Consultant - Scoping Study for Agroclimatic Advice to Rural Farmers

Background

HAMRIIK is a two-year (2024-2026), US $1 million project that aims to strengthen the climate change adaptation capacities of households and communities in rural areas of Oe-Cusse and Liquica, with climate smart agriculture as one key focus. HAMRIIK is implemented by Oxfam in Timor-Leste in collaboration with six Timorese NGOs, and works alongside local governments, including Oe-Cusse-based representatives of the Civil Protection Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, and Department of Environment. Climate breakdown has made the traditional weather signals farmers have relied upon less dependable, and community members have identified a lack of information on weather patterns, forecasts and climate-related risks as an obstacle to adapting their farming practices to suit changing climate and weather conditions. This consultancy aims to inform planning and action in that space over the next 12 months of the HAMRIIK project, and in future interventions.

Purpose of Consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is provide the HAMRIIK team with actionable guidance on how it can most effectively progress work to provide farmers in Oe-Cusse and Liquica with agroclimatic advice to help them adapt their agricultural practices to anticipated conditions, in the short and medium terms.

Key Tasks

• Attend a briefing with Oxfam in Timor-Leste and Oxfam Aotearoa, and review key project documents.
• Consult with relevant stakeholders in order to:
  • Ascertain what relevant weather or agroclimatic information (likely with a focus on seasonal and/or long-range outlooks) is available in Timor-Leste that could assist farmers to adapt their agricultural practices (e.g. planting and harvesting times, pest control) to anticipated conditions.
  • Clarify the roles, responsibilities and current practices of different government departments (e.g. NDMG, MAF, CPA) in relation to seasonal/long-range weather forecast information and agroclimatic advice provision, and identify potential sources of relevant information.
  • Advise on the status of work by the Timor-Leste government and other development partners (including UNEP, FAO, TOMAK, CGIAR, CVTL and other INGOs) on agroclimatic advisories and climate field schools. Identify opportunities for Oxfam to collaborate, benefit from, learn from and/or complement existing work; and identify key policy gaps or institutional barriers that may hinder the delivery of agroclimatic advice.
  • Assess the capability of Oxfam and some or all of its HAMRIIK partner organisations to interpret weather/agroclimatic information and to provide useful information to farmers on this basis. Identify capacity strengthening requirements and recommend capacity strengthening options.
  • Conduct rapid assessments or interviews with farmers in Liquiçá and/or Oé-cusse in order to understand their current understanding and use of climate/weather information (including traditional knowledge); what kind of climate/weather information they need most; and how they prefer to receive it (e.g. extension workers, radio, SMS). Consider options for provision of information to all groups, including people with disability and those with lower literacy levels.
• Draft a report (10-20 pages) outlining findings from the above tasks, and recommending options for progressing delivery of useful weather and climate information to farmers in HAMRIIK areas over the next 12 months, as well as options that Oxfam could usefully consider as it looks to develop work in this area into the medium term (2-5 years).
• Finalise report, incorporating any feedback from Oxfam.

Deliverables

• Brief workplan (1-2 pages) submitted by 23/03/2026 (25% of fees)
• Draft report submitted by 13/04/2026
• Final report accepted by Oxfam by 20/04/2026 (75% of fees)

Schedule

It is envisaged that the assignment will require a maximum of fifteen working days and will be completed by 20 April 2026.

Budget

A maximum of 15 working days (of 8 hours each) are allocated to complete the tasks. Oxfam will cover actual and reasonable travel expenses for any agreed travel to Liquiçá and/or Oé-cusse. The maximum payable to the contractor will be US $6000.

Performance Standards

All Services must be provided in a manner which is professional, and which provides the best outcomes in terms of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and inclusion. Deliverables must present the Contractor's free and frank professional opinion on the proposed options for support. The content of the Deliverables must be based on the Contractor's research and consultation with relevant stakeholders; address all criteria in these terms of reference; and adopt a straightforward, logical and practical approach.

The Contractor will work in accordance with Oxfam's Non-Staff Code of Conduct at all times. Child protection and safeguarding are paramount. The Contractor will be transparent, independent and operate collaboratively with Oxfam, MFAT, foreign governments and their representatives, international and non-government organisations, and all other parties to the greatest extent possible.

Oxfam is committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, managers, workers and others while work is carried out. Accordingly, the Contractor is expected to operate in accordance with the standards and good practice and obligations contained in the New Zealand Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (effective 4 April 2016).

How to Apply

Expression of interests are due 27th January 2026 by 17:00 Timor Leste Time.

Submission of expression of interest with stipulated documents should be emailed to Benigna Vicente Martins and copied to Augusta Castela Soares.

Questions about the TOR should be directed to Cris Caetano and/or Augusta Castela Soares by 22nd January 2026 17:00 Timor Leste Time.