Back
Abt Associates - Economic Initiative Program (EIP) Manager | APSP
30 May 2023 4:10pmApply by14/6/2023
Duration3 Years
Region
Pacific,
Summary
Abt Associates is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the role of Economic Initiative Program (EIP) Manager to be based in Daru, Papua New Guinea
Description
• Location: Daru, Papua New Guinea
• Commencement: July 2023
• Duration of contract: Up to 28 February 2026
• Open to PNG Citizens only
About the Program
A stable, prosperous, peaceful and resilient PNG is critical to Australia's interests. Australia is PNG's largest development partner; its main partner on economic and security issues.
The Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP) is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including; Bougainville Partnership (BP), Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP) and South Fly Resilience Plan and Western Province Partnership (WPP). Each program has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems.
There are five high level outcomes which span all programs:
• Output one: Effective gender-centred programs delivered for Bougainville, Kokoda, and Western Province
• Output two: Support DFAT to coordinate Australian inputs in selected subnational contexts
• Output three: Technical assistance targeted at key institutions and policy reforms
• Output four: Rapid programming of resources in support of DFAT priorities
• Output five and six: Analysis, learning, and adaptation
Managed by Abt Associates under a single contract from 2022 to 2026, the centralised approach is aimed to ensure and drive value for money by realising back office efficiencies, ensure gender is consistently at the forefront of each program and deliver opportunities for learning and adaptation between programs.
Program Activity
The Western Province Partnership (WPP) is a component of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Subnational Program (APSP). The objective of the WPP is for Australia and Western Province foster stronger ties and greater coordination to improve human and economic development, enabling infrastructure and regional security.
The WPP will work toward the realisation of the following end of program outcomes (EOPO) by 2026:
1. Women and men participating in program activities have diversified livelihoods from agriculture and fisheries.
2. Targeted communities collaborate to strengthen welfare, production, and resilience.
3. Women contribute to decision-making and take on leadership roles in targeted provincial, district, and community structures.
4. Policy and practice at provincial and district levels are directed towards delivery of minimum priority services.
The WPP is nested under the Western Province Strategy which aims to unify Australia’s development assistance and captures Australia’s whole-of-government engagement. The main components of the South Fly Resilience Plan have transitioned to the WPP.
About the Opportunity
This Economic Initiative Program (EIP) Manager will be responsible for the management, of the functions and operations of a EIP team, including team leadership, grants management, and capacity building. The EIP Manager will ensure the outputs are compliant with DFAT and Abt Associates policies and deliver on agreed objectives as set out in APSP operations manuals.
A key function of the position will be the demonstration of a visible and systematic commitment to achieving gender equality at Abt and for achieving against agreed gender equality performance objectives.
Key Responsibilities
This role will be responsible for;
Grant Management & Procurement:
• Oversee EIP Grants project cycle in accordance with EIP Operations Manual guidelines, including: the call for proposals, mobilization, implementation, and management of grants.
• Ensure coordination and management of a portfolio of approved grants, including: handling enquiries, assessments, monitoring and reporting of the grants pipelines.
• Oversee a project and grantee based management information system and associated monitoring arrangements (including formats) to supervise the performance of grantees in implementing projects. Ensure the implementation of systematic and scheduled monitoring of grants.
• Draft project contracts and associated agreements according to financial controls and the procedures manual for grants and funding applications as approved by the EIP Technical Working Group (TWG).
• Ensure coordination of grants information and reports throughout the life of each grant, in collaboration with the Finance Officer and EIP Grant Officers.
• Oversee monitoring spot-checks of grant recipients within the grants portfolio to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of grants funds in accordance with agreed Grantee project activity and procurement plans.
• Liaise and coordinate with the finance team, Grant Officers, and grant recipients in managing approved grants, including a joint approach to the monitoring of progress and expenditure against milestones that builds capacity of counterpart staff and grant recipients.
• Support liaison with WPP Operations Team in coordination of EIP logistics and operational requirements, including the provision of an updated monthly travel schedule to the Security Coordinator and Logistics & Administration Officer on a bi-weekly basis.
• Provide grants specific reports as required.
