[newdevjobsindo] INOVASI 3 - Gender & Child Protection Specialist
Background:
Indonesia’s Vision 2045 sets the goal for Indonesia to transition from a resource-based economy towards an advanced service, technology, and knowledge-based economy by the centenary of its independence (2045). The 2025-2045 National Long Term Development Plan emphasises the urgency of Indonesia’s human resource development to fully realise 2045 goals.
Faced however with persistent low student performance that is emblematic of a learning crisis, significant improvement in student learning will be required to reach Indonesia’s 2045 goals. Government of Indonesia (GoI) has started an ambitious program of education reforms. Successive education ministers have set out to modernise the education system through reforming the national curriculum and teaching and assessment approaches, to produce citizens with strong foundational skills, open minds, and inclusive values.
Australia is a long-term supporter of the Indonesian basic education sector, with continuous investments supporting education quality improvements for the past two decades, including through the INOVASI program (Phase 1 2016-2020; Phase 2 2020-2023) that focused on supporting acquisition of literacy and numeracy foundational skills in early grades classrooms; exploring local problems and solutions; and generating evidence to inform government policy development and practices.
This third phase of INOVASI (2024-2027) builds upon the existing program’s approach and lessons learned and takes the focus on the development of foundational skills through to the end of the primary grades. Phase 3 will engage with priority issues of Australia’s development policy: gender equality, effective inclusion of children with a disability, responses to the climate change challenge in education. It will focus on the challenge of policy implementation and the gaps that exist between national policies and practices at district and school levels, and use the well attested-success of INOVASI’s local problem-based approach to continuously support policy development for effective fit between policy and implementation context.
INOVASI Phase 3 is implemented in 25 districts and cities across Indonesia, in the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, East Java, West Java, and Maluku. The program also works in Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN).
The Program is managed by Palladium on behalf of the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Purpose of the Position:
The Gender and Child Protection Specialist will work with the Gender and Child Protection Lead, Gender Advisor, and INOVASI teams along with its counterparts to provide support in mainstreaming the gender and child protection principles, and to contribute to the design and implementation of gender and child protection workplans. The role is a cross-cutting role that requires a flexible and integrated approach across INOVASI teams to ensure that activities are well implemented, accountable and synergistic to achieve the goals of the program. The Gender and Child Protection Specialist will help identify gaps, challenges and opportunities across the program and provinces, along with strengthening internal organizational culture.
Duties: Under the guidance of the Gender and Child Protection Lead, the Gender and Child Protection Specialist will:
1. Strategic Leadership and Coordination
· Ensure effective coordination, planning, implementation, and monitoring of gender and child protection activities across all program units and provinces.
· Coordinate with INOVASI GEDSI team members, Provincial Team Members, local government, and CSOs to ensure understanding and application of Palladium and DFAT’s policies on gender and child protection.
· Promote gender equality and child protection by providing technical assistance and establishing networks, partnerships, and coordination with Government Ministries (e.g., MoRA, MoPSE), civil society, and other stakeholders.
2. Design and Implementation
· Support the preparation and implementation of Gender and Child Protection work plans, including Program Activity Concepts and supporting documents.
· Ensure effective coordination, planning, implementation, and monitoring of gender and child protection activities across all program units and provinces.
· Establish systems for monitoring the budget and activities for the Gender and Child Protection unit, working closely with the operations team.
· Review and ensure all program instruments, reports, modules, tools, and communication products are sensitive to gender and child protection principles.
3. Policy and Compliance
· In alignment with government policies and programs, provide strategic advice and technical support on ways to mainstream and target gender and child protection and safeguarding activities across the INOVASI program.
· Ensure full compliance of Palladium and INOVASI systems and procedures for gender and child protection with DFAT’s latest policies.
· Review, strengthen, and maintain policies, procedures, tools, and business processes to align with Palladium and DFAT requirements.
· Adapt child protection policies and tools to meet the needs of INOVASI Phase 3 and ensure systematic implementation.
· Maintain and update child protection-related tools and documents, including training materials, due diligence forms, photo consent forms, and risk assessments.
