Program Associate, Papua New Guinea

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy, and is an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce. Since 1983, CIPE has worked to build the political, market and civic institutions vital to a democratic societies and private sector led economies. CIPE’s key program areas include anti-corruption, public governance reform, support of civil society, property rights, economic empowerment of at-risk communities, and opening political space in closed societies.  

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is implementing women’s economic empowerment projects in Papua New Guinea (PNG), funded by the U.S. and Australian governments, and business advocacy projects, funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). The overarching mission of these CIPE projects is to create an enabling environment for women in business through changes in policies as well as through the strengthening of an entrepreneurial ecosystem for women in PNG. Operation of the PNG Women’s Business Resource Centre (WBRC), integration of entrepreneurship into the curriculum of PNG universities, and provision of technical assistance to PNG’s women’s business organisations are key activities that support this mission. The WBRC is housed at:  

Century 21 Building, Lot 51, Section 35, Kunai Street, Hohola  

Konedobu, NCD, PAPUA NEW GUINEA   

The Program Associate provides programmatic, administrative, and research support for a portfolio of projects implemented by the Center for International Private Enterprise Papua New Guinea (CIPE PNG) office. This may include efforts related to the operation and activities of CIPE’s projects including the Papua New Guinea WBRC and the Papua New Guinea Business Advocacy Network (PNG BAN). The Program Associate performs various duties for different functions under the supervision the relevant program coordinator/manager and reports to the PNG Deputy Country Director. The Program Associate will be available up to 44 hours a week to support activities related to CIPE’s women’s empowerment programs and is required to be in Port Moresby and work in the CIPE PNG office or WBRC.     

Position: Program Associate, Papua New Guinea  

Reports To:  CIPE Deputy Country Director, Papua New Guinea  

Responsibilities: 

• Provide backstopping support to regional staff to coordinate program management deliverables such as preparing, contributing, and processing activity proposals and reports, narrative and financial reports, proposals, grants, contracts, budgets, travel expense reports, and other documents as needed for program development, management, and close out. This includes: 

• Supporting data collection and documentation practices. 

• Assist in ensuring high quality deliverables, including financial and narrative reports. 

• Monitoring contractors and consultants’ performance to ensure quality control in full compliance with procurement policies, financial reporting requirements, and evaluation plans. 

• In coordination with leadership, support planning and executing events, including drafting activity planning proposals, assistance procuring goods and services, setting up facilities for events, drafting announcements and invitations, coordinating stakeholder participation, publicizing on social media, functioning as a notetaker and photographer for activities, and acting as primary tech support as needed.  

• Support coordination of international and local travel arrangements, conferences, events, and meeting logistics in coordination with field office program coordinators and field office finance and operations managers. 

• Assist with the execution of program plans by tracking and monitoring program budget spending and expenses in accordance with established expectations and timelines. 

• Collaborate internally with departments across the organization to complete administrative tasks required to achieve programmatic goals, as well as with external partners, consultants, and other stakeholders for project implementation. 

• Track political and economic developments in assigned portfolio of countries, and conduct background research as needed. 

• Contribute to CIPE communications efforts which may include assisting with website content updates, managing social media accounts, writing blogs, and drafting promotional materials, in collaboration with the relevant CIPE program teams and Communications department when appropriate. 

• Participating in regular project calls and communication as needed with CIPE’s D.C. program teams. 

• Draft weekly internal reports to CIPE’s Washington, D.C. office and contribute to funder reporting, translating documents, when necessary.   

• Contribute to an organizational culture of innovation, integrity, and high performance. 

Qualifications: 

• Grade 12 certificate of graduation with minimum two years’ work experience, or 
  bachelor’s degree in one of the following or equivalent fields is highly desirable: International Relations, Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Political Science, or Public Policy.  

• Prior program support experience, gained from working with nonprofit organizations, business associations, chambers of commerce or multilateral organizations, highly preferred. 

• Strong computer skills, proficiency in MS Suite, specifically Outlook, Sharepoint, Word, Excel, and MS forms, as well as Google Drive. 

• Ability to take initiative, prioritize and manage multiple, detail-oriented tasks simultaneously with limited supervision. 

• Strong financial acumen and ability to develop and monitor project budgets. 

• Excellent interpersonal, coordination, and communication skills and  strong writing, research, and critical thinking and analytical skills. 

• Openness and flexibility to learn quickly and collaborate with diverse colleagues and partners in a fast-paced environment, across time zones and hybrid setting to deliver consistent, reliable results. 

• High regard for culture of competence and contribution to organization-wide culture of innovation, integrity, inclusion, and respect. 

• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English required. 

• Knowledge of and interest in economic, political, and foreign affairs in PNG and the Asia Pacific region, as well as in democratic governance and economic development in PNG and the Asia Pacific region. 

Applications will be accepted, and interviews conducted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.