GEDSI Training Specialist - Gender Equality, Disability and Social Program

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Short Term Personnel: Aug – Dec 2025 (up to 45 days in the term)
• Based in Suva, Fiji and remote as well

Program Overview: 

FPSP, also referred to as the ‘Platform’, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment, will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan.  

The Platform will 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, 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. 

Context:

At the national level, Fiji has implemented key legislative and policy measures to advance gender equality. These initiatives include gender mainstreaming through institutional capacity development and gender-responsive planning and budgeting, the Fiji Gender Country Assessment (2023), the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls (2023–2028), and the development of a new National Action Plan for Women’s Economic Empowerment. 

Fiji has also committed to core international and regional instruments to support gender equality, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1995), the revised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (2023) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 5 (gender equality).   

The MWCSP is responsible for the Fiji Government’s services and programs aligned to the: 

• Care and protection of children; 

• Provision of income support to families to address poverty; 

• Provision of policy intervention for older persons; 

• Provision of policy intervention for persons with disabilities; and 

• Promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women 

Despite progress towards achieving gender equality in Fiji, challenges remain. The MWCSP’s Fiji Country Gender Assessment 2023 offers a detailed analysis of issues, including high rates of gender-based violence, low levels of representation of women in leadership, lower workforce participation rates and challenges with access to sexual reproductive health and rights.     

Australia has supported a long-term gender advisor in the MWCSP since 2015. Australia and Fiji have reaffirmed their commitment to work together to address gender equality, through the renewed and elevated Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership.  

To support the MWCSP to achieve its aims, the Advisor will need to be based in Suva and work within the MWCSP office. 

Position Summary:

The GEDSI Training Adviser will design, pilot, and refine a GEDSI training curriculum tailored to the specific needs of the Fiji Public Service Commission (PSC), to be delivered through the Fiji Learning Institute for the Public Service (FLIPS). Through the duration of the contract, the Adviser will provide expert guidance and technical support to ensure the curriculum and its delivery adopt a "do no harm" approach to women’s safety, promote male advocacy on Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW), and drive transformational change across civil service systems, structures, and social norms. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Toolkit Development

• Consult with existing GEDSI service providers to gather insights and best practices review of existing toolkits
• Consult with PSC personnel on GEDSI training needs
• Design GEDSI Training Toolkit tailored for PSC personnel and submit for stakeholder review
• Incorporate feedback and finalize the Toolkit for pilot testing
• Lead the pilot implementation of the training Toolkit
• Refine the Toolkit based on pilot feedback and prepare hard and soft copies for printing and distribution

Training Implementation

• Facilitate delivery of GEDSI Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for FLIPS training facilitators
• Develop and submit a comprehensive training report outlining progress, outcomes, and lessons learned

Coaching & Mentoring

• Co-facilitate and support FLIPS delivery of pilot training sessions
• Review Terms of Reference for PSC GEDSI Community of Practice
• Provide mentorship and guidance to teams and individuals to enhance their capacity in applying GEDSI principles
• Promote collaboration across stakeholders and encourage the sharing of best practices and learnings

Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL)

• Design MEL tools, including pre- and post-training questionnaires
• Assist the FLIPS team in establishing mechanisms to monitor progress, evaluate the impact of GEDSI initiatives, and guide continuous improvement efforts

Key Deliverables: 

GEDSI Training Toolkit

• Draft Civil Service GEDSI Training Toolkit
• Final version of the Toolkit, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and pilot implementation

Training Activities

• Delivered Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops for FLIPS, NAP, and Platform Community of Practice
• Training report detailing outcomes, feedback, challenges, and recommendations

Support & Capacity Building

• Coaching and mentoring sessions for FLIPS team during Civil Service Training delivery
• Draft Terms of Reference for the GEDSI Community of Practice
• Documentation of ongoing support activities and reflections to strengthen GEDSI implementation

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Pre- and post-training evaluation tools
• Mechanism or framework for tracking GEDSI training progress and impact
• Summary report with recommendations for continuous improvement

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting to

• Direct: (TBD through consultation with PSC and FLIPS)
• Indirect: Cross Cutting Priorities Lead, Fiji Program Support Platform

Other

• Other teams / Ministry or DFAT counterparts / partners / sub-contractors

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies, Social Work, Development Studies, Human Rights, Education, Public Policy or other relevant field
• Postgraduate qualifications in GEDSI, Monitoring & Evaluation, or a related discipline will be highly regarded

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in designing and implementing GEDSI-focused programs or policies
• Experience developing training curricula and toolkits, preferably within a government or institutional setting.
• Strong facilitation skills and familiarity with adult learning principles and coaching diverse groups of stakeholders
• Experience leading or participating in Communities of Practice is an asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparing high-quality reports, ToRs, and training documents.
• Knowledge of global and regional GEDSI standards, frameworks, and best practices.
• Proven ability to consult with service providers, government counterparts, and community groups.
• Strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration and co-create solutions with partners.

How to Apply:

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and an up-to-date comprehensive CV.   

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