Location: Port Moresby Commencement: January 2025 Open to PNG Citizens 

About the Program 

The PNG Australia Transition to Health (PATH) is a 6-year (2020-2026) health sector program funded by the Australian Government under the Papua New Guinea – Australia Partnership for Development. PATH works with the PNG Government to improve coverage and quality of health services for the people of PNG through effective, equitable, efficient, and inclusive interventions. 

Guided by the National Department of Health (NDoH), Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) and the Bougainville Department of Health (BDoH) who are responsible for the delivery of health services across PNG.

PATH assists NDoH, PHAs and BDoH to strengthen systems for health service delivery targeting infectious diseases, and reproductive, maternal, newborn child and adolescent health, with a focus on promoting women’s leadership.

PATH’s end of investment outcomes (EOIO) are: 

PHAs more able to lead provincial health reform and manage effective, efficient, equitable and quality essential health services in selected provinces.  DFAT funded health services are demonstrating efficient and effective models of service delivery, influencing Provincial Health Authority (PHA) performance; and building sustainability by transitioning to PHA management in selected provinces. 

PATH’s intermediate outcome (IOs) are: PHA Leadership, Women in Leadership and Health Care Workforce.   

PATH is a locally led, adaptive, and politically informed program that seeks to maintain flexibility to respond to changing and local circumstances over the life of the program.

Position Context

AIHSS2 is a 4-year program (2024–2027) funded by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

AIHSS2 aims to increase access to quality and affordable health services and strengthen health systems. AIHSS provides support to PHAs and BDoH to improve the reach of routine immunisation (RI) services and increase immunisation coverage of target populations.

AIHSS2 will be delivered through the existing and largest health investment by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in PNG, the PATH Program. PATH, an established program managed by Abt Associates will provide governance and contractual oversight and operational support to AIHSS2,.

Position Overview

The AIHSS2 GEDSI Specialist is responsible for providing technical, strategic, operational, and capacity building support to advance gender equality, disability, and social inclusion.. The GEDSI Specialist will work under the supervision of the AIHSS2 Project Lead and work closely with the technical GEDSI and Safeguarding Lead and broader project teams.

Key Responsibilities 

The GEDSI Specialist will be responsible for but not limited to:

Strategic, Technical and Capacity Building Support

Working closely with the GEDSI and Safeguarding Lead and Project Lead, develop and implement the AIHSS2 GEDSI Strategy Working with the PATH GEDSI team to ensure GEDSI mainstreaming across all aspects of AIHSS2, ensuring integration  Guiding and facilitating GEDSI activities in the AIHSS2, ensuring meaningful engagement with Women-Led Organisations and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities Guiding PHAs and BDoH on GEDSI responsive policies and recruitment of GEDSI personnel in their systems and structures Supporting development of GEDSI Action Plans by PHAs and BDoH in the operational areas of AIHSS2 Guiding meaningful methods to include men, women, boys, and girls including those with disability, ethnic groups, and geographies in public health program, especially routine immunisation, and outreach programs Developing and implementing specific strategies to ensure hard-to-reach, marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities and women are integral to health systems strengthening processes Providing technical review and recommendations to AIHSS2 workplans, budgets, and regular progress reports internally and externally on GEDSI Working with the PATH GEDSI team, support in the development and review of GEDSI training materials Working with the PATH GEDSI team, support and guide GEDSI trainings, reflection sessions and consultations to capture opinions and feedback directly from communities, and key stakeholder groups and report to PHA/BDoH Senior Management Team to inform policies, strategies, procedures, and standards

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Research

Working closely with MEL Specialist, develop AIHSS2 GEDSI indicators and ensure GEDSI indicators, outputs and activities are integral part of the MEL Framework Supporting collection of disaggregated data for sex, age and disability Guiding and supporting the development and use of relevant GEDSI tools for data collection and evidence-based implementation Providing regular GEDSI reports and data information to PHA/BDoH GEDSI Officers to support GEDSI progress reporting to the PHA/BDoH Senior management

Coordination & Representation

Coordinating and collaborating with NDoH gender teams, provincial administration gender offices, to ensure learning across the program. Where required, facilitating health outreach in collaboration with implementing partners to fill gaps on reach to persons with disabilities, women, and girls. (Accessing health facilities for immunisation, family planning, ante-natal, and other essential services) Ensuring coordination and implementation of AIHSS2 annual implementation plan aligns to the GEDSI Immunisation Strategy

Communications, Advocacy, and Promotion of GEDSI 

Supporting development of GEDSI stories of significant change Providing GEDSI-related technical inputs to PHA health plans specific to Maternal and Child Health, strategies, policies, procedures, and reports Providing technical coordination, monitoring, and reporting of GEDSI-related promotions and advocacy initiatives and implementations to PHAs in line with AIHSS2

General

Undertake any other relevant duties as directed by GEDSI and Safeguarding Lead and AIHSS2 Project Lead.

Specific Deliverables

GEDSI indicators reviewed annually or as needed GEDSI Activity plan that leads to the achievement of GEDSI End of Program Outcomes developed in the first 3-months All GEDSI-related activities and processes reported on in line with AIHSS2 and PATH reporting compliance and expectations (ongoing) Stories of significant changes relating to GEDSI and AIHSS2 developed and documented (ongoing)

Key working relationships 

PATH GEDSI and Safeguarding Team PATH AIHSS2 Team PATH Performance and Adaptive Systems (PAS) Team PATH PHA Capacity Team PATH Technical Advisers Grantees: PHAs, BDoH and Implementing service providers GoPNG: NdoH Technical Partners: WHO, UNICEF, World Bank

About You 

For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided;

Qualifications in social work, public health, gender, and disability studies and or related fields in international development, social sciences, and public policy Demonstrated 10 to 15 years’ relevant experience providing GEDSI technical support on a project and/or program Demonstrated experience in practical and impactful GEDSI mainstreaming approaches Excellent understanding of the integration of GEDSI in monitoring, evaluation and learning processes and data collection Significant experience in developing GEDSI programs, and conducting events, meetings, delivering GEDSI training Significant experience in leading events that promote GEDSI awareness issues Excellent knowledge and understanding of the PNG Health Sector (desirable)

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.  Applications must be submitted personally by individuals only. Applications submitted by a company or organisation will not be accepted.  The successful applicant will be engaged through an employment agreement determined by Abt.

 

We encourage applications from experienced and capable women, and people with disabilities.

Closing Date: Friday, 15 November 2024, 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. 

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