• Support procurement coordination and oversight of EIP Grant Officers and ensure adherence to timelines and quality controls.
EIP Leadership
• Manage the day-to-day functions and administration required to support EIP, including the supervision and mentoring of staff.
• Ensure output plans, individual work plans and team plans are delivered as agreed.
• Mentor and develop EIP personnel.
• Design, record and implement capacity building and training strategies.
• Liaise with Management/Advisers to ensure cohesion and integration of EIP and other programmatic components.
• Establish and manage effective relationships with Technical Working Group (TWG).
• With the Team Leader, establish and manage effective relationships with relevant government and community partners.
• Conduct awareness campaigns and ensure accurate and ‘on message’ information is disseminated.
• Manage grievances, conflict of interest and corruption situations as they arise, internally and externally.
• Provide strategic advice to Team Leader on matters that may affect the achievement of EIP activity outcomes or the overall direction of the program.
• Ensure that stakeholders (farmers, traders, manufacturers, government agencies and civil society groups and donors) have knowledge and understanding of the purpose of the EIP.
• Ensure effective coordination and management of the portfolio of EIP farmer group grants, including: monitoring and updating tranche payment tracking and database upkeep.
• Ensure EIP Grant Officers adhere to the EIP’s grants systems (including the farmer handbook) and the EIP Operations Manual (including processes, procedures, and tools).
• Provide oversight and approval of grantee technical assessments and financial reporting.
• When required, contribute to the improvement of EIP tools, project-based management information systems and associated monitoring arrangements (including formats) to supervise the performance of grantees in implementing projects.
• Work closely in a strong partnership with counterparts from the DAL, Community Governments and other WPA/SFD sections/divisions in undertaking the grants management and administration function.
• Contribute strategic advice on matters that may affect the achievement of EIP activity outcomes or the overall direction of the program.
Budget management
• Support the preparation of budget and financial reporting of projects, developing and monitoring of monthly budgets and forecasts and identify any variances between budgeted amounts against the actual costs incurred.
• Coordinate the payment of invoices and the sourcing of quotes that align with the facility’s financial procurement standards and processes.
• Work closely with the WPP grant focal point and Team Leader/Grant Manager to review narrative and financial reporting and ensure compliance.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion – Collaborate with the MERL and GEDSI teams to ensure:
• Performance indicators and targets, with a focus on gender and youth, are included in grant agreements and incorporated in monitoring and reporting systems.
• The timely collection of data and information relevant to gender and social inclusion performance indicators and targets.
• That relevant aspects of the WPP’s GEDSI strategy are incorporated into EIP programming and monitoring.
Safeguarding
• Support partner compliance with all relevant policies and procedures regarding environmental and social safeguards.
• Ensure staff take responsibility and adhere to Health, Safety and Security policies and procedures and report any issues encountered.
Other
• Ensure the integrity of Abt Associates at all times amongst all stakeholders.
• Compliance with DFAT and Abt Associates policies.
• Participate in communities of practice, as relevant.
• Support program close out and novation activities.
• Any other reasonable duties as directed by the Team Leader
Key working relationships
Reporting to:
• Team Leader
Direct reports:
• Project Officers x3
Working alongside:
• Manager, Finance & Operations
• Manager, Community Grants Scheme
• Subnational Adviser
• Deputy Team Leader
• MERLA Manager
• Infrastructure & Procurement Coordinator
• Accountant (POM)
• Abt PNG Management Services Unit
• GEDSI & Safeguarding COP
• Implementing Partners – national and sub national levels
• DFAT, GoPNG and key stakeholders at national and sub national levels
About You
For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided;
• Tertiary qualifications in project management, public policy, economics, agriculture, development, or relevant field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management principles and methodology.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience managing or coordinating grant schemes or community development activities across large and complex politically sensitive environments in PNG.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective teams collaborate and influence others, especially in a cross-cultural context.
• Strong written communication skills with demonstrated experience preparing high quality reports and professional documents for senior and executive audiences.
How to Apply
Please ensure to address the Key Selection Criteria (About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document.
We welcome and thank all applications, however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2023, 12 PM (Midday, local time)
Abt Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to upholding high standards of Child Protection, Anti-bribery, and Fraud Protection.
We encourage applications from experienced and capable women, and people with disabilities
• Commencement: July 2023
• Duration of contract: Up to 28 February 2026
• Open to PNG Citizens only
About the Program
A stable, prosperous, peaceful and resilient PNG is critical to Australia's interests. Australia is PNG's largest development partner; its main partner on economic and security issues.
The Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP) is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including; Bougainville Partnership (BP), Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP) and South Fly Resilience Plan and Western Province Partnership (WPP). Each program has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems.
There are five high level outcomes which span all programs:
• Output one: Effective gender-centred programs delivered for Bougainville, Kokoda, and Western Province
• Output two: Support DFAT to coordinate Australian inputs in selected subnational contexts
• Output three: Technical assistance targeted at key institutions and policy reforms
• Output four: Rapid programming of resources in support of DFAT priorities
• Output five and six: Analysis, learning, and adaptation
Managed by Abt Associates under a single contract from 2022 to 2026, the centralised approach is aimed to ensure and drive value for money by realising back office efficiencies, ensure gender is consistently at the forefront of each program and deliver opportunities for learning and adaptation between programs.
Program Activity
The Western Province Partnership (WPP) is a component of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Subnational Program (APSP). The objective of the WPP is for Australia and Western Province foster stronger ties and greater coordination to improve human and economic development, enabling infrastructure and regional security.
The WPP will work toward the realisation of the following end of program outcomes (EOPO) by 2026:
1. Women and men participating in program activities have diversified livelihoods from agriculture and fisheries.
2. Targeted communities collaborate to strengthen welfare, production, and resilience.
3. Women contribute to decision-making and take on leadership roles in targeted provincial, district, and community structures.
4. Policy and practice at provincial and district levels are directed towards delivery of minimum priority services.
The WPP is nested under the Western Province Strategy which aims to unify Australia’s development assistance and captures Australia’s whole-of-government engagement. The main components of the South Fly Resilience Plan have transitioned to the WPP.
About the Opportunity
This Economic Initiative Program (EIP) Manager will be responsible for the management, of the functions and operations of a EIP team, including team leadership, grants management, and capacity building. The EIP Manager will ensure the outputs are compliant with DFAT and Abt Associates policies and deliver on agreed objectives as set out in APSP operations manuals.
A key function of the position will be the demonstration of a visible and systematic commitment to achieving gender equality at Abt and for achieving against agreed gender equality performance objectives.
Key Responsibilities
This role will be responsible for;
Grant Management & Procurement:
• Oversee EIP Grants project cycle in accordance with EIP Operations Manual guidelines, including: the call for proposals, mobilization, implementation, and management of grants.
• Ensure coordination and management of a portfolio of approved grants, including: handling enquiries, assessments, monitoring and reporting of the grants pipelines.
• Oversee a project and grantee based management information system and associated monitoring arrangements (including formats) to supervise the performance of grantees in implementing projects. Ensure the implementation of systematic and scheduled monitoring of grants.
• Draft project contracts and associated agreements according to financial controls and the procedures manual for grants and funding applications as approved by the EIP Technical Working Group (TWG).
• Ensure coordination of grants information and reports throughout the life of each grant, in collaboration with the Finance Officer and EIP Grant Officers.
• Oversee monitoring spot-checks of grant recipients within the grants portfolio to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of grants funds in accordance with agreed Grantee project activity and procurement plans.
• Liaise and coordinate with the finance team, Grant Officers, and grant recipients in managing approved grants, including a joint approach to the monitoring of progress and expenditure against milestones that builds capacity of counterpart staff and grant recipients.
• Support liaison with WPP Operations Team in coordination of EIP logistics and operational requirements, including the provision of an updated monthly travel schedule to the Security Coordinator and Logistics & Administration Officer on a bi-weekly basis.
• Provide grants specific reports as required.
• Support procurement coordination and oversight of EIP Grant Officers and ensure adherence to timelines and quality controls.
EIP Leadership
• Manage the day-to-day functions and administration required to support EIP, including the supervision and mentoring of staff.
