Research and analysis on disability prevalence and inclusion in Timor-Leste - TOMAK

 

Terms of Reference

Assignment title: Research and analysis on disability prevalence and inclusion in Timor-Leste

Dates & duration: June – September 2022

Location(s): Homebase and Baucau, Bobonaro, Viqueque Municipalities, Timor-Leste

Reports to: Lewti Hunghanfoo, TOMAK Team Leader (Interim)

TOMAK Contract Representative: Tammy Theikdi, TOMAK Program Manager

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Background

TOMAK

The To’os Ba Moris Di’ak Program (TOMAK) is a 10-year agricultural livelihoods program funded by the Australian Government in Timor-Leste. Its goal is to ensure rural households live more prosperous and sustainable lives. Since 2016, TOMAK has worked with key partners (including the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL)) to implement a range of parallel and linked interventions that aim to:

• Establish a foundation of food security and good nutrition for targeted rural communities.
• Build capacity so these communities can confidently and ably engage in profitable agricultural markets.

TOMAK Phase 1 (AUD25 million, 2016-21) aimed to enable more prosperous and sustainable rural livelihoods through an innovative mix of nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), market systems development (MSD) and women’s economic empowerment (WEE). Phase 1 was extended until June 2022 to allow for evaluative activities and the Phase 2 design update process. The design update for Phase 2 (up to AUD20 million, 2022-26) is expected to formally commence in July 2022. Phase 1 operated in Baucau, Bobonaro and Viqueque and further consideration will be given to potential new geographic areas in Phase 2.

 

It is expected that TOMAK Phase 2 will take an integrated ‘food system’ perspective to achieve objectives relating to food security, nutrition and agriculture-based livelihoods, with particular attention paid to social inclusion. Disability Inclusion will be a cross-cutting focus through all activities. TOMAK 2 will elevate disability inclusion as a program priority and implement inclusion approaches that support people with disabilities to take advantage of existing agricultural opportunities whilst in parallel seeking to create better opportunities and more inclusive agricultural systems and markets by addressing the institutional, attitudinal, communication and environmental barriers that people with disabilities face. 

The Assignment

According to the most recent Population and Housing Census for Timor-Leste, there are just over 38,000 people in Timor-Leste with a disability (4% of the population). The majority of people with disabilities live in rural areas and are self-employed, often relying on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Research shows that households headed by people with disabilities are twice as likely to rely on agriculture as households not headed by people with disabilities. Farmers with disabilities face similar challenges to other subsistence farmers (poor access to services, markets and assets) but these are compounded by institutional, environmental, attitudinal and communication barriers that prevent them from participating as equal players in the agriculture sector.

Looking at the intersection between gender and disability, women and girls often face ‘double discrimination’ whereby women with disabilities face exclusion and discrimination on the grounds of both their gender and their disability.

TOMAK has identified disability inclusion as a priority for Phase 2 given the multiple barriers farmers with disabilities face. Tailoring support and services to farmer’s abilities and preferences is a crucial part of inclusivity that requires data at the local level – however all too often disability data is not available at this level.

To address this gap, TOMAK plans to undertake an assessment to better understand 1) disability prevalence in target communities and 2) the specific challenges, needs, capabilities and opportunities for farmers with disabilities.

TOMAK is now seeking an external consultant/s to conduct research and analysis on disability prevalence and inclusion across TOMAK’s program areas in Baucau, Bobonaro and Viqueque.

Overall, the study aims to provide contextual information that will:

• gather and analyse data on disability prevalence in program implementation areas in order to better target disability inclusion activities where they will be most effective.
• gather and analyse data about the barriers women, men and youth with disabilities face in accessing agricultural livelihoods (with particular reference to attitudinal, physical, institutional and communication barriers) and identify opportunities for TOMAK programming to contribute to reducing such barriers.
• based on local level findings, provide recommendations for best-practice strategies and approaches for inclusion that can be integrated into program activities to ensure equal participation and program outcomes for people with disabilities.
• Explore existing agriculture livelihoods activities that are carried out by disability in the target areas/study sites.

