REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING  SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

Country                       : Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Name of Project          : Sustainable Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project

Grant No                     : TFOA2869

Assignment Title        : TLARDI National Coordinator (National Position)

Reference No              : IC23 Comp 4           

The Government of Timor-Leste has received financing from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) through the Sustainable Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP). The project was designed with aim to increase the productivity and marketed production of smallholder agriculture in selected geographical locations in Timor-Leste namely Lautem (Raumoco watershed), Ainaro/Covalima (Belulic watershed), Liquiça/Ermera/ Bobonaro (Loes watershed), and Oecusse (Tono watershed). In the component 4 of the project include support for the Timor-Leste Agriculture Research and Development Institute (TLARDI), which are included in National Strategic Development Plan. Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan (SDP) states that a thriving agricultural sector is needed to reduce poverty, provide food security and promote economic growth in rural areas as well as the entire country. It sets the goals for the agriculture sector to improve national food security, reduce rural poverty, support the transition from subsistence to commercial farming of crops, livestock and fisheries; and promote environmental sustainability and the conservation of Timor-Leste’s natural resources through improving current farming practices and boosting the performance of the overall sector.

To support project implementation the SAPIP intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services (Individual Consultant) for the position of  TLARDI National Coordinator.

A key function of the TLARDI National Coordinator will be responsible for assisting the National Directorate of Research and Statistic (NDRS) to establish the Secretariat for TLARDI and ensuring the effective management of the Secretariat and the Institution required by the Government and the World Bank.

Specific Tasks of the Assignment related to the establishment of TLARDI  

1. Assist the Secretariat, in coordination with the National Directorate of Research and Statistics (NDRS) to prepare the establishment of the TLARDI;
2. Assist the Secretariat to identify the priorities and develop its work plan and budget; 
3. Assist the Secretariat in preparing TLARDI statute, structure, review the current research system, its strengths and weaknesses, priorities, financial and other resources on the basis of their strategic value, vulnerability and program quality.
4. Assist the Secretariat to contact with MAF legal affairs and possible external legal services for formalizing TLARDI legal statute;
5. Based on this review, put forward a fully costed proposal for a strategy and an action plan for consolidating and restructuring current research facilities for improving efficiency and effectiveness of the system.
6. Assist the secretariat and NDRS to encourage MAF Directorates to initiated and focus their research activities that are consumer oriented, demand driven and participatory, multidisciplinary, cost effective and linked to end users through appropriate channels, both public and private.
7. Assist the Secretariat to prepare a position paper to support appropriate research and development policies, priorities, and investments for financing from Government sources as well as alternative financing sources.
8. Assist the secretariat and NDRS to develop objectives, guidelines and mechanisms for setting research priorities and establish the appropriate level and mix of research investments. Priorities for public research funding should be in areas in which there are high social returns such as strategic, adaptive and applied research.
9. Assist the Secretariat develop performance indicators to ensure accountability to research funders. Ensure effective M&E of research programs and their impacts.
10. Assist the secretariat to develop research-extension links to include available mechanisms for technology transfer and information dissemination and feedback through farmer organizations, NGOs and private sector.

Expertise and Qualification requirements:

It is required a skilled professional with previous experience in the management and coordinations. He or she is expected to have the following qualifications and experience:              

• Post Graduate Degree and/or specific training related to in agriculture, organization development and management.
• At least 3 years of senior professional in management experience with large public sector organizations, preferably in agriculture and a rural development context.
• Managerial skills, particularly in procurement management; working with teams of professionals; and liaising with government and non-government organizations - this requires good facilitation and communication skills
• Flexibility and preparedness to understand the local situation, and a demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with national counterparts.
• Good computer literacy and experience in writing planning manuals.   
• Fluency in Tetum and  English  is mandatory.

Interested eligible consultants may obtain details of the Terms of Reference from the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_nlDFsTvmkdWzw3R_rU9tBmfA-RS2eo9/view?usp=sharing

The email subject heading must be: MAF-SAPIP TLARDI NCO.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers January 2011 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.   

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with Section V of the Consultant Guidelines.

All interested Individual consultants should submit the Expression of Interest describing your suitability to the above qualification requirements in English together with your latest curriculum vitae with two (2) traceable reference and a copy of latest Academic Diploma  and  send to the e-mail address given below by 26 May 2022, 17:00hrs Timor Leste Time. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Women are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

SAPIP Project Management Unit

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)

Comoro, Dili Timor – Leste

Telp#+670 78186585, E-mail : [email protected] and  [email protected]