration, and logistics functions.
• Provide input and advice to program operations and administration processes relating to grants, activity delivery and evidence building.
• Ensure all DFAT policy requirements are fulfilled, including ensuring a robust selection and assessment process for partner organisations. This includes overseeing appropriate organisational capacity and fiduciary assessments, as required.
• Provide high-level oversight to the Program annual work plan budget to ensure expenditure is in line with the approved work plan and that activities are implemented according to strong financial, administrative and governance principles.
• Provide high-level supervision to the monitoring and approval of all activities implemented by the Platform.

 
Program Planning and Reporting
The Regional Director and the Deputy Regional Director will be supported by the Collaborate team to undertake all planning and reporting initially (Y1,2), with view to taking over responsibility over time. Planning and reporting duties include:
 

• Support the Deputy Regional Director by contributing and progressively co-leading the preparation of all program planning and reporting processes, including development of work plans, semi-annual and annual progress reports, and program performance stories.
• Ensure program governance mechanism required to develop and endorse jointly agreed workplans.
• Contribute to overall quality assurance of all program deliverables, ensuring they are submitted on time, are of high quality, and meet DFAT and Cowater reporting standards.
• Respond to DFAT, Steering Committee and/or Cowater, as well as partner governments requests for information, in a timely and responsive manner, including through provision of briefing material, information kits, and arranging logistics for high-level visits, as required.
• Proactively identify opportunities to share relevant issues and information with all program partners.

 
Human Resources Management
 

• Recruit and manage the Secretariat staff, including the three Pillar Leads.
• Build a strong and sustainable Platform team.
• Provide technical and ethical leadership to the Secretariat team, including establishing clear ethical standards of operation related to the conduct of the team and the design and implementation of Platform activities aligned with best practice related to GBV primary prevention.
• In collaboration with the Deputy Regional Director coordinate and oversee the workstreams of the three Pillar Leads, fostering synergy and collaboration between them, especially in the provision of support to Platform stakeholders to ensure that it is coherent and complementary.
• On an ongoing basis, provide guidance and mentorship to three Pillar Leads.
• Manage an overall HR plan for the program
• Delegate tasks appropriately to relevant staff members and foster a collaborative and supportive team environment aligned with the program’s principles (listed in the background section above) and objectives, and which promotes inclusivity, equality and non-discrimination

 
Program Risk Management
This responsibility is initially fully covered by the Collaborate team with a progressive transfer of responsibilities and accountabilities from the Collaborate to the Regional Director with target of full oversight by Year 5.
 

• Proactively monitor and report on program risks (including regular updating of the program risk matrix), and implement mitigation measures, in consultation with Cowater HQ and DFAT.
• In coordination with the Collaborate team’s Operations Director, ensure effective implementation of the program’s Fraud Risk Assessment and Zero Tolerance Fraud Control Strategy.
• Oversee the operationalisation and institutionalisation of a safeguarding framework and reporting/case management system for the Platform which aligns with DFAT’s child protection and PSEAH policies and exemplifies international best practice (this will be supported by the Technical Partner).
• Ensure that Cowater’s corporate interests are respected, including adherence to all relevant policies, procedures, systems, and protocols.
• Keep DFAT advised of any issues that may affect the satisfactory progress of the Program.

 
 
JOB REQUIREMENTS
 

• Commitment to preventing GBV and knowledge of feminist regional movements in SEA, demonstrated through professional experience.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in areas of Gender-Based Violence prevention specifically and in at least one program priority area e.g. capacity strengthening, learning and evidence, policy and advocacy, and external coordination.
• Demonstrated understanding of gender and social inclusion – particular experience with GBV and SOGIESC and / or the intersection of disability and GBV is desirable.
• Demonstrated commitment to safeguarding policies and principles, do no harm, child protection and protection of vulnerable groups in all their work.
• A bachelor’s degree or higher in the following or related fields: social science, international development, business administration, etc.
• A post-graduate degree in a related field is desirable.
• Experience in leading social development programs/organization(s) in Southeast Asia
• High level policy, advocacy and analysis skills.
• Proven experience managing multiple partnerships and developing and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
• Experience building, motivating and managing collaborative and small teams to work productively and effectively towards shared goals.
• Established networks among diverse stakeholders in the Southeast Asia region, including government, regional bodies, women rights organisations, LGBTQI+ groups, organisations of persons with a disability.
• Demonstrated ability to convene or catalyse coalitions of diverse stakeholders with respect and collaboration in pursuit of enhanced approaches to GBV response or prevention or related issues.
• Demonstrated success working with government entities, development partners and civil society organisations to promote the development and/or implementation of social policies.
• Excellent skills in leading (including through adherence to feminist leadership principles) and managing multi-cultural teams and working in a cross-cultural environment.
• Experience managing diverse teams and coordinating work across individuals and workstreams effectively and efficiently.
• Experience implementing a risk-based approach to program or organisational management, including undertaking risk assessments and designing and implementing risk mitigation and management strategies.
• High level interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to convey concepts clearly and concisely.
• Excellent communication in English language both written and oral and at least one Southeast Asian language both written and oral.

 
 
APPLICATION PROCESS
This position is open for citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste, Thailand and Vietnam. We will not consider applicants from other regions/countries. Candidates with the ability to live and work in Bangkok, where our regional hub is, or a willingness to undertake significant travel to Bangkok are strongly encouraged to apply.
Previous applicants will be considered in this round of recruitment. If you have previously applied, you do not need to reapply in this round.
 
Candidates are encouraged to apply by 9 May 2025 as soon as possible. For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position. Please submit:
- Updated CV
- Cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Equal Opportunity: 
Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring based on merit and qualifications. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.  
 
For More Information: 
For further details or to apply, please contact collaborate@prevention-platform.org or visit www.prevention-platform.org.  
Join us in driving impactful GBV prevention efforts in Southeast Asia! 
 
 
ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.
 
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.