Project Coordinator, Essential Services Package (ESP) - Australia Fiji Health Program

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Locally engaged personnel: 1 year contract with potential 2-year extension.
• Reserved for Fiji Nationals only
• Based in Suva, Fiji
• Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the selection criteria of this role and up-to-date comprehensive CV.

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.

AFHP Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (the Platform) implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised.

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s health sector through the Australia Fiji Health Program (AFHP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

The program’s high-level End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are:

• Improved systems are used by MHMS and health workers for evidence-based planning and resource allocation (workforce and budget), clinical care, digital health and medical supply chains; and
• Targeted healthcare facilities equitably deliver improved primary health services, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and non-communicable disease (NCD) services.

The funding for the program is approximately AUD 45million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities (interventions) to achieve the program’s objectives where implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs).

AFHP is designed to support the MHMS achieve the goals and objectives in its Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans, and AFHP’s workplans are targeted to support specific components of the Ministry’s plans.

Recent natural disasters such as cyclones, and public health emergencies in Fiji including COVID-19 have highlighted major challenges for pandemic preparedness and response during epidemics and other health emergencies. In this context, around 10% of program funding will be allocated for MHMS to assign to emerging needs and priorities as they arise. Funding may be allocated toward preparedness and responses to public health emergencies, or related opportunities for reform and innovation.

Position Summary:

The Project Coordinator, Essential Services Package (ESP) supports AFHP’s achievement of its second End of Project Objective (EOPO 2), that targeted health facilities deliver improved, more inclusive primary health services, with a focus on non-communicable diseases and sexual and reproductive health. Working under the technical leadership of the Health Standards Advisor, the position provides dedicated coordination, logistical and administrative support to the roll-out of the Essential Services Package (ESP) and the evolution of the Minimum Service Standards (MSS) framework at five targeted primary health care facilities: Mokani HC, Dawasamu NS, Waidina NS, Baulevu NS and Naqali HC.

The position is the operational backbone of the ESP pilot under Intermediate Outcome 2.1, ensuring facility assessments, procurement and delivery of medicines, equipment and consumables, minor infrastructure upgrades, and monitoring and evaluation activities are scheduled, tracked and delivered on time. The Project Coordinator, ESP works closely with the Health Standards Advisor, AFHP’s MEL, Supply Chain, Infrastructure and Digital Health teams, and MHMS counterparts at national, divisional and facility level.

Key Responsibilities:

ESP Pilot Coordination

• Coordinate implementation of IO2.1 micro-activities, monitor progress against the micro plan, and escalate risks, delays, and resource constraints to the Health Standards Advisor.
• Manage stakeholder engagement logistics, including consultations, technical meetings, and facility visits with MHMS, WHO, and development partners.
• Maintain complete and auditable project records, including meeting documentation, correspondence, assessment tools, and facility data.

Facility Engagement & Assessment

• Coordinate baseline and endline ESP/MSS facility assessments, including scheduling, logistics, and stakeholder engagement.
• Support assessment teams during facility audits through operational coordination, facility liaison, and data collection activities.
• Coordinate implementation of patient satisfaction surveys at targeted facilities before and after interventions, in collaboration with the Health Standards Advisor and MEL Team.

Procurement and Finance Process Support

• Support development and monitoring of facility-specific improvement plans based on assessment findings and identified MSS gaps.
• Coordinate procurement, delivery, and distribution of essential medicines, equipment, and consumables required to address priority service gaps.
• Coordinate and monitor minor infrastructure improvement works, ensuring delivery within approved scope, budget, and timelines.

Monitoring, Learning and Reporting

• Compile and manage facility-level data and evidence to support reporting against IO2.1 indicators and AFHP MEL requirements.
• Document implementation lessons, good practices, challenges, and emerging evidence to inform adaptive management and learning.
• Coordinate dissemination of learning products, review workshops, and policy dialogue with MHMS and key stakeholders.

Representation and Other Duties

• Represent AFHP in facility-level and divisional engagements as delegated by the Health Standards Advisor.
• Undertake other duties reasonably assigned by the Health Standards Advisor or Team Leader, AFHP, to support achievement of program objectives.

Key Deliverables:

• Facility audit schedules confirmed and logistics delivered for baseline and endline ESP/MSS assessments at the 5 targeted facilities.
• Facility-specific support plans coordinated, with procurement and delivery of medicines, equipment and consumables tracked to completion.
• Minor infrastructure works at targeted facilities coordinated and completed within budget (up to AUD10,000 per facility) and agreed timeframes.
• Patient Satisfaction Survey administered pre- and post-intervention at the 5 targeted facilities.
• Up-to-date IO2.1 activity tracker, meeting records and MEL data inputs maintained to support six-monthly reporting.

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting to

• Health Standards Advisor

Other

• Team Leader, AFHP
• AFHP Program Support Team (MEL, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Digital Health and Communications teams)
• Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), including facility management and the Health Inspector
• Targeted facility staff and management (Mokani, Dawasamu, Waidina, Baulevu, Naqali)

Development partners and other key stakeholders in PHC i.e. WHO, WB, MFAT, UNFPA etc

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in public health, nursing, environmental health, health administration, business administration, project management or a related field. Equivalent relevant work experience will also be considered.

Experience

• At least 3-5 years’ experience in project or program coordination, ideally within health, development or public sector programs in Fiji or the Pacific.
• Experience in quality improvement activities in the health system.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating procurement, logistics or facility-level activities across multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with government counterparts (such as MHMS) and/or health facilities and communities is desirable.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities, timelines and stakeholders concurrently.
• Sound understanding of primary health care service delivery in Fiji, or a demonstrated ability to quickly acquire this; familiarity with MSS/ESP concepts is an advantage.
• Proficient in MS Office and basic data management and reporting tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including liaison with government and community stakeholders.

Personal Attributes

• High attention to detail, reliability and follow-through.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and travel regularly to health facilities and Divisions.
• High personal integrity, professionalism and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in diverse teams.

How to Apply

Applications close on 27 October 2026.

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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