Aaron Watson Email & Phone Number

Dili, Timor-Leste

As First Secretary - Community Development I will oversee policy and program management responsibilities for sub-national governance, de-centralisation, water, food security and climate change.Great to be working with Government and Embassy colleagues and staff from PARTISIPA (funded by Australian development assistance).

As Assistant Director in the Gender and Human Development Section, I worked on strategy, policy and programs for Education, Social Inclusion and Conflict Prevention across Southeast Asia.

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Policy analysis and program management responsibilities for Australia's international engagement on counter-terrorism, countering violent extremism, and grants with multilateral and bilateral partners and international organisations.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Policy analysis and program management in the Health portfolio, including on COVID-19 response. Responsible for stakeholder engagement, program oversight, monitoring and evaluation, communications and reporting with Embassy partners such as Unicef and WHO. Coordinate Australia's engagement with the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in Indonesia and the GF country coordinating mechanism. Manage Australia's technical support through UNDP.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Policy analysis and program management in the field of international cooperation for good governance and decentralisation. Worked on the KOMPAK program, a partnership between the Australian and Indonesian governments to improve basic service delivery and expand economic opportunities for poor and vulnerable Indonesians. I led on M&E and Local Economic Development pillar, as well as managing DFAT's Independent Strategic Advisory Team process.

Canberra, Australia

Policy and program tasks related to Strategy and Performance of Australia's development cooperation program with Indonesia.Studying Indonesian language in Canberra and Jogjakarta (S3R3).

Policy and program tasks relating to aid quality and performance with the Contracting and Aid Management Division, including on the Aid Management Review team in 2015. Monitoring and Evaluation policy and process advice, and training coordination. Desk officer on the India bilateral desk - foreign policy and economic reporting, and liaison.Rotations in the Pacific Division - Fisheries and Environment Section, and Humanitarian Division - Disaster Risk Reduction.Short term… Show more Policy and program tasks relating to aid quality and performance with the Contracting and Aid Management Division, including on the Aid Management Review team in 2015. Monitoring and Evaluation policy and process advice, and training coordination. Desk officer on the India bilateral desk - foreign policy and economic reporting, and liaison.Rotations in the Pacific Division - Fisheries and Environment Section, and Humanitarian Division - Disaster Risk Reduction.Short term assignments in PNG (April - June 2016) on governance and electoral support; and Fiji (May-June 2014) on the regional environment program and disaster management. Show less

AusAID Graduate in 2013, and DFAT Graduate in 2014.Policy and program tasks related to monitoring and evaluation of Australia's aid program. Key member of the organising group for AusAID's Performance and Quality Conference. Rotations in DFAT's Humanitarian Division, Pacific Division, and South West Asia Division.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, And Monitoring Projects In 4 Provinces

Program implementation including grant management and providing technical support to partners including Cambodian Government partners, health service providers and four NGO partners implementing the community based drug treatment program. Managing Cambodian staff and consultants. Support and advice on harm reduction programs to UNODC Country Manager and team, in collaboration with UNAIDS and WHO colleagues.Attended UN consultations on drug treatment policy, and study tour to… Show more Program implementation including grant management and providing technical support to partners including Cambodian Government partners, health service providers and four NGO partners implementing the community based drug treatment program. Managing Cambodian staff and consultants. Support and advice on harm reduction programs to UNODC Country Manager and team, in collaboration with UNAIDS and WHO colleagues.Attended UN consultations on drug treatment policy, and study tour to Malaysia, and supported International Narcotics Board visit to Cambodia. Show less

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Advisor to the Women Organisation for Modern Economy and Nursing (WOMEN) - a Cambodian NGO working on HIV/AIDS prevention and care, Child rights and protection, and Climate Change response.Lead implementation of the Together Addressing Climate Change Initiative- Prey Veng (TACCI-PV) which included planning, implementation, training, reporting, monitoring and managing staff. Lead author for project design for this USD $150 000 project.Supported Executive Director and staff with… Show more Advisor to the Women Organisation for Modern Economy and Nursing (WOMEN) - a Cambodian NGO working on HIV/AIDS prevention and care, Child rights and protection, and Climate Change response.Lead implementation of the Together Addressing Climate Change Initiative- Prey Veng (TACCI-PV) which included planning, implementation, training, reporting, monitoring and managing staff. Lead author for project design for this USD $150 000 project.Supported Executive Director and staff with strategic and operational management, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation tasks- for projects on HIV/AIDS care and Child Protection in 6 Provinces in Cambodia. Trained HIV/AIDS field staff in counselling and outreach skills, refresher training on child protection. Show less

