United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World

Neighbors (WN)

Increasing Community Resilience in Oecusse Project (ICRO),

Oecusse, Timor-Leste

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

Consultancy to Inform the Second Phase of ICRO

Date of Issue: Friday, 12th December 2018

Deadline for Submissions: 2nd February 2018

SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO:

wnseavacancy@gmail.com

FOR QUESTIONS:

Edd Wright, WN SE Asia Regional Director, ewright@wn.org

 I. INTRODUCTION

World Neighbors (WN) is seeking highly qualified candidates for a Short-Term Social Science
Consultancy for its Increasing Community Resilience in Oecusse (ICRO) project in the Oecusse region,
Timor-Leste.

The consultancy marks an important opportunity to review ICRO’s interventions and approaches to
date, and will provide constructive recommendations to ensure greater success and impact if a
proposed second phase of the project is approved.

This ToR consists of the following sections:

Cover page
I. Introduction
II. Background
III. Instructions
IV. Statement of Work
V. Closing
Annex 1

World Neighbors reserves the right to cancel this ToR and accompanying advertisement at any time
or to make no award under it or to amend the terms and conditions applicable to it. All applications
are submitted at the sole cost and expense of the Offeror. World Neighbors does not have any liability
of any kind whatsoever with regard to this advertisement or the making or failure to make an award
hereunder.

This project is funded by the US. Agency for International Development (USAID), and is subject to
applicable federal regulations and USAID rules and regulations.

II. BACKGROUND

The Increasing Community Resilience in Oecusse (ICRO) project is a three year USAID-funded project
implemented by WN, with the goal to improve the health status and quality of life of Timorese citizens
by increasing the availability and use of clean, safe water; improving sanitation facilities, and
enhancing the uptake of improved hygiene practices.

ICRO’s key objectives are:

1. To protect community water sources through the adoption of micro-watershed management
technologies and a community-based natural resources management (CLTS) approach;
2. To improve sanitation and hygiene behavior through CLTS and other appropriate
interventions; and
3. To strengthen the capacity of civil society and community based organizations to contribute
towards the project goal.

ICRO targets rural-upland communities in the sub-regions of Nitibe, Pasabe, Oesilo, and Pante
Makasar, Oecusse Region, Timor-Leste, where the vast majority of people have very limited access to
safe and clean water resources.
 ICRO is managed by WN and implemented through its three local partner NGOs: AHCAE (Associacao
Haburas Capasidade Atoni Enclave); CECEO (Centro Educacao Civica Enclave Oecusse); and BIFANO
(Binibu Faef Nome).

ICRO has so far been running for 2.5 years, targeting 80 community water sources. Although it has
been largely successful in meeting its objectives, WN has faced a serious challenge regarding the
sustainability of the community governance structures, which are responsible for managing and
maintaining the water sources once the direct external interventions of ICRO have been completed.

In anticipation of a possible phase two of ICRO (ICRO2), WN is seeking a highly qualified candidate to
fill the position of Short-Term Social Science Consultant to conduct a research and recommendation
report to help address the sustainability challenges of ICRO.

The results of the consultancy will critically inform what changes need to be made to the approaches
used in ICRO2.

III. INSTRUCTIONS

Definitions
Offeror: The individual(s) providing applications for the services requested under this ToR.

Consultant: The successful Offeror who will be temporarily hired to carry out the consultancy. Time
limit, roles and responsibilities, rights and obligations will be agreed in the consultant award letter.

Application Format
The selection of the Consultant will be conducted through an open bidding process. The application
should not be of excessive length and must contain the following information:

1. Application cover letter (not more than one page).

2. CV of the Offeror (expected to be one person).
3. A brief yet comprehensive plan (not more than 3 pages), detailing the method and
approaches used for data collection, analysis, development of recommendations and
reporting back.
4. Proposed budget
Offerors are requested to submit their proposed budget in the following format:

No. of
No. Expenses Quantity Unit Unit Cost TOTAL
Units

1 Consultant Fee
2 International Travel
3 Local Travel Outside Oecusse*
4 Field Work Expenses
5 Accommodation
6 Food and Drink
7 (Offeror to add additional item lines if needed)

Grand Total
 * WN will provide travel inside Oecusse
5. Past Performance References covering all similar work performed over the last five years,
complete with contact email addresses.
6. Optional: A set of relevant attachments to the application that further document or explain
the Offeror’s approach and qualifications (e.g., institutional brochure, letters of reference,
publications list, etc.).

As stated on the cover page, the application must be received by WN by 2nd February 2018. Any
applications received after the deadline will not be opened.

