Gender equality is central to economic and human development. Equal opportunity for all people supports economic growth and helps to reduce poverty. 

The Australian Government has a strong and ongoing commitment to advance gender equality, including in Australia's development program. The Government has reinstated a target that 80 per cent of DFAT development investments effectively address gender equality in their implementation. Progress towards this target is supported by a requirement that development and humanitarian investments valued at $3 million and over include a gender equality outcome (either End of Program Outcome or Intermediate Outcome). This new gender equality outcome mandate will lead to the majority of aid investments having a ‘principal’ or ‘significant’ focus on gender equality according to the OECD DAC Gender Equality Policy Marker. 

SURGE is available to support you to improve the outcomes of Australia’s development program on gender equality and women’s empowerment through access to gender equality technical advisers.

 

DFAT staff can access disability inclusion resources and technical advice through the DID4All Helpdesk facility https://www.did4all.com.au/

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How SURGE works

SURGE works closely with the Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Branch (GEB) to respond to your requests for high quality gender technical advisory services. 

Upon receiving a tasking request, SURGE will work closely with requesting areas to determine the scope and outputs required and will recommend an appropriate adviser to complete the task. 

SURGE offers priority tasking (five days of less) at no cost to the requesting area. For short and long term tasking (6 days or more) the cost for the whole task is covered by the requesting area. Any required travel is paid by the requesting area.

Who can task SURGE?

Any DFAT officer can task SURGE for any requests relating to the international development programs.

How does the Tasking Process Work?

If you need help from SURGE, it is a simple process. 

Just login and complete a Tasking Note form with the information you have available, and we will support you with what you need. 

  1. To submit a Tasking Note to SURGE, you will need to log in. 
  2. Once logged in, click the 'Submit a Tasking Note' button under the 'Get Help From SURGE' menu. Complete the online form with as much information as you can and press Submit Task
  3. A SURGE team member will contact you and the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Branch (GEB) to discuss the task.
  4. SURGE will work with you to clarify your needs, finalise the Tasking Note and recommend a SURGE adviser best suited to the task.
  5. An initial briefing with the adviser will be arranged and once the scope of the task is agreed, the Tasking Note will be finalised and work can commence.
  6. SURGE will quality assure work completed by advisers ahead of submission
  7. There will be an opportunity after the task is completed to provide feedback on the tasking and the experience of engaging SURGE.

SURGE is aware that some tasking may require a rapid turn around and will endeavour to respond to all tasking requests as soon as possible. SURGE requires at least three business days’ notice to complete priority tasking.

Who is on the SURGE Panel of Advisers? 

SURGE’s panel of gender technical advisers are ready to support your program needs. The panel is continually growing and has advisers with experience and expertise across 12 technical sectors and an extensive list of countries and regions. Our advisers have broad experience within DFAT, multilaterals regional bodies, academia and more. 

Click here to browse SURGE's panel of gender equality advisers