About GNDR
We are the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR), the largest global network of organisations committed to working together to improve the lives of people affected by disasters worldwide. Established in 2007, we have grown into a network of more than 2,000 member organisations across 130+ countries, representing millions of people on the frontlines of hazards, climate change and mass displacement. Through transformative, evidence-led programming and powerful advocacy, we are driving climate action and disaster resilience alongside our members across the globe.
Our vision
A world in which everyone works together to strengthen the resilience of people most at risk and prevent hazards from becoming disasters.
Our Values
- Trust and openness to listen, share and learn
- Transparency and mutual accountability
- Equity and respect for diverse identities, needs and perspectives.
Our goals
Our members have set three goals for the network for our 2026-30 strategy:
- Embed risk-informed resilience throughout the disaster risk management cycle
- Champion a localisation movement
- Strengthen the collaboration, solidarity and mobilisation of civil society organisations.
Purpose of the secretariat
The secretariat is responsible for delivering the strategy and annual work plans, as agreed by the global board and trustees. The secretariat supports the development, coordination and implementation of the GNDR strategy. Our team is responsible to the board of trustees and the global board, via the executive director and is based in countries around the world.
Purpose & scope of the role
GNDR is seeking to appoint a Project Officer to support the implementation of the Pacific CIRCLE project funded by the KIWA Initiative in Tonga and Kiribati.
The role is pivotal in driving project delivery in Tonga and Kiribati, two of the four countries that are part of the larger Pacific CIRCLE project being implemented in the Pacific region. Reporting to the Head of Programmes, the Project Officer will work in close collaboration with the GNDR Secretariat, ActionAid Australia’s Programme Team, national implementing partners – Foundation for the People of the South Pacific (FSPK) in Kiribati and Tonga Community Development Trust (TCDT) in Tonga, GNDR members, board representatives, consultants, and advisors.
Embedded within a small but highly effective and innovative programmes team, the position demands proactive and sustained engagement with civil society organisations, local and national governments, and other key stakeholders to ensure impactful and inclusive outcomes.
The remit of this post will cover the following core responsibilities:
- Project implementation and coordination
- Strategic collaboration with the MEAL Officer to drive monitoring, reporting, and quality assurance
- Partner engagement and data management
- Capacity building and technical support
- Content development and knowledge sharing
- External representation and stakeholder relations.
Position in the organisation
- Functional reporting to the Head of Programmes (line manager)
- Operational reporting to the Regional Lead in Asia
- Part of the secretariat team and active participant in cross-team working groups
- Collaboration with secretariat staff, global board, membership and project partners.
Overview of the KIWA Initiative
The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) of Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and Kiribati are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their geographical positioning and economic reliance on agriculture and fishing. Rising sea levels, ocean heating, widespread and intense climate-related disasters and acidification have significantly disrupted ecosystems and livelihoods. These challenges are further exacerbated for vulnerable groups, particularly women, young people and disabled people.
The project “Pacific Community Inclusion for Resilient Climate and Ecosystem (Pacific CIRCLE)” funded by the KIWA Initiative will address these challenges by empowering communities in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and Kiribati, particularly women, young people and disabled people, to lead in protecting and restoring ecosystems through high-integrity Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). A community-driven inclusive approach will integrate sustainable agricultural practices, coastal restoration rehabilitation, and biodiversity conservation to enhance adaptive capacity, resilience and reduce the impacts of climate change in the long term.
The GNDR Project Officer will be responsible for working with the partners – Foundation for the People of the South Pacific (FSPK) in Kiribati and Tonga Community Development Trust(TCDT) in Tonga.
Aims & objectives of the programme:
The objective of the project is to empower rural and coastal communities in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and Kiribati, with a focus on women, youth and disabled people, to lead in protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing ecosystems using high-integrity NbS to enhance climate resilience.
Specific project objectives include:
- Developing the capacity of women, young people and disabled people to lead their communities to strengthen their knowledge and skills on climate change adaptation strategies in their communities(e.g. agroecology practices) strengthening the capacity of women and disabled people to implement climate adaptation strategies
- Establishing community collectives that lead the protection and restoration of ecosystems in the Pacific including those for women, youth and disabled people to strengthen their leadership capacities in protecting and restoring ecosystems (e.g: coastal restoration initiatives)
- Women, young people and people with disabilities influence gender and disability-inclusive climate policies that enhance climate resilience and promote high integrity NbS.
Key responsibilities
1. Project implementation and coordination
- Support the Head of Programmes and regional staff in rolling out the project strategy and annual work plan across Kiribati and Tonga
- Facilitate the execution of project activities in line with strategic goals and budgets
- Develop and maintain an annual project calendar and planning documents
- Initiate project activities, secure necessary approvals, and oversee implementation through to closure
- Assist in the development of project materials including terms of reference, design documents, budgets, and work plans
- Coordinate the production and delivery of key project outputs and deliverables
- Provide backstopping support to country (i.e. Kiribati and Tonga) and regional teams during project implementation
- Respond to queries from GNDR staff, board, and members regarding project activities and branding.
2. Strategic collaboration with the MEAL Officer in monitoring, reporting and quality assurance
- Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of project activities, including documentation of lessons learned
- Support the Head of Programmes in preparing quarterly and annual regional project reports
- Coordinate submission of narrative and financial progress reports in collaboration with the Head of Programmes, finance and regional teams
- Track milestones and deliverables outlined in partner agreements, ensuring timely and quality submissions
- Organise, store, and update project-related information for internal and external use
- Assist in the development of project briefs and dissemination of key findings to target audiences.
