About the Program
The goal of PNG Women Lead is that PNG women and girls, in all their diversity, are safe and equitably share in resources, opportunities and decision-making, with men and boys.
The objectives of the PNG Women Lead program are drawn from DFAT’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy:
a) Enhancing women’s voice in decision-making and leadership
b) Ending violence against women and girls
c) Promoting women’s economic empowerment
This is to be achieved through four End-of-program outcomes (EOPO).
To achieve EOPO 1 - Selected partners better represent women’s voice and interests in targeted areas, including women with disabilities, the program will deliver:
· Expanded networks of effective advocates (men & women) progress gender equality & women’s empowerment.
· An expanded and more effective PNG women’s movement.
· More women are supported as decision-makers and leaders in selected partner organisations.
To achieve EOPO 2 - Increased awareness and practice of respectful and safe ways of relating between men and women in target areas, the program will deliver:
· More effective strategies promote respectful and safe ways of relating between men and women in target areas.
To achieve EOPO 3 - Women have improved access to coordinated GBV case management in target areas, including women with disabilities, the program will deliver:
· Key partners expand access to safe and effective GBV services.
· Select GoPNG agencies establish coordinated GBV case management pathways.
· GoPNG increasingly funds safe and effective GBV response services.
To achieve EOPO 4 - Selected partners expand women’s financial decision-making powers and employment opportunities, including women with disabilities, the program will deliver:
· Women are supported as decision-makers and leaders at work in participating workplaces.
· Women increasingly exercise financial decision-making (with men) in targeted households.
· Building on lessons and evidence from Pacific Women and based on feedback through design consultations, this program will adopt the following delivery approaches:
· Local leadership – strategically, technically, and operationally - by local women situated in a Program Management Team in PNG, with nuanced and empowering support from the Managing Contractor (MC).
· Strategic partnerships - with credible local women’s organisations, with support from international partners where required, with GoPNG, the private sector and core funding for UN Women.
· Enhanced technical capability - including a Gender Hub.
· Strong linkages with the Pacific Women Lead and other relevant initiatives.
· Focus on targeted areas and leveraging other programs for national reach.
About the Opportunity
The Senior Program Manager (SPM) for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) will be responsible for:
· Internal and external monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting,
· Providing TA to strengthen partner capacity for GEDSI-responsive MERL,
· Activity design, adaptation, scaling and learning functions,
· Evaluation, research, and analytics,
in support of achievement of the program’s End-of-Program-Outcomes. The SPM MERL will be working closely with the program’s Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader, the MERL Adviser, as well as the other SPMs.
The SPM MERL will apply a wide range of tools to shape and implement MERL approaches, in close collaboration with program stakeholders and guided by the principles outlined in Abt’s internal GEDSI Framework: self-reflection, working with those most impacted, co-creation through localisation, intersectionality, accountability and doing no harm, and transformational practices.
Key responsibilities
Internal and external reporting
· Support the MERL Adviser with the design of feminist, GEDSI-responsive Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Framework and Plan, and associated tools and processes
· In close collaboration with the MERL Adviser, design the program’s Performance Assessment Framework
· Collect, monitor, and update progress towards Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) indicators
· Coordinate, QA and analyse partner reporting
· Oversee and monitor Value for Money (VfM) reporting and indicators
· Design and management of internal Management Information System (MIS), in close collaboration with the Senior MERL Consultant and the Pacific Women Lead program
· Lead six monthly and annual (or other stated) reporting processes to Australian High Commission (AHC), GoPNG and women’s CSO stakeholders.
Activity design, adaptation, and learning functions
As part of the Adaptive Management/ Thinking Working Politically (TWP) (AMTWP) approach and in support of the program’s major objective of strengthening PNG women’s movements and women’s voice and agency:
· Work with program staff and stakeholders to facilitate joint problem identification and priorities to inform planning processes
· Facilitate and coordinate regular and joint review of the program’s theory of change with program stakeholders
· Support the program team and stakeholders with the joint production of baseline assessments and learning products that are accessible to program stakeholders and intersectional where possible
· Facilitate six monthly strategy testing processes
· Contribute to strong relationships and effective collaboration with other Australian-funded program activities on gender equality and women’s empowerment, and with the program’s Gender Hub, including through active participation in the Abt GEDSI Community of Practice, the Abt MERL Community of Practice, and the wider PNG DFAT Contractors GEDSI Community of Practice.
Evaluation, research and analytics
· Working with program staff, stakeholders and the MERL Adviser, establish and implement the program’s evaluation plan, including:
- Design ToRs, oversee implementation, QA, organise publication, and facilitate program improvement as a result
· Working with program staff, stakeholders and the MERL Adviser, establish and oversee analytic and research pipeline based on demand from program partners and stakeholders including:
- Establish a short-listed panel of research individuals and entities
- Design ToRs, oversee implementation, QA, organise publication, and facilitate program improvement as a result
· Produce Significant Change Case Studies as required
Other duties as directed by the Team Leader.
Key deliverables
· Support the design of the program’s MEL Framework and Plan, and Performance Assessment Framework that meet internal (Abt) and external (DFAT) standards, promote feminist methodologies, and respond to GEDSI-related constraints and opportunities
· Support the roll out of MELF systems across program and coordinate reporting against PAF, ensuring safeguarding and a Do No Harm approach
· Deliver on GoPNG and DFAT reporting requirements
· Produce high quality case studies as required
· Efficient management of the Management Information System (MIS)
· Establishment of Evaluation Plan
· Establishment of Analytic and Research Pipeline
· Working with the Capacity Strengthening Adviser, identify needs and implement approaches to strengthen feminist MERL systems and practices among program partners
· Support counterparts to understand and apply Adaptive Management and Thinking and Working Politically approaches in their MERL
· Incorporate innovative approaches into the design and delivery of MERL systems and practices
· Actively contribute to technical working groups and stakeholder meetings
· Work with program staff, including advisers, to support partners to understand and apply transformative and intersectional GEDSI approaches in their MERL
· Ensure design and delivery of MERL approaches and activities address disability inclusion and other intersectional issues, in close collaboration with the SPM Disability Inclusion and Men’s Engagement Adviser
· Build and maintain open, productive and outcome-oriented relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including the AHC, GoPNG and development partners.
Key working relationships
· Team Leader
· Deputy Team Leader
· MERL (Short Term) Adviser
· Senior Program Managers for WIL-WEE, GBV, and Disability Inclusion
· Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Manager
· PNG Women Lead program partners
· Australian High Commission
· Department of Community Development, Youth and Religion
About You
For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided.
· Tertiary qualifications in development, social welfare, international relations, public policy, or a related field
· Minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience in MERL in the context of development, project management, or a related field.
· Ddemonstrated understanding of GEDSI principles and how they apply to aid programming and evaluation.
· Experience in building capacity of internal and external stakeholders for MERL.
· Familiarity with aid management and quality assurance systems.
· Excellent writing and presentation skills, including the preparation of reports, briefs, and policy analysis for key stakeholder audiences.
· Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and relationship management skills with proven results in working with senior leaders, external stakeholders, and officials to achieve outcomes.
How to Apply
Please submit your application online; attach your cover letter and CV as a single document, addressing how you meet the Key selection criteria of this role.
We welcome and thank all applications; however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing Date: Monday, 6 March 2023
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
About Us
Abt Associates 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 www.abtassociates.com
Equity
Abt Associates 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.
