Nauru: Nauru Country Program Design and Project Management, AusAID, 2006 - 08

In 2005, the Government of Australia, through AusAID, initiated the development of a Joint Country Strategy, designed to place the ongoing development assistance program to Nauru on a more “formal” and predictable footing. The technical team was comprised of AusAID advisers, as well as an Economist, an M&E Specialist, and Paul Tippett (World Wide), the Program Design Specialist. A briefing was held in Nadi, Fiji, prior to the in-country mission, where the draft Strategy was developed.

Subsequently, AusAID and the Government of Nauru agreed to the concept of using a Program Team approach, whereby the agreed GON / AusAID priority activities and programs would be scoped, designed, tendered and monitored. World Wide was appointed to manage the Program Team, to mobilise the individual consultants as required, and to provide all required logistical, operational and professional support.

The Program Team is tasked by AusAID and managed by World Wide. The Team comprises individuals with extensive Pacific and sector expertise, covering health, education and governance. The Team also works with designated Government of Nauru sector staff to develop programs and initiatives for joint endorsement and the subsequent mobilisation. The Team’s activities include:

  • Liaising with AusAID and GoN to identify opportunities for assistance in health, education and governance;
  • Jointly developing options and initial designs for consideration / endorsement by AusAID and the GoN;
  • Developing detailed design documentation suitable for tendering, including the M&E measures;
  • Monitoring project / program progress and provide specific comments or feedback to AusAID as required;
  • Liaising with AusAID Canberra and AusAID Post to maximize value for money and impact;
  • Developing specifications and documentation for procurement, as directed by AusAID;
  • Working with GoN staff to provide comments and inputs to facilitate the forward development program as required.