Terms of Reference
(ToR)
Research on
Timor-Leste Civil Society Engagement in Public Policy
Brief Context
Civil society actors in Timor-Leste have played an important role throughout the country’s independence movement. More than two decades since independence, Timor-Leste continues to enjoy a vibrant civil society that plays an active role in the country’s development. In the early years of the country’s independence, civil society actors were instrumental in supporting peace and state-building processes.
Despite declining resources, civil society actors in Timor-Leste continue to support the government in delivering public services in remote areas, public awareness raising of laws and policies, and undertaking advocacy and influencing the public policy space. More importantly, there is an overall agreement amongst government decision-makers, donors and development agencies that realizing Timor-Leste’s strategic development priorities requires a whole-of-society approach that enables people to become agents of change, including active participation and engagement from the civil society.
While Timor-Leste’s civil society enjoys a unique context of a relatively open civic space compared to the rest of its regional peers, it faces critical development challenges of access to resources, low domestic mobilization, and fiscal sustainability.
Oxfam - an advocate of civil society participation and part of Timorese history for almost 50 years - places great importance on the meaningful involvement of civil society in all aspects of its work. Today, Oxfam’s country programs are implemented primarily through civil society partners and allies, while at the same time, brokering and facilitating partnerships between civil society and policymakers. This approach supports diverse voices to be heard in the public policy environment, encourages and enhances capacities of civil society to contribute to an evidence base and use of evidence in engagement and influencing of public policy.
In Timor-Leste, the government, donors and development agencies generally recognize the importance of social accountability through, among others, strategic and sustained support to civil society to actively and constructively engage in public policy. Through Oxfam’s civil society partnership approach, Oxfam helps create platforms for different voices by supporting and bringing together community groups, youth, women, persons with disabilities, civil society networks, municipal actors, networks, and the private sector to engage with policymakers. Given the country’s open civic space (which should not be taken for granted) and as Timor-Leste strives to achieve its development goals, civil society will continue to play a central role in leading meaningful and evidence-based engagement with policymakers, party leaders, stakeholders and communities on fundamental challenges facing the country. Moreover, bringing together community groups, youth, women, persons with disabilities, civil society networks, municipal actors, and the private sector to engage with policymakers and ensure that their needs are taken into account in policy is paramount to ensure that no one is left behind.
About the research
Since gaining its independence in May 2002, Timor-Leste has made some great strides in development, yet many challenges remain including access to resources, low domestic mobilization, and fiscal sustainability. Finding solutions to these challenges will require, among others, enabling diverse voices in dialogues and debates on solutions for sustainable development. While Timor-Leste continues to have a relatively open civic space compared to its regional peers, there are concerns about limited opportunities for public participation in the development and implementation of economic and fiscal policies, budgetary systems, and processes. Civil society organizations, rural communities, women, youth, people with disability and other marginalised groups continue to find it difficult to make their voices heard in national processes. This has given rise to concerns regarding the level of transparency and public participation in budgetary processes and fiscal policies. For instance, the 2019 Open Budget Survey - which assessed country public budget accountability, transparency, oversight, and public participation - found Timor-Leste’s performance among the world’s worst for Public Participation scoring only 6 out of 100, much lower than the global average of 14 points.[1] Public access to fiscal information also remains limited with Timor-Leste only getting a poor score from the World Bank’s 2020 Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Assessment Report, indicating a weak performance below the minimum standards required.[2]
There is an urgent need to enhance transparency and accountability over economic and fiscal policies and national budget development and management through, among others, increased public participation and civic engagement particularly from marginalised groups. Civil society engagement in these areas remains critically important in the years ahead as Timor-Leste embarks on a journey to achieve its development aspirations as laid out in the country’s strategic development priorities[3] and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals[4]. Creating a safe and open space for underrepresented voices such as youth, women persons with disabilities, farmers and people in the municipalities is a priority to ensure that government’s economic and fiscal policies consider the interests of all people of Timor-Leste.
This research aims to understand and analyse the role of civil society in contributing to and influencing public policy particularly in economic and fiscal policy space. The research also hopes to gain insights from policymakers as to the role and expectations of civil society in Timor-Leste’s current development context.
Specific research objectives
- Understand and analyse current level of civil society engagement in public policy environment particularly in the economic diversification and fiscal policy space.
- Identify challenges that hamper civil society’s engagement in the economic and fiscal policy space (i.e., knowledge and capacity, experience, and confidence; resources; demands and expectations; opportunities to engage, reception, and others), examples of best practice, and opportunities.
- Identify challenges that impede effective engagement of vulnerable groups - women, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ in fiscal in public policy space.
- Identify and understand government expectations of civil society engagement in public policy environment particularly economic and fiscal policy.
