DFAT intends to approach the market for an implementing partner to deliver the next phase of the Australian Volunteers Program – from mid-2027, for an initial four-year term, with the possibility of up to four-years in extension(s).
The next phase of the Australian Volunteers Program will engage Australians to volunteer with partner organisations across at least 26 countries in the Pacific, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Volunteer assignments will:
- drive strong people-to-people links across our region – building enduring professional, cultural and personal connections and networks, and increasing Australians Indo-Pacific literacy
- deliver development outcomes – strengthening partner organisations capacity to deliver their mandates and advance locally led development priorities
- promote social inclusion and climate resilience
The next phase of the Volunteers Program is currently being designed. In addition to a general stream of volunteers that will continue to deliver across a wide range of sectors including health and education, the design is exploring several focal areas:
- Young professionals: encouraging young professionals to volunteer, build capacity across the Indo-Pacific region, and build life-long connections to their host countries and organisations.
- Diaspora: potentially engaging with Australians to volunteer in their country of heritage.
- Sports: potential assignments to strengthen community-led sporting engagement, including coaching, administration, and health.
- Climate: potential assignments to focus on climate mitigation and adaptation, renewables, energy transition, and broader environmental issues.
- Vocational/Trades: potential assignments to focus on technical and/or small business support.
It is anticipated that DFAT will approach the market in the third quarter of 2026 with a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) as the first stage of a two-step procurement process. DFAT will hold an industry briefing during the RFEOI period. Failure to respond to the RFEOI will result in a potential respondent not being invited to participate in the subsequent Request for Tender (RFT). Shortlisted organisations from the RFEOI stage will be published on the Development Procurement Pipeline page.
The proposed procurement will be published on AusTender, and updates on its status can be found on the Development Procurement Pipeline.
Disclaimer: 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 and is subject to formal approval before any procurement process will commence.