## About the Proposal

The recently elected Government of Samoa (GoS) is in the process of updating Samoa’s strategic framework — the Pathway for the Development of Samoa (PDS). The PDS sets out an ambitious reform agenda supported by 14 sector plans forming the national whole-of-government framework. The GoS maintains a strong preference for using its own systems, particularly through the Joint Policy Action Matrix (JPAM) — the primary vehicle for coordinating development partner support and general budget support.

A key new development in Samoa’s national reform and investment landscape is the District Development Program (DPP) — a government-led initiative to devolve planning and financing closer to the district and village levels. Each district receives annual grants (which have recently increased to between ST$1.5-2 million) to support locally identified priorities aligned with the PDS and sector plans.

Given Australia’s ongoing use of partner government systems (PGS) and in accordance with DFAT requirements, it is now timely to undertake a new Assessment of National Systems (ANS) Update for Samoa. DFAT completed the first comprehensive ANS in 2011, followed by updates in 2014, 2018, and 2022. This 2026 ANS Update will draw on those assessments and DFAT’s updated guidance to ensure continued effective and risk-informed engagement with the Government of Samoa.

## Responsibilities

DT Global seeks a qualified consultant (individual or consultancy firm) to work independently assessing the capacity, integrity, and risks of using PGS in line with DFAT *Practice Note: Assessing and Using Partner Government Systems for Public Financial Management and Procurement, Guideline, April 2019*. The ANS will inform DFAT’s use of budget support, sector support, and financial aid modalities under the Australia–Samoa Partnership Framework (O le Fala Folasia i Lo Ta Va) and the Tautai Governance for Economic Growth Program. The key role for the Adviser is to:

**Scope of services**

1. **Preparation and familiarisation**

- Review and apply the DFAT ANS methodology, with specific reference to Section 3 (“Updating an Assessment of National Systems”).

1. **Analysis and assessment**

- Provide an updated assessment of the overall level of fiduciary and corruption risk, and the credibility of existing reform programs applying DFAT’s development risk terminology in the glossary in Annex 3 of the Practice Note: Assessing and Using Partner Government Systems for PFM and Procurement.

1. **Application of DFAT analytical framework**

- Apply DFAT’s ANS framework across all eight PFM components (On Plan, On Budget, On Parliament, On Treasury, On Accounting, On Procurement, On Report, On Audit).

1. **Deliver a comprehensive 2026 ANS Update Report that:**

- Updates and validates the 2022 ANS findings in line with Annex 3: DFAT’s ANS template. Refer to Annex 3 for the report format.

Click on the link [https://shorturl.at/iHCoZ](https://shorturl.at/iHCoZ) or copy-paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position.