- Provide key recommendations on how civil society can be best supported and equipped to engage constructively in the public policy space, provide feedback to policy decisions and implementation, taking into consideration challenges faced and expectations from decisionmakers and development actors.
Findings from this research will not only inform Oxfam’s current and future engagement with civil society partners and allies, but also provide an important evidence base for the government and development actors to reflect on their engagement with and support to civil society actors in Timor-Leste.
For civil society organizations, understanding expectations from the government, donors and development agencies will inform their future engagement and influencing of the public policy space, showcasing civil society’s value-add in social accountability and transparency, therefore demonstrating the importance of open civic space.
The role and responsibilities of the consultant
The consultant will be managed directly by the Oxfam in Timor-Leste Country Director, working closely with Oxfam’s Strategy and Engagement Lead who will lead coordination with the Oxfam team, Oxfam partners, stakeholders (government, donors and other development actors) and other research participants. The consultant will be responsible for all components of the research including:
- initial research planning,
- desk review of relevant documents,
- research design,
- research implementation
- write-up of the draft and final report,
- presentation of the draft report to Oxfam, partners, and stakeholders who have participated in the research to validate the research report, refinement, and submission of the final report.
Oxfam will be responsible for revising and final sign-off the proposed research methodology and plan, recommending individuals and organizations that the consultant should meet with, recommending reports on civil society engagement in public policy space in Timor-Leste (where available), support the consultant in organizing presentations with partners, review the final report and giving final sign off.
A launch event may be organized where the consultant will make a presentation of the findings, with coordination support from Oxfam team (to be confirmed at a later stage).
Proposed research methodology (to be refined further by the consultant)
The consultant will:
- Undertake a desk review on the importance of civil society engagement in public policy space generally and within Timor-Leste context
- Design a draft research plan and methodology. Oxfam foresees this research to be primarily qualitative research using qualitative research methodologies such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and validation workshops accompanied by a literature/desk review.
- Present a detailed research plan and methodology to the Oxfam Country Director, Strategy and Engagement Lead and other core staff for inputs and finalization
- Conduct interviews and discussions with key partners, government stakeholders, donors and development agencies (list to be provided later).
- Write a draft report of no more than 25 pages and present key findings and recommendations to Oxfam team.
- Complete and submit the final research report to Oxfam in Timor-Leste. The report is only considered final until approved.
- Present research findings and recommendations at a launch event
Expected outputs
- A draft research plan and methodology submitted and refined based on the proposed research methodology above.
- An all-inclusive draft budget for review and approval by Oxfam Country Director.
- Presentation and approval of the draft research plan and methodology to the Oxfam team.
- Final research plan and methodology submitted and approved by the Oxfam Country Director.
- Draft research report of no more than 25 pages either in English or official Tetum language based on INL standards, and an executive summary in both languages.
- Presentation of the draft research report to Oxfam in Timor-Leste team.
- Final research report either in English or official Tetum language for sign-off by Oxfam Country Director
- Presentation of the findings and recommendations to key research participants and stakeholders
Key research questions
As part of the research plan and methodology (see under Expected Outputs), the consultant will propose key research questions that will respond to and capture research objectives above. The proposed research questions will be discussed and approved by Oxfam ahead of the research.
Duration
The research must be completed and final report signed-off by Oxfam Country Director before end of March 2022.
Budget
- The consultant to submit budget or consultant(s) fee per day inclusive Timor-Leste’s tax (10%) and all costs related to the research, including travel and translation based on the TOR.
Research supervision
The research will be supervised by Oxfam Country Director. Technical and coordination support to be provided by Strategy and Engagement Lead Mr. Adilson da Costa Junior.
Application process
For those who are interested, please submit the following:
- A Curriculum Vita (CV) no longer than 4 pages
- A sample of a research report that the applicant has written or led the writing process
- A tentative research plan and methodology.
- Budget or consultant(s) fee per day including Timor-Leste’s tax (10%) and all costs related to the research, including travel and translation based on the TOR
Qualifications and experience required
- Experience in undertaking research on civil society role in the public policy space
- Knowledge and understanding about Timor-Leste’s development context, particularly challenges of economic and fiscal sustainability.
- Experience, understanding and knowledge of open civic space, social accountability and transparency and the role of civil society in various contexts
- Work experience, knowledge and understanding of international development issues
- Demonstrated experience in designing, planning and implementing research projects, including projects focusing on civil society roles in transparency and accountability
- Experience writing a high standard report in either in English and/or official Tetum
- Proven ability to facilitate workshops and discussion groups including ability to do so virtually where needed.
- Ability to speak both Tetum and English will be an advantage.
Both national and international consultants who meet the required qualifications and experience above are invited to submit application.
Please send your application to People, Learning and Development Coordinator Ms. Benigna Martins at benignam@oxfam.org.au
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