Introduction
Oxfam in Timor-Leste (OiTL) has a long and widely acknowledged track record in humanitarian response and development in Timor-Leste since 1999. Over the past 20 years OiTL has partnered with over 70 different organisations, and today OiTL works with about 20 national and local NGOs, Networks and allies. OiTL's current Country Strategy (2021-2025) focuses on three pillars: Gender Justice, Economic Justice and Climate Justice.
Oxfam and Partners, Kdadalak Sulimutuk Institute (KSI) and Mata Dalan Institute (MDI) are currently implementing a three year 'Strengthening Civil Society for Good Governance in Timor Leste' with funding from the European Union (EU).
Overall Objective: Civil Society Actors (CSAs) contributing to inclusive and effective governance and development in Timor-Leste.
- Outcome 1: Inclusive CSAs promoting more equitable access to and control over land in Timor-Leste.
- Outcome 2: Increased organisational and operational capacity of the Rede Ba Rai network and their members.
- Outcome 3: Increased capacity of groups representing women, youth and People with Disability to advocate for the rights of its members.
This assessment will inform design of relevant capacity building interventions, develop and adopt effective planning and implementation models in line with project outcomes and overall objective.
Purpose of the Assessment
The organisational and technical needs assessment will serve as a basis of designing relevant capacity initiatives for targeted CSAs/CSOs. It will assess organizational and technical needs in line with the project focus, financial, programmatic, and safeguarding capacities, while also identifying strengths, risks, and priority areas for institutional development.
Specific objectives include:
- To assess the overall institutional, technical, and operational capacity of targeted organizations across key functional areas, including governance, management, finance, safeguarding, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- To identify organizational strengths, capacity gaps, and risk areas that may affect efficiency and effectiveness.
- To guide Oxfam's next-phase support, including targeted training, mentoring, coaching, systems strengthening, and resource mobilization to address identified capacity gaps.
- To establish a baseline for monitoring partners' institutional growth and to track progress in line with project outcomes and targets.
Methodology
The organizational and technical needs assessment will be conducted through a review of key organizational documents, use of standardized technical needs assessment tools, and interacting with management and relevant staff of targeted CSAs to collect primary and secondary data. Where feasible, on-site observations will be carried out to validate information.
The assessment will be conducted in a participatory, respectful, and culturally appropriate manner, recognizing the diversity of local organizations in Timor-Leste and their varying levels of maturity, resources, and operating environments. Applicants should provide a robust, and clear methodology detailing how the assessment will be undertaken.
Expected Outputs
- An Inception report with detailed methodology, tools and proposed report structure.
- Final report with clear findings and recommendations - not more than 50 pages
- Clean data sets, consent Forms, transcriptions and all photos.
All reports will be submitted in English and should clearly reflect each participating organisations' results.
Timeframe and Budget
The assignment is planned for an estimated 20 days from 25 February to 18 March 2026.
The Maximum budget for technical need assessment is USD 7,000
Required Experience and Qualifications
- At least 5-years demonstrated experience in undertaking similar assignments
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience organizational technical needs assessments and (or) organisational development
- Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis and participatory research skills.
- Excellent oral communication skills and the ability to deliver high quality and effective written communications in English.
- Ability to communicate in Tetum is strong advantage.
- Strong and in depth analytical and conceptual skills
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field e.g. social science, and postgraduate qualifications will be advantageous.
- Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills, data collection, analysis, and reporting while working a range of stakeholders.
- Expertise in electronic data collection platforms and tools, with the ability to adapt to various digital data-gathering methods suited for fieldwork.
- Skilled in using statistical analysis software and qualitative data analysis tools to derive meaningful insights.
Key Terms and Conditions
- Payment will be on submission of a Tax Invoice
- Quotes and/or tenders should be inclusive of all costs in relation to travel, meals, accommodation and other expenses related to the assignment and in line with Timor-Leste tax requirements.
- Oxfam may request written evidence of necessary coverage in relation to insurance (including workers' compensation), superannuation prior to commencement of the assignment.
How to Apply
Consultants or firms interested in applying for the assignment will need to submit the following:
- Cover letter briefly outlining relevant experience of all consultants
- A technical proposal with detailed proposed approach, methodology and workplan for the assignment
- A financial proposal (in USD) inclusive of daily rate and all costs in relation to travel (international and/or domestic), meals, accommodation, and other expenses related to the consultancy, and availability to undertake the consultancy.
- Curriculum vitae of all persons that will work on the assignment with at least two references for each of the team members.
- An example of a similar piece of written work from previous assignments that the Consultant has undertaken within the last 5 years.
Deadline: 17 February 2026 by 17:00 Timor Leste Time
Submission of expression of interest with stipulated documents should be emailed to [email protected] copying [email protected]
