Vacancy Announcement - Short Term Consultant Coffee Expert (Farm Management) - Market Development Facility (MDF)

Short Term Consultant Coffee Expert (Farm Management)

• Short-term, International (ARF B2)
• Up to 60 days with possibility of extensions
• Location - Timor Leste

About MDF  

Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) helps countries in the Indo-Pacific region to grow through improved productivity, economic diversification, competitiveness and trade.

MDF helps business partners to identify markets that have high potential to grow, be profitable, and deliver social and environmental value.

MDF supports catalytic innovation in these markets by co-investing with local and international partners to reduce the costs and risks of early-stage commercial opportunities. This accelerates progress to profitability and scale.

Our aim is to do good by supporting good business. MDF supports business investment and innovation that reduces poverty, economically empowers women and combats climate change.

MDF currently operates in Fiji, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and Sri Lanka.

MDF is funded by the Australian Government and co-funded by the New Zealand Government in Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. It is implemented by Palladium, in partnership with Swisscontact

Background

Coffee productivity in Timor-Leste is extremely low and declining. The global average for optimal coffee (green bean) yield is between 1,500Kg/Ha to 3,000Kg/Ha and in Timor-Leste, yields are often at 150 - 200kg/Ha. Low productivity is largely a result of ageing trees and poor farm management (soil, pest and disease).

There are more than 77,000 households growing coffee in Timor-Leste. The majority of coffee farmers are farming on less than 2 hectares of land. These farmers typically manage their coffee farms using traditional methods passed down through generations. Many coffee farms in Timor-Leste adopt organic farming often by default, as the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is negligible. Furthermore, farmers are hesitant to adopt improved farming practices and use agricultural inputs due to the high cost. There is also limited knowledge of soil management as the last soil test was conducted in 1978.

Despite facing significant challenges, the coffee sector has the potential to grow and continue benefitting farmers. Many coffee farmers are hesitant to be early adopters of improved farm management practices, but once they see the benefits then they are more accepting of change.

Thus, MDF is seeking a coffee technical expert to establish at least 10 model coffee farms to showcase improved coffee management practices and their benefits. The consultant will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of 10 coffee farms in Timor-Leste, provide strategic recommendations, guide the implementation of the recommendations and refine recommendations for wider adoption.

Key Responsibilities

Specific deliverables will be determined in consultation with the short-term adviser.

The scope shall include the following:

1. Assess at least 10 farms’ conditions (soil, pest, disease, management, etc), identify key areas of improvement and provide recommendations.
2. Work closely with the private sector to implement the recommendations in the assessed farms to understand the cost-benefit ratio of implementing the improved management practices ($ invested on-farm management practices vs increased yield/income).
3. Refine the recommendations to be cost-effective and appropriate for wide adoption.

Duration and Location

The technical expert will provide up to sixty (60) days of input to complete scope 1. Additional days to implement scope 2 and 3 will be added based on a discussion with the consultant after completing scope 1.

The actual number of days may differ, subject to direction of MDF. Input days are likely to be split (not continuous) and subject to negotiation with MDF.

The assignment is field-based in Timor-Leste, with travel expenses anticipated. The travel and accommodation will be paid on an actual basis and the per diem expenses will be paid based on MDF’s policy. Any other costs e.g. soil testing must be pre-approved by MDF.

Required Selection Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of 7 years of practical experience working in coffee farm management to improve productivity.
• Qualifications in agronomy, agricultural science, or other relevant fields.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated capacity to constructively engage with the private and public sector, development partners.
• Knowledge of and experience in Timor-Leste or similar condition is preferred.

How to Apply

Please submit your application via link below and attach your cover letter and CV, addressing how you meet the requirements of this role.

https://palladium.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/23303?c=palladium

Closing date:  08 November 2024 (Midnight) Timor Leste time.

About Palladium

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include (but are not limited to): socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status. 

Safeguarding

We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who we encounter in our work are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including a rigorous due diligence process.