Summary
Abt Global is seeking a highly qualified individual for the Team Lead -Macro-economic Stability and Public Financial Management on the Australia PNG Economic Partnership (APEP) Program. This role will be apart of APEP’s Senior Leadership Team and will be based in Port Moresby.
Description
About the Program
The Australia – PNG Economic Partnership (APEP) is a multi-sectoral investment to assist GoPNG to create a stable and more prosperous country. The investment is a key coordination point from which Australia delivers its economic development support to PNG. The Australian Government is committed to delivering the Partnership in accordance with the principles of integration and alignment with PNG’s economic sector policies, systems and processes.
The Partnership’s policy objective is to assist PNG in its efforts to achieve sustained growth, capable of lifting the standard of living of all citizens, while also ensuring Australia maintains its reputation as PNG’s economic partner of choice.
About the Opportunity
This position will oversee Workstream 1 in APEP’s second phase which includes supporting GoPNG to safeguard macroeconomic stability and strengthening public financial management (PFM). A revised strategy and approach for Phase 2 is being guided by recommendations of an APEP external Mid-Term Review (MTR) conducted in June 2025 which concluded that APEP was strategically relevant but needed tighter workstream strategies and program logic. Enhanced technical leadership was also deemed necessary, with better coordination across workstreams.
A strength of the first phase of activities in Workstream 1 has been the delivery of credible macroeconomic advice that supports reform momentum. But the modality adopted for this work – largely based around targeted technical assistance delivered through long-term advisers based within central Departments – needs to ensure that the technical and systemic improvements supported by advisers are sustainable and shared more broadly across PNG Departments. This will also require a strengthened focus on capacity building approaches for sustainable outcomes and exchange of insights and lessons between advisers. The position will require strong adviser management linking adviser performance expectations to workstream strategy. This will include holding regular, strategic discussions with advisors, as well as government, to identify critical constraints to GoPNG economic ministries, as well as government priorities and needs.
While the first phase of APEP emphasised responsiveness to GoPNG’s demand for technical support, Phase 2 will complement this with more strategic and medium-term proposals. This will place a premium on deep technical insights across public financial management and macroeconomic policy in emerging economies.
As the second phase of APEP builds a more coherent approach across the entire program, Workstream 1 will need to develop enhanced ways of engaging with other APEP workstreams, specifically the enabling environment for private sector development and the agricultural sector.
The dynamism of the PNG policy environment generates other demands on this position. The role will be responsible for ensuring that progress and key milestones around these reforms are tracked and insights shared with GoPNG and the AHC, including through formal program governance channels. Likewise, the role will need to strengthen APEP’s stakeholder engagement by expanding the range of stakeholders, including beyond central agencies, multilateral financial institutions and provincial governments. The scope for broadening APEP’s subnational support to select provincial governments to strengthen PFM will be an early topic of discussion with the AHC.
This role will be part of a reinvigorated APEP executive team. In addition to ensuring the impact, excellence and relevance of Workstream 1, the position will be required to work with colleague senior managers to ensure the coherence of the entire program.
About You
For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided.
For more information on the role and how to apply, please click on ‘Apply Now’
Abt Global 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 Abt Global.
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.
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.