• Ensure output plans, individual work plans and team plans are delivered as agreed.
• Mentor and develop EIP personnel.
• Design, record and implement capacity building and training strategies.
• Liaise with Management/Advisers to ensure cohesion and integration of EIP and other programmatic components.
• Establish and manage effective relationships with Technical Working Group (TWG).
• With the Team Leader, establish and manage effective relationships with relevant government and community partners.
• Conduct awareness campaigns and ensure accurate and ‘on message’ information is disseminated.
• Manage grievances, conflict of interest and corruption situations as they arise, internally and externally.
• Provide strategic advice to Team Leader on matters that may affect the achievement of EIP activity outcomes or the overall direction of the program.
• Ensure that stakeholders (farmers, traders, manufacturers, government agencies and civil society groups and donors) have knowledge and understanding of the purpose of the EIP.
• Ensure effective coordination and management of the portfolio of EIP farmer group grants, including: monitoring and updating tranche payment tracking and database upkeep.
• Ensure EIP Grant Officers adhere to the EIP’s grants systems (including the farmer handbook) and the EIP Operations Manual (including processes, procedures, and tools).
• Provide oversight and approval of grantee technical assessments and financial reporting.
• When required, contribute to the improvement of EIP tools, project-based management information systems and associated monitoring arrangements (including formats) to supervise the performance of grantees in implementing projects.
• Work closely in a strong partnership with counterparts from the DAL, Community Governments and other WPA/SFD sections/divisions in undertaking the grants management and administration function.
• Contribute strategic advice on matters that may affect the achievement of EIP activity outcomes or the overall direction of the program.
Budget management
• Support the preparation of budget and financial reporting of projects, developing and monitoring of monthly budgets and forecasts and identify any variances between budgeted amounts against the actual costs incurred.
• Coordinate the payment of invoices and the sourcing of quotes that align with the facility’s financial procurement standards and processes.
• Work closely with the WPP grant focal point and Team Leader/Grant Manager to review narrative and financial reporting and ensure compliance.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion – Collaborate with the MERL and GEDSI teams to ensure:
• Performance indicators and targets, with a focus on gender and youth, are included in grant agreements and incorporated in monitoring and reporting systems.
• The timely collection of data and information relevant to gender and social inclusion performance indicators and targets.
• That relevant aspects of the WPP’s GEDSI strategy are incorporated into EIP programming and monitoring.
Safeguarding
• Support partner compliance with all relevant policies and procedures regarding environmental and social safeguards.
• Ensure staff take responsibility and adhere to Health, Safety and Security policies and procedures and report any issues encountered.
Other
• Ensure the integrity of Abt Associates at all times amongst all stakeholders.
• Compliance with DFAT and Abt Associates policies.
• Participate in communities of practice, as relevant.
• Support program close out and novation activities.
• Any other reasonable duties as directed by the Team Leader
Key working relationships
Reporting to:
• Team Leader
Direct reports:
• Project Officers x3
Working alongside:
• Manager, Finance & Operations
• Manager, Community Grants Scheme
• Subnational Adviser
• Deputy Team Leader
• MERLA Manager
• Infrastructure & Procurement Coordinator
• Accountant (POM)
• Abt PNG Management Services Unit
• GEDSI & Safeguarding COP
• Implementing Partners – national and sub national levels
• DFAT, GoPNG and key stakeholders at national and sub national levels
About You
For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided;
• Tertiary qualifications in project management, public policy, economics, agriculture, development, or relevant field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management principles and methodology.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience managing or coordinating grant schemes or community development activities across large and complex politically sensitive environments in PNG.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective teams collaborate and influence others, especially in a cross-cultural context.
• Strong written communication skills with demonstrated experience preparing high quality reports and professional documents for senior and executive audiences.
How to Apply
Please ensure to address the Key Selection Criteria (About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document.
We welcome and thank all applications, however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2023, 12 PM (Midday, local time)
Abt Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to upholding high standards of Child Protection, Anti-bribery, and Fraud Protection.
We encourage applications from experienced and capable women, and people with disabilities