Selection Criteria
Applications that fail to meet the requirements of this ToR will receive no further consideration. The
evaluation will be based on the following:

1. Technical expertise
2. Local knowledge expertise
3. Budget application
4. Past performance

Expected Qualifications
The Offerors are expected to have the following qualifications:
1. Experience in conducting research to inform rural development projects, especially with a
focus on water, sanitation and hygiene and/or natural resource management.
2. Experience in conducting research of rural development projects in Timor-Leste or other
similar environments.
3. It is strongly preferred for the Offeror to be able to speak directly with the communities,
therefore preference will be given to candidates who can speak fluent Dawan/Baikeno, or
Tetum. If an Offeror is selected who is not fluent in one of these languages, then suitable
arrangements will be made by WN.

Offer Validity
The Offeror‘s application must remain valid for not less than 60 calendar days after the deadline
specified above.

Modification and Alterations

WN reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify this ToR, to alter the selection process in any
way, to ask for additional information from Offerors, or to modify or amend the scope of the
applications submitted. Each Offeror acknowledges and agrees that the preparation of all materials
for submission to WN and all presentations made by the Offeror are at the Offeror’s sole cost and
expense, and WN, shall not under any circumstances, be responsible for any cost or expense incurred
by an Offeror. All documentation and/or materials submitted with an application shall become and
remain the property of WN.

IV. STATEMENT OF WORK

The consultancy will address the following issue:

ICRO has difficulty in convincing many community-based water management committees (WMC) to
perform their tasks voluntarily and continually, when the benefits are not only for themselves but
for the larger community. There is high motivation from committee members when they are being
actively facilitated by ICRO staff, but there is a substantial drop when direct intervention ends. How
can this challenge be overcome, so that the benefits achieved by ICRO can be more sustainable?

The consultant is expected to address this issue through answering the following questions:

Programmatic Questions

1. How can the approach used in the formation and training of the WMC be improved to ensure
greater sustainability?
2. How can the WMC training series used by WN be improved to ensure greater sustainability?
3. During ICRO1, WN noted that WMCs who participated in exchange visits to a more successful
WMC, saw their capacity and motivation increase. Is this an area ICRO2 should focus more
systematically on?
4. How can the roles and responsibilities of the WMC be improved to ensure greater
sustainability? What do the WMC members think about their roles and responsibilities?

Socio-Cultural Questions

5. Why do some WMCs perform well, while others do not?

6. What are the community’s perceptions towards the WMC? Is it needed? Are there supporters
versus non-supporters? What are the landowner’s perceptions towards the WMC?
7. Are there any alternative governance structures (political/traditional) already in place (which
perhaps feel undermined by the newer WMC?) which could incorporate the roles and
responsibilities of the WMC, and therefore negate the need to establish a WMC? If
communities don’t see the need for a WMC, how do they want to manage the water source?
8. Should the owners of the water source and surrounding land be the focus of water governance
under ICRO2, rather than a WMC? Or a combination of both?
9. Even when people see the benefits of the work of ICRO, they may still not like the governance
of the WMC – if so, why? Are certain sub-groups in the community benefiting more than
others?
10. Tragedy of the Commons--Where is support eroding? Are there certain families or groups
that see greater personal benefit from not participating/supporting the WMC?
11. What motivates people to serve on the WMC?
12. Why do people lose interest once the direct intervention of WN finishes? How could this be
addressed?
13. What is the community’s attitude towards payment of the water fees? Are they used well?
Was it too expensive/not enough?
14. What does the community want/expect from the governance of their water source?

WN has already identified a number of issues it feels contribute to the lack of WMC sustainability. For
those which it can realistically have an impact on, WN has also proposed a number of remedies which
will be incorporated into ICRO2. Apart from addressing the 14 questions above, the consultant will
also be asked to provide feedback on these remedies.
 It’s a truism to say that different communities will provide different answers to the above, therefore
the consultant will be expected to provide appropriately tailored feedback, rather than a one-size-fits-
all.

Provided prior approval has been received from the ICRO Program Manager, the Consultant will be
given flexibility to research and provide recommendations on additional issues which might arise over
the course of the consultancy, and which the Consultant thinks would benefit ICRO2.

The Consultant will be expected to apply a participatory approach which will focus most heavily on
direct community engagement through individual interviews, group discussions/focus group
discussions and observations.

The Consultant will also be expected to hold individual interviews and group discussions/focus group
discussions with WN staff, WN local partners and with relevant officials at both the local and regional
level.

