Local Governance and Social Accountability Lead

Program Background
DT Global has been engaged by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to manage the Building Community Engagement in Papua New Guinea (BCEP) Program. BCEP represents a significant investment in promoting participatory democracy in PNG, with a goal to strengthen citizen-government engagement for improved service delivery and provision of public goods. This will be achieved by pursuing three end outcomes:     
•    Selected state and non-state actors collaborate effectively to tackle targeted development problems.   
•    State actors and Churches deliver development solutions which promote GEDSI and better meet the needs of women and marginalised groups.   
•    Selected non-state actors are more effective, inclusive, and ready to sustain successful BCEP-supported approaches.  

The BCEP program consists of five distinct, but inter-related components managed as an integrated whole, and implemented using a portfolio of partners:    
•    Component 1: Coalitions for Change (CfC) 
•    Component 2: Media Partnerships (MP)  
•    Component 3: Social Accountability Partnerships (SA) 
•    Component 4: Church Partnerships Program (CPP) 
•    Component 5: Government of PNG Partnerships (GoPNG)

The program is in the second phase of implementation (2026-2030) and has a strong commitment to locally led development.

About DT Global Asia Pacific
At DT Global Asia Pacific, we aim to positively impact people’s lives through delivery excellence. As a leading implementing partner across Asia and the Pacific, we co-create locally led solutions in partnership with governments, communities, and stakeholders. We bring together talented teams and deep regional expertise to deliver initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, essential services, and resilient, secure communities. With over 1,500 staff, experts in 22+ countries and more than 60 years of development experience, we tackle complex community, national and transnational challenges — from governance and justice systems to climate resilience, infrastructure and social equity — with innovative thinking and a commitment to long-term impact.

For more information, please see www.dt-global.com

The Role
The Local Governance and Social Accountability Lead provides strategic, technical and managerial leadership for BCEP’s social accountability and local governance work, including work delivered through the Church Partnership Program. The role will strengthen accountability and responsiveness between citizens, civil society organisations, churches, government institutions and service providers, ensuring that social accountability and local governance approaches are integrated across BCEP’s issue-based strategies, partner programming and provincial engagement.
The Lead will guide the implementation and periodic updating of BCEP’s Social Accountability Strategy and theory of change, strengthen partners’ capacity to apply practical accountability and community engagement approaches, and work closely with the GoPNG and Sub-National Lead on Open Government Partnership engagement and NSAF pilots. The role will ensure that evidence, learning and reflection inform program decisions and adaptive management, while providing structured leadership and coordination for the Social Accountability team. 
Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position:  
https://tinyurl.com/23uupdtx

About You
Selection Criteria
•    Tertiary qualification in international development, community development, social science, governance, theology, or another relevant field.  
•    At least 10 years of experience in development, governance, transparency, social accountability or civil society strengthening. 
•    Experience in the design of development projects or program and implementing evidence-based improvements to programs.
•    Experience applying social accountability, citizen engagement or local governance approaches in a development context, or equivalent experience facilitating community                     engagement, government responsiveness, constructive dialogue or policy influencing.
•    Strong understanding of PNG political, social and institutional context.
•    Ability to simplify complex information and present it in a variety of formats for different audiences.
•    Proven ability using a range of capacity development modalities including training; coaching; mentoring; job aids; and others, with a commitment to transferring skills. 
•    Experience working with churches, community service providers and subnational government (desirable). 
•    Experience in managing staff and technical advisers to deliver quality outcomes.

Why join BCEP Program?
By joining the Building Community Engagement Program (BCEP), you will be part of an environment where you can collaborate with leading experts from diverse backgrounds, access development programs to achieve your career goals, and be challenged to take a global outlook. We also provide competitive renumeration and other benefits.  

HOW TO APPLY
Click the 'Apply Now' button.

Please submit
1) Your CV
2) A cover letter addressing the selection criteria
 
APPLICATIONS CLOSE:  Saturday 31st October, 2026 at 11.59pm (PNG Time)

Should this role be of interest, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.  Kindly note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

People with lived experience of the regions in which DT Global operates are strongly encouraged to apply.  DT Global welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), and people with disabilities.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse and harm of adults and children; fraud, corruption and bribery; modern slavery; and any form of exploitation across our operations, partnerships, and supply chains. We uphold the highest standards of integrity and expect the same of those we work with.

Engagement with DT Global is subject to formal background screening, criminal record checks, employment verification, and periodic compliance checks. All DT Global staff receive safety, compliance, safeguarding and integrity training, and we expect our personnel and partners to always act in alignment with our company values.