Program Background

PARTISIPA is Australia’s flagship sub-national governance and resilience program in Timor-Leste. It works primarily with the Ministry of State Administration, the Ministry of Public Works, municipalities, and communities to strengthen national systems, improve municipal governance, and deliver sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure. By combining support for policy reform, local government systems, and infrastructure services, PARTISIPA helps Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) to deliver real benefits for citizens — more effective institutions, stronger community voice, and better access to quality services.

PARTISIPA support is delivered through three mutually reinforcing Pillars that together support a set of End-of-Investment Outcomes (EOIOs) that integrate infrastructure, governance, and resilience:

• EOIO 1: National government better addresses the infrastructure and service needs of villages.
• EOIO 2: Sub-national governments better deliver their mandated infrastructure and services.
• EOIO 3: National and subnational governments have better systems and tools to provide sustainable and resilient subnational infrastructure to communities.

The three Pillars are as follows:

1. National Systems to Support Municipalities: focuses on strengthening national policies, standards, and coordination among national level government stakeholders to ensure coherence, resilience, inclusion and clear mandates for municipalities.
2. Municipal Governance Systems and Processes: targets the functioning of municipal administrations through improved planning, budgeting, procurement, and participation, embedding citizen voice, GEDSI, and resilience into governance systems.
3. Sustainable and Resilient Sub-National Infrastructure: integrates PNDS, rural water, and roads into a single framework for quality and sustainability, enhancing infrastructure coordination, embedding resilience and accessibility in design and operations and maintenance, using infrastructure as a
governance entry point to build trust in municipal service delivery.

PARTISIPA mainstreams Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) across all components to ensure that government policies, planning and implementation processes continue to increase the visibility, voice, participation and agency of women, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

About DT Global Asia Pacific

At DT Global Asia Pacific, we aim to positively impact people’s lives through delivery excellence. As a leading implementing partner across Asia and the Pacific, we co-create locally led solutions in partnership with governments, communities, and stakeholders. We bring together talented teams and deep regional expertise to deliver initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, essential services, and resilient, secure communities. With over 1,500 staff, experts in 22+ countries and more than 60 years of development experience, we tackle complex community, national and transnational challenges — from governance and justice systems to climate resilience, infrastructure and social equity — with innovative thinking and a commitment to long-term impact.

For more information, please see www.dt-global.com

Objectives of Role

While Timor-Leste has made significant progress in gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) since independence with strong legal frameworks, it is recognised that there is a gap in the implementation of these laws, policies and commitments. This is due to limited awareness, commitment, and understanding among government actors, including on how and what to implement that is meaningful. There is also a lack of clarity around GEDSI related municipal competencies vs line ministries, including overlapping resources allocations. There is an interest to better understand this at the municipal level, including what can be done to clarifying these competencies and strengthen GEDSI approaches, commitment and capacity moving forward. This is particularly relevant in the context of decentralisation with the shift to greater power to municipalities being an opportunity to embed better practice in new systems.

Expected Outcomes

•  Increased clarity on competencies related to GEDSI in municipalities and relevant line ministries, and understanding of how this could be strengthened by Municipal authorities, MAE, relevant line ministries and development partners for Government (Municipalities and relevant line ministries/entities) and other development actors, including PARTISIPA audience.
• Increased understanding of current and potential future incentives and opportunities to strengthen GEDSI in municipalities moving forward for Government (Municipalities and relevant line ministries/entities) and other development actors, including PARTISIPA.
• Practical recommendations for strengthening GEDSI commitment, approaches, capacity and tools at municipal level.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Undertake research and present findings and report to key stakeholders

Proposed Timeline

Proposed timeline will be negotiated with consultants. Below is an indication of expectations:

• Kick of meeting and development of study plan – 2 days
•  Desk review – 5 days
•  Field study (in country – Dili and approximately 5-6 municipalities) – 11 days
•  1 or ½ day Validation workshop in Dili (including preparation) – 2 days

Data analysis and report drafting and finalisation, including incorporating feedback – 10 days

Deliverables

•  Plan for the study and presentation reviewed by MAE and approved by PARTISIPA
•  Desk review undertaken
•  Field study undertaken
•  Draft Report reviewed by PARTISIPA
•  Validation workshop with Australian Embassy representatives, PARTISIPA, Municipal representatives, MAE, SEI, MSSI and possibly other relevant ministries.
• Final report including long version of no more than 25 pages in English, and summary version in English and Tetum, approved by PARTISIPA.

Reporting Lines and Performance Management

This consultancy will be managed by the Program Strengthening and GEDSI Lead Working closely with PARTISIPA Leads, LGAs, GEDSI team and Municipal and MAE authorities.

Selection Criteria

•  Advanced academic qualification (or equivalent experience) in Governance, Gender Equality and disability and social inclusion, international development or equivalent.
•  Substantial demonstrated expertise in governance and Gender Equality and disability and social inclusion.
•  Extensive experience and familiarity with the Timor-Leste context, governance systems and gender equality, disability and social inclusion.
•  High level research expertise and analysis.
•  Ability to write short concise, robust, and accessible to different audiences, research reports.
•  High level written communication skills in Tetum and English, with at least one or more team members with fluency in Tetun and English.
•  Health and Safety Requirement. For roles requiring travel, particularly to rural or remote areas, candidates must be willing to comply with program health and safety requirements, including participation in safety briefings, adherence to risk mitigation measures, and, where applicable, vaccination requirements (e.g. rabies).

Desirable

• Experience in decentralisation in Timor-Leste or other similar contexts.
• Experience working on DFAT programs.