Expressions of Interest
Panel - Senior Consultants – Market Systems Development Insights
· Short term, big impact opportunity for senior, strategic contribution to capture and communicate MDF’s market insights
· Multiple task-based assignments available from 2 to 30+ days input
· Home-based, open to international applicants
Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) is seeking highly experienced Market Systems Development (MSD) professionals with exceptional writing and analytical skills, to join a specialist consultant panel. This panel will shape how MDF’s learning, evidence and market insights are communicated to senior decision‑makers across government, private sector, investment and the international development community. Consultants must be able to identify and author credible and transferable learning products.
About the Market Development Facility (MDF)
MDF helps countries in the Indo-Pacific region to grow through improved productivity, economic diversification, competitiveness and trade. MDF helps business partners and government to identify markets that have high potential to grow, be profitable, and deliver social and environmental value.
Our aim is to do good by supporting good business. MDF supports business investment and innovation that reduces poverty, economically empowers women and combats climate change. We currently operate in Fiji, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and Sri Lanka. MDF is funded by the Australian Government and is implemented by Palladium, in partnership with Swiss contact.
Scope of Services.
As a senior consultant on this panel, you will:
- Work directly with the Team Leader, MDF country teams and senior technical staff to author and shape high‑level learning products
- Synthesize complex MSD interventions, evidence and results into clear insights and defensible lessons
- Articulate what worked, what didn’t, and why - moving beyond success narratives to system‑level learning
- Frame findings for senior donor, government, investor and private sector audiences
- Contribute across multiple sectors and market systems, including agriculture and agribusiness, tourism, financial services, renewable energy, transport, shipping and logistics, professional services and adjacent sectors.
Outputs may include synthesis reports, learning papers, insight briefs, case studies or other thought‑leadership products.
Essential Selection Criteria
- Exceptional writing and editorial capability
A proven ability to produce sharp, authoritative, publication‑ready outputs that speak to senior technical and non‑technical audiences alike. - Deep experience in Market Systems Development
Demonstrated senior‑level experience in MSD or comparable private sector development programs in low‑income or emerging economies. - Advanced analytical and synthesis skills
Ability to interrogate evidence, challenge assumptions and extract robust system‑level lessons from complex programmes. - Strategic framing and policy relevance
Strong capacity to position insights in ways that are relevant to donor priorities, government reform agendas and private sector incentives.
Highly Desirable
- Strong understanding of inclusive MSD, including GEDSI integration
- Experience writing for DFAT or similar donor audiences
- Experience in the Indo‑Pacific region
- Background in policy writing, economics, business journalism or thought leadership.
Personal Attributes
- Intellectual rigour - comfortable challenging assumptions and identifying credible lessons
- Precision, clarity and attention to detail
- Able to engage constructively with technical and research teams and extract relevant insights.
- Comfortable operating with minimal direction, managing competing inputs and delivering under tight timelines.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted online via Palladium – JobList and include:
- CV and response to the selection criteria
- A portfolio of writing samples (links to publicly accessible work strongly preferred)
- Proposed AUD daily rate (refer to ARF STA rates for guidance).
- Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.
About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including a rigorous due diligence process.