Investment Concept Note for the Pacific Partnerships for Social Protection Program (P4SP)

Step 1 (EOI) for this procurement has now been completed and the following organisation are available for teaming arrangements (in alphabetical order):

The investment concept note for the Pacific Partnerships for Social Protection Program is provided to the market for information.

The program as a whole is anticipated to be up to AUD18m in value over four years with an option to extend for a further four years, bringing the total value to up to AUD32m over eight years.

DFAT anticipates undertaking a two-step procurement process for an implementing partner with the first step being advertised on AusTender website in January 2021 and the second step being advertised in June 2021.

Background

The Pacific region faces severe economic shock due to the COVID-19 crisis, including increasing rates of poverty and vulnerability. Despite the limited health impacts so far, the economic impacts of COVID-19 are significant – with varied and evolving impacts across different Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Before the crisis, hardship was common, with approximately 20 percent of the population across the PICs unable to meet basic food and other needs. The effects of COVID-19 could push poverty up by 40 percent on pre-crisis levels. The risk of other shocks (such as experienced in some countries with Tropical Cyclone Harold) remains very high.

Social protection systems are being used by most countries to weather COVID-19 shocks and speed recovery, but few PICs have existing social protection schemes to directly support low-income households. Government provided safety nets have large holes and in some countries, do not exist at all. In this context, PIC Governments are re-thinking their approaches to dealing with poverty and vulnerability on an ongoing basis and in response to shocks – particularly as natural disasters will increase in frequency and severity. The COVID-19 crisis presents an important opportunity for Australia to support PICs to develop and strengthen their social protection systems. It provides an opportunity for developing enduring technical partnerships, drawing on Australia's global, regional and country-level partnerships, experience and evidence on social protection.

The P4SP will help establish and strengthen social protection (social security) systems in PICs. It will provide responsive and catalytic technical assistance, support analysis for system and program development, facilitate cross country cooperation and learning and fund pilot programs, where required. It will be a scalable flexible mechanism that allows bilateral programs to buy into the investment.

Attachment

Investment Concept Note for P4SP [DOCX 133 KB]

Note

This information is provided for planning purposes only and it does not represent solicitation or constitute a request for proposal, nor is it a commitment to purchase or tender for any described services. The scale, scope and focus of any proposed program may change at any time and is subject to formal approval by the Australian and partner governments before any procurement process will commence. Should a procurement be approved, implementation is expected to commence in August 2021. This information is subject to delays, revision or cancellations.