GOVERNMENT OF TONGA
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
VACANCY
The Ministry of Trade & Economic Development (MTED) invites applications from suitably qualified individuals to support implementation of the Women Entrepreneurship Leveraging Innovative Finance in Tonga (WE-LIFT) Project. MTED in close collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB) wishes to recruit a Project Manager with strong expertise in project management and implementation to lead the day to day management of Project Management Unit (PMU) operations.
Project Objective
The project aims to accelerate women entrepreneurs’’ access to finance and strengthen their entrepreneurial and financial capacity by
- establishing Tonga’s first risk-sharing facility to ease collateral constraints and unlock bank lending to women entrepreneurs through partial credit guarantees;
- introducing an enablement fund that provides grants to improve the bankability of informal micro and small enterprises; and
- delivering tailored BDS through a proposed business advisory hub, designed to align with the daily realities of women entrepreneurs and strengthen their financial, digital, and business management skills. Human resource statistics (staffing levels, turnover, etc.);
The project is financed through an Asian Development Fund grant under the Sustainable Development Goal 5: Transformative Gender Agenda thematic window and is structured using a financial intermediation modality to assist women entrepreneurs’.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, or related field with at least hold a relevant degree and have around 6–7 years of progressively responsible experience, including senior management roles in government, the private sector, or development settings. Such roles often involve essential project management functions, such as planning, budgeting, stakeholder coordination, procurement oversight, risk management, and performance monitoring and will therefore be considered equivalent to formal project management experience. The candidate should be able to lead complex activities, coordinate across agencies, and deliver operational results, with familiarity with ADB or other MDB procedures considered an advantage. Strong understanding of gender and financial inclusion issues in Tonga or the Pacific, combined with excellent communication and analytical skills, is expected. The position is primarily open to national candidates but may be extended to Pacific developing member countries if needed.
- Eligibility of Government Officials
In accordance with ADB Procurement Directive 3.16(d), government officials and civil servants in Tonga are eligible to apply only if all of the following conditions are met:
- They are not being hired by the same government agency where they were employed immediately prior to the assignment. (“Immediate” is generally interpreted as approximately one year.)
- Their engagement does not create a conflict of interest with their previous public role or responsibilities.
- Applicants who may fall under this category are advised to seek clarification from the implementing agency where needed.
- Experience with ADB or other multilateral development banks’ procedures;
- Strong understanding of government development objectives, and a proven track record in project leadership and stakeholder coordination are required;
- Solid understanding of the legal, institutional, and socio-cultural barriers that constrain women’s economic participation is essential.
- Strong leadership skill to manage the PMU and results-based management skills, and excellent communication, analytical, and report-writing abilities.
The duration of the initial contract is 3-4 years with possible extension based on satisfactory performance and operational requirements, given the project is for 7 years. The position offers a competitive remuneration package aligned with Government of Tonga Chief Executive Officer–level positions, with the final package determined based on the successful candidate’s experience, qualifications, and demonstrated competencies.
All applications must be submitted by 4:30pm, 23 February, 2026, and should include the following documents:
- Cover letter;
- Curriculum Vitae or Company Profile
- Certified copies of qualification transcript(s) and certificate(s);
- Reference letter(s);
Applicants who had submitted their applications on the initial advertisement before 26th January 2026 will be contacted by the Ministry to confirm their interest before shortlisting once the second round of advertisement is completed.
Applications are to be submitted either online or delivered to the Ministry’s office at Fasi moe Afi addressed to:
Chief Executive Officer
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
Nuku’alofa
CLICK HERE – to view Term of Reference (TOR) for details regarding this project and to apply online.
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