Organisational Context
ChildFund Australia is an independent international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in developing communities, partnering for community and systems change that enables vulnerable children and young people, in all their diversity, to assert and realise their rights. It is a registered charity, fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a member of the ChildFund Alliance - a global network of 10 organisations assisting almost 36 million children and families in 66 countries. ChildFund Australia directly manages and implements programs in Cambodia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and other Pacific nations, and partner-delivered projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Background
ChildFund Timor-Leste is commissioning a Child Rights Situation Analysis (CRSA) in Ainaro, Dili, Ermera, Same, Likisa, Lautem, Manatuto to build an accurate, evidenced picture of children's rights. A situation analysis produced through secondary data review is intended to inform project design, advocacy priorities, partnership decisions and resource allocation, grounding these decisions in a clear, current, well-evidenced understanding of the situation of children.
This assignment is primarily a desk-based review of secondary and grey literature. It is not a primary data collection exercise, and does not require consultation with children, focus group discussions or key informant interviews as its main evidence base.
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to produce a credible evidence base for understanding the situation of children in the target areas. It will identify the most significant child rights issues and inequalities; who is most affected and being left behind; the immediate, underlying and structural causes; how the situation is changing; and the extent to which relevant laws, policies, systems, services and duty bearers are protecting and advancing children's rights.
The CRSA will provide an evidence base to:
- Inform country strategy and strategic priorities
- Inform programme priorities and design
- Identify priority populations and geographic areas
- Shape advocacy and influencing priorities
- Inform engagement with government, partners and other actors
- Strengthen funding and business development
- Monitor changes in children's rights over time
Geographic Scope
Primary focus: Ainaro, Dili, Ermera, Same, Likisa, Lautem, Manatuto
Regional and national/federal-level data should be reviewed where necessary to interpret, benchmark or contextualise local findings (e.g. national prevalence rates, national legal/policy framework, national budget allocations) - but the analysis should not simply reproduce national-level reporting without connecting it back to the specific areas of operation.
Thematic Scope
The analysis must cover the following domains, with attention to marginalised groups and climate resilience incorporated across each of these domains:
- Enabling environment for child rights - Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; legal and policy frameworks; governance, accountability and coordination mechanisms; public expenditure and budget allocations for children; child rights data, monitoring and evidence systems; child rights institutions and complaints mechanisms; family environment and standard of living (including poverty); non-discrimination and equity; national preparedness and resilience to economic shocks, crises and conflict, disasters and climate-related risks
- Health and nutrition - maternal, newborn and child health/mortality; nutrition; immunisation and access to primary healthcare; adolescent sexual and reproductive health; climate-sensitive health risks (e.g. heat stress, climate-related food insecurity)
- Education and learning - access, enrolment, attendance and completion; learning outcomes; barriers to access; early childhood education; education in emergencies; school access or continuity disrupted by climate hazards
- Child protection - violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation (incl. online/digital risks); child labour, child marriage, trafficking; care arrangements; child protection systems and referral pathways; child protection risks linked to climate shocks and disasters (e.g. displacement, family separation)
- Child participation and agency - children's right to express views and be heard in matters affecting them; participation in households, schools, communities and public decision-making; access to information; civic engagement and leadership; child and youth-led initiatives; digital participation and online engagement; barriers to participation facing marginalised children; children's engagement in climate action, disaster risk reduction and environmental decision-making
- Inclusion of marginalised children - children with disabilities; girls, LGBTQI+ and gender-diverse children; children belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minority groups; children affected by displacement, migration or statelessness; children living in extreme poverty or remote areas; how climate vulnerability compounds existing exclusion
Selection Criteria
ChildFund Australia is seeking a consultant with the following expertise. The successful applicant should demonstrate:
- Significant professional experience in child rights and rights-based approaches to development, including strong knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Demonstrated expertise in meaningful child and youth participation, including designing and facilitating approaches that enable children and young people to influence analysis, strategy and decision-making
- Experience developing practical child participation guidance, tools and resources, including translating complex evidence or analytical findings into accessible, child-friendly formats
- Strong understanding of recognised child participation standards and safeguarding and ethical requirements, including the Lundy Model and/or Nine Basic Requirements for Meaningful and Ethical Child Participation, informed consent/assent, confidentiality and safe referral processes
- Experience designing inclusive approaches appropriate for different ages, abilities and cultural contexts, including children with disabilities and other groups who may experience barriers to participation
- Experience establishing feedback and accountability mechanisms that demonstrate how children's and young people's views have influenced analysis and decisions and close the feedback loop with participants
- Experience working across multiple country contexts, preferably in international development and/or humanitarian settings in Asia and the Pacific, with demonstrated ability to develop practical approaches for country offices and partners operating in capacity-constrained environments
- Experience with Child Rights Situation Analysis or similar strategic/context analysis, organizational strategy processes, and/or youth advisory mechanisms would be highly regarded
How to Apply
Interested consultants should submit an expression of interest including:
- A short technical proposal, outlining understanding of the assignment, proposed approach to designing child-friendly, low-burden guidance, and workplan
- A financial proposal/fee schedule in AUD
- A curriculum vitae including at least two references from similar assignments
- A sample of previous, similar written work (e.g. child participation guidance or a facilitation toolkit)
Please submit your application via the link below not later than 23 October 2026:
https://teamchildfund.bamboohr.com/careers/695?source=aWQ9MzM%3D
For the full TOR, questions or clarifications, please contact Nelita Ximenes at [email protected]
ChildFund Australia believes in a global community where children are safe and can reach their full potential. We take extensive steps to safeguard children in any work done by our people. All people working with us will undergo relevant background checks before joining ChildFund Australia. In line with our values, diversity of people and ideas is critical to our work and our success at ChildFund Australia. We strive for a team culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive. ChildFund is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and strongly encourages people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply.