More specifically, the study will look at the following key questions at the local-level:

• What are the local understandings and attitudes about disability?
• What are the attitudinal, physical, institutional and communication barriers to meaningful participation of people with disabilities in agricultural livelihoods?
• Who are the women, men and youth with disabilities in our target communities? What are their opinions, experiences and situations, and what are the similarities/differences?
• What are the enablers for people with disabilities to use their strengths and capacities to participate in and contribute to agricultural livelihoods?
• What strategies or adaptations are needed for program activities to ensure people with disabilities participate in and experience benefits from program activities?
• What disability organisations/services are present in our target communities? What barriers prevent people with disabilities from accessing programs/services?
• Who are the key potential allies, influencers and gatekeepers that the program needs to engage with at local, sub-national and national levels to address barriers and gaps?

It is expected that the study will use a mixed methodology (qualitative and quantitative) and take into consideration the fact that women, men and youth with disabilities are often hidden or less visible within their communities and households, due to social norms, structures and systems that disempower people with disabilities.

Methodologies should be based on best-practice and draw on tested and established methods such as the Washington Group Short Set on functionality (WGSS) and the Rapid Assessment of Disability (RAD) survey tool for collecting disability data. Tools such as the RAD integrate WGSS and provide a clear picture of the number of people with disability, or prevalence, in a population or community, and an understanding of the diversity of disability and the barriers that individuals with disability face. The RAD has a modular structure meaning it can easily be adapted to the program context and it includes household and individual survey tools and explanatory guidelines.

It is expected that the external consultant/s will work in partnership with Ra’es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO), Timor-Leste’s only national disability organisation, throughout all stages of the study. The participation of women and men with disabilities in designing, adapting and implementing the data collection will ensure the use of appropriate and inclusive approaches and reasonable accommodation for meaningful participation.

 

Overview of Assignment

Assignment responsibilities:

• Develop and finalize the disability prevalence and inclusion analysis design and methodology including analysis framework, sampling, and relevant quantitative and qualitative tools for data collection. These tools should be made available in both Tetum and English and be tested prior to finalisation. The methodology will be developed in partnership with TOMAK’s Gender, Disability and Social Inclusion team and RHTO.
• Develop a detailed workplan and field schedule.
• For the duration of field data collection, the consultant/s will be supported by local researchers (recruited by TOMAK). However, the consultant/s will be responsible for coordinating, managing and training local researchers in the specific tools to be used for the study. The consultant/s will also be expected to deliver a training workshop on disability awareness with researchers prior to the field work.  
• Data collection, entry and management during the field work (supported by local researchers).
• Analysis of data and presentation on initial findings for validation at a sense-making workshop with the TOMAK and RHTO teams.
• A final report (no more than 30 pages excluding annexes) that addresses the overall study objectives and key questions, including targeted recommendations.

Timeline

Finalisation of the timeline to be determined with the selected consultant/s:

• Initial planning and discussions with the TOMAK technical team (June);
• Development of assessment methodology, tools and workplan (June)
• Data collection and analysis (July)
• Sense-making workshop (August)
• Delivery of assessment report (September)

Skills and experience required:

1. Demonstrated practical experience in gender equality and disability inclusion related programming in the area of agricultural productivity, food and nutrition security (at least 5 years preferred).
2. Demonstrated experience in coordinating and conducting research studies, with a strong focus on quantitative and qualitative research on gender analysis and/or disability assessments, preferably for international non-profit organizations or multilateral agencies (at least 5 years preferred).
3. Excellent qualitative and quantitative assessment design and analysis skills (experience in quantitative analysis software well regarded)
4. Excellent writing skills as evidenced by significant high-quality baseline, assessment and/or evaluation reports/products.
5. Demonstrated high level organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks, competing priorities and complete assignments within timeframes.
6. Experience working leading and supporting, and capacity development for in-country/remote research teams.
7. Experience leading assessments in resource constrained environments
8. Fluency in Tetum language is desirable and prior experience working is Timor-Leste will be well regarded.

 

To apply:

For further information or to submit your application please contact Tammy Theikdi on tammy.theikdi@adamsmithinternational.com

Applications close 7 June 2022.

Applications should include the following:

• Brief cover letter describing knowledge and experience relevant to the role, in particular previous experience in coordinating and administering studies of a similar nature, including experience with qualitative research and disability assessments (no more than 2 pages).
• Proposed timeframe detailing activities and a schedule/work plan.
• Financial proposal including expected days and consultancy fees.
• Curriculum Vitae (no more than 3 pages)
• Names and contact information of two references who can be contacted regarding relevant experience.
• A copy of one previous report of a similar nature undertaken.