4. Capacity Building
· Develop and deliver gender and child protection training, including induction sessions, to INOVASI staff, stakeholders, and partners.
· Provide mentoring, guidance, and capacity development to Child Protection Focal Points, staff, and partners to strengthen their roles in planning, implementing, and monitoring gender and child protection mechanisms.
5. Data and Research
· Coordinate with the MERL team to collect, analyze, and disaggregate data to track progress toward program outcomes related to gender and child protection.
· Document processes, results, lessons learned, and recommendations from gender and child protection activities. Coordinate with MERL to collect and analyze data to track progress on gender and child protection outcomes.
· Contribute to targeted research and document lessons learned and recommendations.
6. Communication and Reporting
· Coordinate with MERL, S&P, and Communications teams to document and disseminate lessons learned and results to stakeholders.
· Prepare reports, presentations, briefs, and other documents for internal and external stakeholders.
· Provide regular feedback on internal decision-making to continuously promote gender and child protection at both program and organizational levels.Collaborate with teams to document and disseminate results and lessons learned.
7. Advocacy and Representation
· Participate in relevant discussions, forums, workshops, and networks that promote gender equality, child protection, and GEDSI strategies.
8. Other Duties
· Undertake other tasks as reasonably required by the Development Priorities team or the Gender and Child Protection Lead, consistent with the incumbent’s qualifications and experience.
Qualifications and Experience:
The Gender and Child Protection Specialist will possess the following qualifications and experience:
1. Degree in relevant field in the social sciences, advanced degree preferred;
2. Relevant experience working for mainstreaming and implementing gender, and child protection activities in schools and other institutions.
3. Ability to work with and influence a wide range of cross-program teams and leaders within a matrixed organization.
4. Strong analytical and facilitation skills for diverse audiences;
5. Demonstrated experience working with diverse stakeholders effectively, managing wide range of interests and building sharing goals for the purpose of the program;
6. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of gender and child protection policies, issues and interventions, in particular for education sector in Indonesia;
7. Ability to collaborate effectively with other team members, contribute productively to the team’s work and output and demonstrate respect for different points of view.
8. A strong personal commitment to gender equality and child protection in education sector
9. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate skills;
10. Fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia (written and spoken) essential;
11. Willingness to travel to remote locations in Indonesia on a regular basis;
12. Experience with DFAT or other development agency work, preferably within the education sector; and
13. A high level of integrity, initiative, adaptability, and ability to perform in a high-pressure environment.
Working with children
Is this position likely to come into contact with children? ☒ Yes ☐ No
Core Capabilities
Palladium’s Core Capability Framework for APAC Projects outlines the standard of performance and behaviours expected at each level within the organisation. It also provides a benchmark for assessing areas of potential strength as well as the identification of potential skill gaps or areas for development and improvement.
The Capability Framework forms the basis of how we recruit, how we lead and the behaviours we exhibit, how we manage performance excellence and develop our future workforce.
Our capabilities link to a number of other processes, policies and guidelines including:
- Performance management/ performance excellence – setting and maintaining standards and helping employees excel and develop
- Career Pathways including our Career Progression Framework
- Organisational design – identifying any skills gaps, outlining job roles and responsibilities
- Development, growth, learning, and training
- Sustainable business – going beyond compliance to ensure sustainable and ethical considerations are woven throughout everything we do. This aligns equity, diversity and inclusion; safeguarding; and environmental objectives
- We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process
How to Apply
This position is open to Indonesia nationals and permanent residents with authority to live and work in Indonesia.
INOVASI encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, and others from underrepresented groups.
To apply, please click here to submit your resume and cover letter by 28 June 2026 at 23:59, Jakarta Time ensuring you highlight your relevant experience and skills.
Should you experience any issues logging in or submitting your CV, or if you have any questions, please contact inovasi.recruitment@thepalladiumgroup.com
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Women are encouraged to apply.
INOVASI has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation. All successful candidates will be required to adhere to our Child Protection Policy and will be subject to background checks as a condition of employment.