3. Partner engagement and data management
- Liaise with implementing partners – Foundation for the People of the South Pacific (FSPK) in Kiribati and Tonga Community Development Trust(TCDT) in Tonga – and regional staff to gather and share project data
- Support the development and execution of agreements with implementing partners – Foundation for the People of the South Pacific (FSPK) in Kiribati and Tonga Community Development Trust(TCDT) in Tonga – including contracting and compliance arrangement
- Monitor progress against agreed work plans
- Handle requests for project-related data and information from internal and external stakeholders
- Promote collaboration and learning among the Pacific CIRCLE project partners and stakeholders, including policy dialogue and national reporting.
4. Capacity building and technical support
- Support the design, testing and rollout of capacity strengthening tools and initiatives
- Coordinate training and capacity-building activities at regional and project levels
- Contribute to the development of e-learning resources and training materials
- Provide technical support to staff and members in using GNDR communications tools and software (e.g. Salesforce)
- Assist implementing partners – Foundation for the People of the South Pacific (FSPK) in Kiribati and Tonga Community Development Trust(TCDT) in Tonga – in collaborative learning initiatives with state and non-state actors.
5. Content development and knowledge sharing
- Contribute to the creation of project tools, templates, and knowledge material
- Support dissemination of project results and recommendations to GNDR secretariat, global board, members, and external audiences
- Promote exchange of knowledge and learning from the project across GNDR’s regional networks and the secretariat
- Assist with organisational learning and cross-team collaboration initiatives.
6. External representation and stakeholder relations
- Support the organisation of international, regional, and national events, workshops, and conferences
- Participate in internal working groups and cross-team initiatives
- Promote awareness and engagement with this project among GNDR members, civil society, and government actors
- Maintain relationships with peer organisations, networks, and other stakeholders (e.g. local authorities, academia, media)
- Any other duties or responsibilities that may emerge during the tenure of the project.
The postholder may be required to perform other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the post or as reasonably requested by management.
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge (ESSENTIAL)
- Proven experience in implementing projects related to Nature Based Solutions, climate resilience and disaster risk management
- Familiarity with international development frameworks and approaches, including participatory methodologies and equity-focused interventions
- Track record working within international NGOs, civil society coalitions, and consortium-led programmes, ideally in diverse regional contexts
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with civil society organisations, preferably developed within the countries of interest
- Understanding of Sendai Framework for DRR, Sphere guidelines and other global frameworks.
Experience and knowledge (DESIRABLE)
- Experience of supporting the implementation of International development projects
- Experience implementing projects in Pacific countries
- Experience of qualitative/quantitative social research.
Skills & Abilities (ESSENTIAL)
- Proficiency in written and spoken English
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Strong understanding of project management and financial reporting
- Good planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation abilities
- Good IT and computer skills, including use of Google Suite and Excel
- Detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy and quality
- Ability to work independently as well as effectively within a team.
Values, behaviours & competencies (ESSENTIAL)
- A calm, confident and welcoming communicator
- Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural competence, with commitment to inclusive and participatory practices
- Adaptable, with the ability to effectively adjust to changing contexts
- Thrives in fast-paced work environments, with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
- Driven, proactive, and self-motivated, with a strong ability to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation
- Commitment to GNDR values of trust, mutual accountability, equity and respect for diverse identities and perspectives.
Information for applicants
Location & Eligibility
Open to candidates based in Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Philippines, and Tonga. Candidates must have the legal right to live and work in their country of residence.
Occasional regional and international travel may be required for this role.
Start date
The ideal start date for this role is on or before the week of 22 June 2026 to align with the project’s launch. However, we recognise that availability varies due to notice periods and can offer some flexibility for the right candidate.
Contract type
The role is offered on a 3.5 year fixed-term contract basis, subject to:
- Compliance with local regulatory requirements
- Successful completion of pre-employment checks
- Continued funding.
Working hours
Full time, 35 hours per week. Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm (within the postholder’s time zone), with a one-hour unpaid lunch break.
We operate across multiple time zones and occasional work outside of standard business hours may be required.
We are happy to consider flexible working arrangements as part of the recruitment process.
Annual leave
33 days including public holidays, plus additional year end office closure.
Probation
Subject to a probationary period in line with local statutory requirements and GNDR policy.
Salary
We offer a competitive salary and benefits based on location.
To ensure global equity, compensation is benchmarked against the salary of our UK-based employees in equally graded posts at GNDR. This baseline is then adjusted to the successful candidate’s local job market and global cost-of-living index to ensure fairness and equity. Salaries are paid in local currency.
Equal Opportunities & Accessibility
We are dedicated to creating a team that embodies the rich diversity of the communities we serve. Our commitment lies in cultivating an inclusive environment, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic circumstances, LGBTQIA+ and individuals with disabilities. We celebrate the unique experiences and perspectives that every candidate brings and are dedicated to ensuring fair and equitable opportunities for all.
We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible and inclusive as possible for individuals of all needs and abilities. If you require any adjustments, please contact us at hr@gndr.org.
How to apply
To Apply: Please submit your CV (max two A4 sides) and a Cover Letter (max one A4 side) by email to hr@gndr.org
Please include in the subject of the email, the following: “Application for Project Officer (KIWA)”.
Please submit your CV and cover letter in English. We are unable to accept incomplete applications.
GNDR reserves the right to close this vacancy early, should a high volume of suitable applications is received.
Due to the high volume of applications we expect to receive, it is not possible to provide individual feedback.