The Sri Lanka Support Unit (SLSU), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)’s Facility in Sri Lanka, manages a range of Australian government funded programs including the Direct Aid Program
(DAP) and the Skills for Inclusive Economy (S4IE), and provides strategic and technical advice across the Australian Aid portfolio. As part of this commitment, SLSU is establishing an LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group to provide strategic advice on community engagement, inclusion, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ populations in Sri Lanka to support the integration of LGBTQIA+ perspectives into the design, implementation, and monitoring of Australian aid initiatives in Sri Lanka.
Please refer to the attached Terms of Reference for further details of the proposed approach to managing the advisory group and the specific scope of work and engagement activities for the group.
About You
We are seeking individuals with:
- Sri Lankan citizenship and residency.
- Lived experience as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in LGBTQIA+ advocacy, policy, service delivery, or organising.
- Demonstrated knowledge of issues affecting LGBTQIA+ individuals in various Sri Lankan communities, including urban, rural, and marginalised communities in Sri Lanka.
- Understanding of intersectional inclusion, especially for LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities, from minority ethnic/religious backgrounds, and women and trans persons will be highly regarded.
- Ability to provide strategic advice on inclusion, protection, rights, policy reform, and actionable recommendations to improve programs.
- Availability to attend periodic online meetings and up to four quarterly in-person meetings annually.
- Affiliated to an organisation working on LGBTQIA+ issues, to support accountability and strengthen linkages with ongoing advocacy or service delivery efforts.
- Translation will be available to enable advisors to communicate in the language in which they are most comfortable.
How to Apply
Submit your expression of interest to asia@abtglobal.com, including your CV and a brief letter outlining your suitability, your experience supporting LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and your ability to meet the objectives listed above. Please advise your daily professional fee with your application. Successful applicants will be engaged under a short-term contract.
Please provide submissions by 21 July 2025 before 5.00 PM
Terms of Reference (ToR) for a LGBTIQ+ Advisory Group
1. Background
The Sri Lanka Support Unit (SLSU), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)’s Facility in Sri Lanka, manages a range of programs including the Direct Aid Program (DAP) and the Skills for Inclusive Economy (S4IE) and provides strategic and technical advice across the Australian Aid portfolio. As part of this commitment, SLSU is establishing an LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group comprised of a number of LGBTQIA+ individuals to provide strategic advice on community engagement, inclusion, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ populations in Sri Lanka, including underrepresented regions outside Colombo. The advisory group will support the integration of LGBTQIA+ perspectives into the design, implementation, and monitoring of Australian Aid initiatives in Sri Lanka.
2. Objectives
- To Ensure Sustained LGBTQIA+ Representation and Voice: To create a structured channel for engagement and advise from LGBTQIA+ community members, activists and representative organisations within and outside Colombo to engage with SLSU and the Australian High Commission, ensuring that diverse lived experiences and community priorities are systematically reflected in programming and policy dialogue.
- To Support Inclusive Program Design and Delivery: Provide expert advice to ensure perspectives of LGBTQIA+ individuals are integrated into DFAT program designs, implementation and monitoring and evaluations, including the Direct Aid Program (DAP) and Skills for an Inclusive Economy (S4IE) are inclusive of LGBTQIA+ communities.
- To Strengthen Regional Engagement and Visibility: Promote connections and strengthen representation and networks among LGBTQIA+ groups across the country including rural and regional areas to broaden engagement, strengthen regional networks, and ensure that advocacy and service delivery reflect the full diversity of Sri Lanka’s LGBTQIA+ population.
- To Promote Safe and Equitable Participation: Identify and recommend practical measures to enhance the responsiveness of Australian government funded programs to LGBTQIA+ populations. The group will also provide advice on how to reduce discrimination, stigma, and barriers to promote safety, dignity, and equitable access in Australian-funded initiatives for LGBTQIA+ persons, with special attention to intersecting vulnerabilities (e.g., gender identity, disability, socio-economic status, ethnicity).
3. Scope of Work for the Advisory Group
- Stakeholder Mapping Support: Conduct stakeholder mapping and needs assessments of LGBTQIA+ community members and organisations in identified regions.
- Ad Hoc Thematic Consultations: Attend ad hoc planning and review consultations with the High Commission or SLSU team to provide expert advice on program inclusivity, safety, and relevance to LGBTQIA+ communities. It will also lead to potential advocacy initiatives and constructive engagement with DFAT's development and policy teams for new program interventions and advocacy efforts.
- MEL Advisory Support: Support design of inclusive MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning) processes, including the development of targeted indicators and performance indicators for LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
- Communications and Advocacy Support: Provide strategic input on how LGBTQIA+ perspectives can be meaningfully integrated into SLSU and DFAT’s communications, visibility, and safeguarding practices.
- Feedback Integration: The Advisory Group will provide feedback on issues as requested for SLSU to integrate into program planning, implementation, and evaluation processes. This will include tracking the incorporation of suggestions and reporting on how LGBTQIA+-related concerns are being addressed.
4. Engagement Approach
- The Advisors will attend online and in-person consultations where relevant and provide written and verbal feedback on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in DFAT initiatives. Specific thematic meetings will be held based on priority areas, with clear agendas circulated in advance. Meeting Reports: All meetings will be minuted by the SLSU summarising key discussions, feedback, and follow-up actions.
- Integration into Programs: SLSU will develop periodic reports on how feedback from the advisory group has been integrated into program designs and reforms, including specific examples of changes made in response to consultations.
- Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Processes: While Advisors will advise on the practical application of MELP indicators, SLSU will be responsible for creating and monitoring a set of indicators that track its commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion across SLSU2 and/or broader Australian government funded programs.
5. Coordination and Reporting
The LGBTQIA+ Advisors will work closely with the SLSU and may also work with the AHC international development section to ensure that their feedback is effectively integrated into SLSU2’s work/the broader Australian aid portfolio. Engagement outcomes will be documented and reported in program review meetings, internal reports and annual summaries to DFAT.
6. Duration
This engagement is expected to be ongoing, with an initial review after one year to assess performance and relevance and make any necessary adjustments.
Annexure 1: Overview of Engagement Activities
Activity
Description
Frequency
Number of Occurrences (Per Year)
Thematic Consultations
Ad hoc meetings on LGBTQIA+ issues, inclusion, MEL, safety, and visibility.
Quarterly and as needed
4
Stakeholder Mapping
Field-based desk research to identify regional LGBTQIA+ actors and needs.
Once
1
Communications and Advocacy Support
Sessions to discuss how LGBTQIA+ perspectives can be integrated into SLSU and DFAT’s communications, visibility, and safeguarding practices.
As needed
1-2
MEL Inclusion Sessions
Develop and review LGBTIQ+-sensitive MEL indicators
As needed
1–2
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