Advisor to the Social, Environment, Agricultural Development Organisation (SEADO), to build capacity in program management for health, HIV/AIDS, community development, livelihoods, drug prevention and harm reduction, and safe migration programs.Conducted a review of SEADO organisational policies and procedures, and developed the 5 year Strategic Plan for 2009-2014. Worked closely with management and staff to transfer skills in project management, organisational planning, report… Show more Advisor to the Social, Environment, Agricultural Development Organisation (SEADO), to build capacity in program management for health, HIV/AIDS, community development, livelihoods, drug prevention and harm reduction, and safe migration programs.Conducted a review of SEADO organisational policies and procedures, and developed the 5 year Strategic Plan for 2009-2014. Worked closely with management and staff to transfer skills in project management, organisational planning, report and proposal writing, financial management, and monitoring and evaluation.Supported the Executive Director in program planning, implementation and liaison with Donors such as the European Union, UNODC, the Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance, and ADB/Family Health International.Developed funding proposals for project continuation and new projects including the successful proposal to the European Union for 5 partner NGOs to implement community based education about social issues and conduct non-formal education and skills training. Show less

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Provided policy advice based on research, issue and community analysis, and field visit experience.Developed and managed public awareness and community education campaigns and projects.Conducted a review of the effectiveness of community awareness and outreach programs.Developed educational resources for various media types, including print (posters, brochures), radio, television, display booths, multi-media, t-shirts, and merchandise.Conducted educational… Show more Provided policy advice based on research, issue and community analysis, and field visit experience.Developed and managed public awareness and community education campaigns and projects.Conducted a review of the effectiveness of community awareness and outreach programs.Developed educational resources for various media types, including print (posters, brochures), radio, television, display booths, multi-media, t-shirts, and merchandise.Conducted educational sessions with Aboriginal people in remote and urban locations. Developed a database of contacts such as police stations, schools, community leaders, and community groups.Instigated and managed the Road Safety Song Competition project which has heightened awareness of road safety issues at the community level through live music performances, and production of a CD and DVD. The DVD has been aired on the Australian National Indigenous TV (NITV) channel. Show less

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Office of Indigenous Policy: I undertook research, consultation, and drafted the Department’s submission for the NT Coroner’s Inquest into Petrol Sniffing Deaths in Central Australia; and conducted policy research about substance abuse and youth issues. I researched, wrote and took photos for several articles published in the Common Ground Indigenous affairs newspaper of the NT Government. Government House Darwin: I drafted remarks for the Administrator (Governor), wrote and distributed… Show more Office of Indigenous Policy: I undertook research, consultation, and drafted the Department’s submission for the NT Coroner’s Inquest into Petrol Sniffing Deaths in Central Australia; and conducted policy research about substance abuse and youth issues. I researched, wrote and took photos for several articles published in the Common Ground Indigenous affairs newspaper of the NT Government. Government House Darwin: I drafted remarks for the Administrator (Governor), wrote and distributed media releases, accompanied the Administrator to events, and managed a number of community education projects.Policy and Coordination Division: conducted research, consultation, and drafted ministerial briefs and background notes on various social policy and community engagement topics. Show less

Sydney, Australia

Coordination tasks for the Bougainville Integrated Development Project (AusAID funded, AUD $2 million project) against the implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and budgetary schedules. Responsible for liaising with four overseas partner agencies in Bougainville and the donor, AusAID.Conducted six Monitoring and Evaluation missions during 2000 and 2001 to Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and project sites in Thailand, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

Bachelor Of Arts, Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies, Sociology, History

Activities and Societies: Oxfam-CAA club (secretary), United Nations Society, Starlight Foundation club (treasurer)

Master Of International Management, Management, Business, Marketing, Communication