JOB DESCRIPTION

The Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership for Governance is seeking an experienced No-Objection Letter (NOL) Adviser to ensure that all no-objection letters meet DFAT regulatory standards and stakeholder expectations for DFAT funded Governance programs in Solomon Islands.

Contract term from up to 31 December 2025 (with possibility of extension).

About the Program

The Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership for Governance commenced in January 2022 and is an AUD $35.8 million dollar investment where Australia partners with the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) to support its critical priorities over four years. The goal is to build economic resilience and promote policies and practices for sustainable economic recovery and growth. Australia’s objective for this program is to strengthen accountable and inclusive governance in partnership with SIG other stakeholders. The program will contribute to the goal through four end-of-program outcomes.

EOPO1: SIG has strengthened public financial management and oversight.

EOPO2: SIG has improved domestic revenue generation and improved capability in targeted areas.

EOPO3: SIG has strengthened inclusive democratic processes and expanded opportunities for stakeholder engagement in public policy dialogue.

EOPO4: The program generates strengthened relationships between SIG and the Government of Australia.

About the Opportunity

The primary goal of the position is to ensure that all no-objection letters meet DFAT regulatory standards and stakeholder expectations, facilitating timely project approvals and implementation.

Long-term contract until 31 December 2025 with possibility of extension.

Location of work: Honiara, Solomon Islands

Summary of Key Responsibilities

The primary goal of the position is to ensure that all no-objection letters meet DFAT regulatory standards and stakeholder expectations, facilitating timely project approvals and implementation.

Review the current NOL policy, focusing on the effectiveness of current processes and issued NOLs.

Suggest and implement approved updates to the NOL policy and procedures including to ex-ante and ex-post review instruments and application thresholds.

Establish a sustainable process for ex-Post spot checking for purchases made using DFAT budget support portfolio which fall under the NOL threshold.

Review current templates and processes for issuing NOLs with the aim of establishing a more efficient system to support timely decision making.

Work with SIG counterparts to ensure NOLs policy and processes are understood and actioned correctly, including through the delivery of bespoke training / briefing sessions as required.

Provide expert advice on improving the structure and content of no-objection letters.

Ensure compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.

Liaise with stakeholders to understand and incorporate their requirements.

Draft or edit no-objection letters as needed to meet the required standards.

Train staff on best practices for preparing effective no-objection letters.

Key Deliverables

Revised NOL Policy with clear procedures, updated criteria, roles, principles, updated templates and clear process flows for improved NOL issuance and management

Timely and correct issuance of no-objection letters for DFAT-funded projects coursed through MoFT.

Training Materials: Resources and guides for Ministry staff.

Final Report: A comprehensive report detailing activities, findings, and final recommendations.

About You

We are seeking an individual for this strategic position who brings:

• Degree in Law, Public Administration, Public Finance, or related field.

• Experience in legal drafting and understanding of regulatory environments, procurement and contracts.

• Familiarity with the project or sector-specific requirements for no-objection letters.

• Highly developed interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively with people from different social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and experience in policy development in a developing country context, preferably in the Pacific region.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people with sexual diversity or disability, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement for a position. At Abt Associates we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every role requirement, we encourage you to apply in any case. You may be just the right candidate for this or for other roles.

How to Apply

Please apply online via our Abt Careers website Search Jobs – Abt Global Careers

Please attach a cover letter and a detailed CV as a single document, addressing how you meet the requirements of this role.

Closing Date: 11.59pm Tuesday, 30 September 2025