Senior Program Manager, Government of Fiji Engagement - Fiji Climate Adaptation Program & Disaster Resilience Program

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Long term position open to Fijian National candidates only
• Contract until 31 December 2027 with possible extension
• Based in Suva, Fiji 
• Please apply online by submitting an up to date CV and a cover letter addressing how you meet the selection criteria of the role.  

Program Overview:    

FPSP (the ‘Platform’) is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment which assists DFAT to deliver Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan for Fiji.  

The Platform supports DFAT to 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, and 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.   

For the position described, the Platform will deliver the Fiji Climate Adaptation Program (FCAP) and the Disaster Resilience Program (DRP). 

Each program is governed by a program-level governance committee made up of senior DFAT and GoF representatives. The governance committees determine the work plans and strategic direction of the programs. It is the responsibility of the Platform to implement the decisions and directions of the governance committee, as well as to ensure seamless collaboration and alignment between the governance of the programs.  

Fiji Climate Adaptation Program (FCAP, AUD 24m, 2025–2029) Overview:

FCAP is Australia’s first bilateral climate program in Fiji. The program responds to Fiji’s escalating climate threats, particularly floods and cyclones, that threaten lives, livelihoods and infrastructure. FCAP will partner with GoF (led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (MoAW)) and civil society organisations (CSOs) to implement climate resilience activities. 

The objective of FCAP is to reduce flood risk and strengthen resilience to flooding through improved water governance, land management, livelihoods and early warning systems.

FCAP will deliver the following outcomes: 

1. Strengthened governance & early warning systems to reduce flood risk and mitigate impacts
   • Support for national/sub-national governance, legal frameworks and planning systems to improve water resource management
   • Flood early warning systems and community flood risk plans
   • Delivered via technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge exchange and flood warning infrastructure.
2. Community-level climate resilience activities to reduce flood risk and mitigate impacts
   • Grants for practical adaptation in priority catchments.
   • Activities include nature-based solutions, climate-smart agriculture and ecosystem conservation.

Disaster Resilience Program (DRP, AUD 4.8m, 2025-2029) Overview:

DRP is Australia’s primary bilateral disaster risk reduction program in Fiji. The program partners with Fiji’s National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) and Fijian-led CSOs to strengthen disaster resilience and improve the quality, inclusivity and timeliness of humanitarian responses at the national and community level in Fiji.

DRP has two EOPOs: 

1. Strengthened institutional capabilities of the NDRMO to prepare for and respond to disasters and undertake resilient recovery.
2. CSOs more effectively manage their resources to deliver high-quality, inclusive, climate resilient preparedness and response programs.

Position Summary: 

The Senior Program Manager, Government of Fiji Engagement (SPM) within the Resilience Team will develop and maintain highly effective working relationships with FCAP and DRPs’ respective lead government counterparts, MoAW and NDRMO, as well as other GoF counterparts and the DFAT team.  

Under FCAP, the SPM will work closely with Fijian Ministries and subnational administrations to strengthen inclusive, integrated and climate resilient water governance and early warning systems to reduce flood risk and mitigate impacts. This will require effective coordination across GoF.

Under DRP, the SPM will work closely with NDRMO to strengthen humanitarian logistics and to strengthen training of Fijian humanitarian responders. 

The SPM will also ensure the inclusion of MEL and safeguarding, as well as mainstreaming of cross-cutting themes (locally-led development, climate resilience and GEDSI) across FCAP and DRP activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and implement GoF engagement and activities across FCAP and DRP, as set out in the relevant Annual Work Plans (AWPs) or as agreed with DFAT. 
• Contribute to sector program design updates, work planning and DFAT reporting as required.
• Monitor progress against AWPs and track results through Platform MEL processes.
• Monitor progress against the budget, forecasting and finance reporting.
• Build and maintain relationships with GoF stakeholders and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinate with the Resilience Team and DFAT teams with respect to GoF engagement, ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, and timelines. 
• Maintain a clear and contemporary understanding of and engagement with the climate and humanitarian context in Fiji (policy, political and donor/investment landscape) and draw upon this to provide relevant advice to DFAT and Platform leadership.
• Proactively mitigate and/or manage emergent issues and risks with GoF activities as they arise, in close consultation with DFAT.
• Ensure program activities and operations are designed and implemented integrating cross-cutting themes including GEDSI, climate change and disaster risk reduction.
• Manage surge funding and support to GoF during humanitarian responses.
• With the Platform Communications team, contribute to the planning and delivery of public diplomacy activities that promote the achievements of the programs and the development cooperation values of the Australian government as a key partner in Fiji’s climate and humanitarian sector. 
• Undertake any other relevant activity, as set out in the relevant Work Plan or as agreed with DFAT.
   

Key Deliverables: 

• Support the development of DRP and FCAP AWPs to guide implementation of GoF support activities aimed at achieving the programs’ EOPOs.
• Implement GoF engagement activities outlined in relevant AWPs. 
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with GoF and other stakeholders as needed to foster collaboration on climate and humanitarian initiatives.

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting to

• Team Leader, Resilience 

Other key working relationships include:

• DFAT Humanitarian and Climate teams  at the Australian High Commission
• SPM CSO Engagement – Resilience Team
• Logistics Adviser – Resilience Team
• Platform Finance, GEDSI and MEL teams
• DRP lead Ministry: NDRMO
• FCAP lead Ministry: MoW

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications/ technical experience 

• Tertiary qualification in relevant field, such as Public Policy, Integrated Water Resource Management or climate resilience/Humanitarian, International Development or Social Science or equivalent experience in a relevant field.  
• Qualification in disaster risk reduction and management and/or climate resilience will be an advantage. 

Experience

• Experience in program or project coordination and administration in development activities, or similar business environment where efficient and effective delivery is the priority. 
• Experience working collaboratively to strengthen government policies, systems and practices.
• Experience in networking and maintaining Government relationships and across a range of donor and sectoral stakeholders. 
• Expertise in climate change adaptation and resilience, humanitarian and disaster risk reduction, and related regional and international frameworks.
• Experience in developing guidelines, practical tools and training to strengthen the capacity of GoF to implement climate and humanitarian activities. 

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the principles of effective procurement, financial and project management. 
• Knowledge of project costing processes and monitoring. 
• Knowledge of Integrated Water Resource Management/Climate Resilience and/or Humanitarian.
• Knowledge of locally led development approaches and applying these to programs.

Personal Attributes

• Strong attention to detail. 
• Ability to work independently and effectively, within tight deadlines. 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with persons of various cultures and disciplines representing a range of stakeholder organisations..

How to apply: