JOB DESCRIPTION

• Commencement: February or March 2026
• Duration: From February 2026 to February 2030
• Based in Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, PNG
• Open to PNG national candidates

About the Program 

For Australia and New Zealand, the emergence of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Bougainville is a key national interest; supporting the Government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement is an explicit commitment in the Australia government 2017 White Paper. An overriding interest is to maintain the peace that the Agreement brought about and that is enabled by political dialogue, within and outside Bougainville, and economic development. It implies a readiness to engage for the long term, accepting that the development of institutions and diversified economic opportunities will be slow.

 

The Bougainville Partnership (BP) is a  took on its current form in 2016, inheriting activities from a number of separately administered initiatives. The structure of the program remains similar to the BP’s previous program, but with updated outcomes as follows:

Pillar 1 – Capable Institutions 

1. GoPNG and ABG institutions are able to carry out high priority tasks that support Bougainville’s development and the post-referendum dialogue: Supporting defined tasks connected with the development of essential institutions, the draw-down of powers, and Post-Referendum Dialogue.

Pillar 2 – Economic Development

2. ABG and business associations jointly plan and implement initiatives to improve the private sector environment for inclusive economic development: Measures to improve the environment for private sector development and deepen the dialogue between the government and the private sector will be promoted through technical assistance.

3. Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets.

Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets. This objective must be complemented with an economic inclusive policy and strategy that helps the interest of women, youth and people living with disabilities to actively take part and benefit from the economic activities.

Pillar 3 – Stronger Communities

4. Community, youth and women’s groups collaborate effectively to establish sustainable community assets, deliver services and advocate for their target groups: Formerly the peace-building component, activities will include continuation and expansion of the existing successful community grants program, initiatives to provide skills and foster networks for youth, and community infrastructure.

Pillar Crosscutting Outcome:

5. Women increasingly participate in decision making and take on leadership roles in civic, economic and political spaces: The program will use the entry points from its range of activities to promote women’s leadership.

The BP is part of the Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP), which is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including: BP, the Western Province Partnership (WPP), the Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP), and the Subnational Governance Implementation Plan (SGIP). Each program has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems.

Position Overview 

Economic Development is a priority for the ABG and the Bougainville Partnership. The ABG’s approach to supporting economic development is articulated within the Anchor Bougainville Economy (ABE) Strategy (near term) and Economic Roadmap (intermediate term).

 

The Capacity Development Advisor – DCTIED (the Advisor), will support the Bougainville Partnership’s Pillars 1 and Pillar 2, including:

• Institutional Strengthening
• Formulation & operationalisation of key economic sector policy and legislation as outlined in the ABE Strategy
• Support Bougainville Business Associations (BBAs), private sector and ABG collaboration

 

The Advisor will report to both the Secretary, DCTIED, and Team Leader, Economic Development, BP, and be accountable to the Team Leader.

Key Responsibilities 

Institutional Strengthening:

• Provide support, as directed, to DCTIED and the Bougainville Arts Culture and Tourism Authority (BACTA) to update and strengthen corporate plans, workplans and operational and compliance procedures.
• Support ABG counterparts to effectively coordinate Economic Sector Working Group meetings to pursue economic development agenda.
• Collaborate with BP Advisors to ensure synergies between BP economic development advisory support to the ABG departments,
• Provide support, as directed, to the transition process for the Bougainville Labour Mobility Project to the ABG      DCTIED.
• Provide support, as directed, to the transition process for the ABG to be engaged in managing the Bougainville Chocolate Festival.

Formulation & operationalisation of key economic sector policy and legislation:

• Work alongside ABG counterparts and other BP advisers to support the ABG to formulate key economic sector policies, legislation and subordinate regulations.
• Develop and support workstreams/activities aligned with prioritized economic policies contained within the Anchor Economy Strategy and the Economic Roadmap.
• Support the operationalization of priority economic policy/legislation including the: BACTA Act 2022; Bougainville Agriculture Regulatory Authority (BCRA) Act 2020; Inward Investment Act (amended) 2019; forthcoming Business Registration Act and potentially the four new Lands Acts passed in late-2024.

Bougainville Business Associations (BBAs), private sector and ABG collaboration:

• Work alongside a service provider to support BBAs implement their strategic plans and capacity development plans.
• Support DCTIED to engage with Bougainville’s Business Associations to build their capacity and to support dialogue and collaborative policy making between government and private sector.
• Support the implementation of public-private dialogue (PPD) events and other deliberation between BBAs, private sector and ABG.
• Support DCTIED to establish a systematic approach to SME development for cooperatives, business groups, and other registered collectives within Bougainville.
• Review financial literacy training providers and suitability for ABG collaboration with CSF Phase 3.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

In collaboration with BP’s MERL Adviser and Pillar 2 Team Leader, support:

• Regular monitoring, evaluation and reporting of Pillar 2 activities.
• The production of analytical and progress reports on Pillar 2 strategies, activities, risks and issues for various stakeholders, including, the Team Leader, Director, and Technical Working Groups.
• On-going performance information and data collection to update and maintain relevant Pillar 2 baseline files and contribute to program reports as required.

Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion

• Collaborate with the BP’s GEDSI Manager and GESDI Coordinator to ensure the integration of BP’s GEDSI Strategy into Pillar 2 modalities and activities
• Demonstrate leadership support for the implementation of key diversity and inclusion policies.
• Continuous Improvement: Monitor evidence of what works to promote greater gender equity and social inclusion and ensure evidence is translated into changes in implementation.

Specific Deliverables

Position Specific Deliverables:

• DCTIED and BACTA are updating and adhering to corporate plans, workplans and operational and compliance procedures.
• ABG counterparts are supported to formulate key economic sector policy, legislation and subordinate regulations.
• ABG counterparts are supported to operationalise priority economic sector legislation.
• The ABG Economic Sector Working Group (or equivalent) functioning and meeting regularly.
• Bougainville Business Associations supported to become effective and functional organisations, able to engage in effective dialogue and advocacy, and to represent a broad range of private sector interests.
• Dialogue and deliberation between BBAs, private sector and ABG supported.
• Facilitate collaboration of policy makers and coordination of efforts between DCTIED and ABG departments for registration and of inclusive cooperatives and associations
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of Pillar 2 activities in alignment with the BP Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework.

Key working relationships 

ABG & GoPNG 

• Deputy Secretary, Directors & Senior Officers, DCTIED
• Secretaries of the Economic Sector (DCTIED, DPIMR, DoMP, DLPPECC) and the Bougainville Tax Office
• Economic Sector Working Group
• Bougainville Arts Culture and Tourism Authority
• GoPNG departments and agencies (as required)

 

Bougainville Partnership 

• Team Leader, Economic Development (Pillar 2)
• CSF Manager & Pillar 2 Officers
• Other long- and short-term Advisers to: DPI and DCTIED
• Director, BP
• Team Leader, Governance & Institutions (Pillar 1)
• Team Leader, Stronger Communities (Pillar 3)
• Finance & Operations Lead
• Infrastructure & Facilities Lead
• MERLA Adviser and MERLA Officers
• GEDSI Manager and GESDI Coordinator
• Long- and short-term Advisers to: DoTF, BTO, DPMAS, DJLS, NCOBA

Primary External Relationships:

• Bougainville Business Associations
• Private sector stakeholders
• Australian High Commission (Port Moresby)
• New Zealand High Commission (Port Moresby

About You 

Qualifications

• A degree in business management, economics, organisational capacity development, public administration, international development or similar.  Preferably with post graduate qualifications.

 

Knowledge 

• Demonstrated understanding of sub-national economic development in PNG or regional Melanesia
• Knowledge of government capacity building in economic development.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, functional analysis, organisational design, organisational governance, capacity building and change management.
• An understanding of the monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and public diplomacy requirements of Australian/Papua New Guinea Government or donor programs.

Skills/Experience

• 10+ years’ experience in the private sector or senior government positions, preferably in the GoPNG Public Sector covering aspects of:
  • Business, economic or commercial development.
  • Economic sector policy operationalisation or implementation.
  • Organisational development and strengthening.
• Strong negotiation skills that are applied across various contexts to ensure program continuity and program growth.
• Excellent communication and representational skills that ensure key relationships are well maintained with senior government officials (national and sub-national), donor partners, implementing partners and civil society.
• Ability to integrate and promote principles of gender equity and social inclusion into aspects of previous roles

Personal Attributes

• Delivers Results
• Builds Internal and External Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty.
• Develops People
• Communicates
• Sets Vision and Direction
• Demonstrates Sound Financial and Business-Related Practices
• Builds Teams and Cooperation
• Promotes Technical Excellence and Quality
• Promotes Diversity Acts as a Role Model

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 welcome and thank all applications; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date:  Friday, 23 January 2026, 12PM (Mid-day, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT

Abt Global 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.