Summary of Deliverables
1. Present findings and recommendations to WN, USAID/TL and Government of Oecusse, in
Pante Makassar and/or Dili.
2. A final written report written in English. The report should not exceed a maximum of 30 pages
excluding annexes. The format of the report will be agreed upon between WN and the
Consultant.

Timeframe
The field work in Oecusse is expected to be carried out in February and March 2018.

The actual number of effective working days will be agreed upon by WN and the Consultant in order
to develop a schedule that is suitable with the actual field conditions. For the purposes of the budget
application, the Offeror should plan for 55 days covering the entire consultancy process including the
submission of the final report.

The field work is expected to be carried out in roughly 40 Bairos. Information on the areas can be
found in Appendix 1. The selection of the sample locations will be determined jointly by WN and the
Consultant.

V. CLOSING
These Terms of Reference are presented to all prospective Offerors for consideration. For more
detailed information, please email the contact person on the address provided on the cover page
above.
 APPENDIX 1

Name of
Local Partner Suco Aldeia Bairo
Water Source

Oelfab
Aijao Ana Oel-Oelfab
Bebo Sonaf
Oel-Oelfab
Quanisi
Oel-bona
Mahata Oele-Matan
Timosanasa Oel-Nunuh
Mahata Oelilah Oel-Ili
LELA-UFE Cuba Oe-Tiba
Noebesi Oel-Bimanat
Oelputi Oel-Putih
Quat-Enes
Oel - Niti Oel-Niti
AHCAE Nefolete Oesu'u
Oel-Nunuh
Kiubukif
Queno Oelaneku
Atos Suni Oel-Matani
Oeltam Oel U'afu Naek
Nitibe Poasbot Oel-Na'cono
USI-TACO Fatu Sobe Oel-Naleluf
Fatu Nababu
Fatu Ken Fua Oel-Pankase
Asicota Oel-Oesil
Mnaikunus Oel-Omlat
Hauboni Oel-Omlat
Nupus Oel-Keob
Oel-Kefa
TAIBOCO
Centro Oel Noa Unuain
Nemun
Bineno Oel-Pua'ana
Bioni Oelpetun
Maquelab
Neofkel Oebaha
Nemun Nunputu Oelteufbola
Bitulu/Kalis Oel-Bisofe
Caban
SUNI -UFE Bimeni/Kaban Oel-Calis
Fuabano Biluti Oel-Nanat
BENE-UFE Lamasi Lamasi Oel-Kaenka
Oe-Puan
Nunapa Oemeno
BANAFI Hautefo
Oel-Napupun
Kuanobe Oeliso
Noafafo Sonamnasi Oel-bubuk
CUNHA Oe-Naek Oe-Ana
Maunaben
BIFANO Oe-Manu Oeluakan
 Na'u Oelpetun
Bono
Tuames
Bnoco-oni
Sifin Oel-Mamba'i (A)
Boenmes
Nefokele
Bisafe
Oel-Faub
USI-TASAE
Usapi Oel-Faub
Pune
Sonaf
Quafe'u Oel-Nanat
Quipakas Oel-Ekam
Bitana Oel-Aljaob
Buqui
Hau-ana Oel-Apnaas
Tkuas Oel-Bikab
Kabun Oel-Bubut
Usapi Kolen
Oemanu Oesilo
Caunan
Nia'napu Oel-Bena
BOBOMETO Koet
Oenoah Oenoah Oelnus
Oebaha Qiukole Oemasin
Qiubiselo Baun Oelaluin
BOBOCASE Fatubija'e Netenoke Oel Eu-nae
Oel-Na'neka
Lacufoan Leolbatan
COSTA Oel-Faub
Oetfo Oben Oel-Oben

NAIMECO Noque Nunsena Oenoah

Faenlul
Neofmuti
OelNitas
USI TAQUENO Nibin Kuatnana Neksena
Huatba Niufbano
Huaetba Oelatfob
CECEO Oeten Oel-Lalua
Nunatais Tuamina
Tono Oelsia
Haemnanu
Masin OelPuana
Oel-angkai Oel Haunasib
Faut esu Oel Manamas
ABANI
Pope A
Ban Puah
Pope B
Pasabe Nuncolo Oel-Lahane
Metac Oemolo
Ato Oelbonak
Naituna Naetuna A Olatfoana
 Oel-Bonak
Naetuna B Nefo Lali
Tis-Ini
Nanu'un
Oelelo
MALELAT Malelat Naboek
Hueknutu
Boensena
Besatoko Nefo Obe
BANAFI Hautefo Kusi Oel Kuape'as