Vaga Servisu - Junior Field Assistant - TOMAK (To’os ba Moris Di’ak)

TOMAK- Position - Junior Field Assistant 

Terms of Reference

Title:  Junior Field Assistant 

Project: TOMAK (To’os ba Moris Di’ak) / Farming for Prosperity 

Duration: 1 Year with possibility of extension

Location: Post Administrativo (Administrative posts) - Baucau, Bobonaro, & Viqueque Timor-Leste

Reports to: TOMAK Regional Manager

 

About TOMAK

TOMAK (To'os ba Moris Di'ak or Farming for Prosperity) is DFAT's 10 year, AUD 50 million nutrition-sensitive and agricultural development livelihoods program in Timor-Leste. The Timorese food system continues to be highly vulnerable compounded by thin markets, low agricultural productivity, fragmented input sourcing and distributions systems, and widespread lack of knowledge on best agricultural practices. Added to this are social and cultural nuances that limit, and in some instances hinder, the active and effective participation of marginalized groups In the case of TOMAK these consist of women, persons with a disability, youth and the landless people.. The aim of the Program is for: Rural households in Timor-Leste [to] have improved food security and nutrition and resilient agriculture-based livelihoods that are productive and profitable.

 

TOMAK supports the continued strengthening of linkages between food system actors to increase the availability, quantity, and quality of the food delivered to consumers or other final buyers (processors, supermarkets, local markets, collectors/aggregators); whilst building on improving climate change adaptation and resilience, including conservation agriculture, sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), and water conservation. As the food system transforms, Timorese food supply chains (from production to market) will be improved, food environments (ensuring nutritious food is locally available) will be enhanced, and household dietary practices improved.

TOMAK is being implemented at community level in Baucau, Bobonaro and Viqueque municipalities, through government and NGO partners, with broader reach achieved through a range of systems strengthening activities with government and private sector.

 

Position Summary

The Junior Field assistant (JFA) is a key member of the TOMAK Regional team and works in close coordination with Project officers to assist and monitor Agriculture Savings and Loans groups (ASLGs) activities which include: Farmer Field school, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, Household Decision Making (HHDM), Agribusiness, Savings activities. The JFAs will work closely with AEWs, Vet technicians, health worker to coordinate field level implementation. JFAs will report to Regional Manager.

 

Duties and responsibilities

• Mobilise community group members day to day technical support; 
• Facilitate trainings and activities related to agriculture, climate-smart practices, business management, nutrition, savings and Gender Disability and Inclusion (GEDSI); 
• Manage collaboration and close coordination with AEWs in target suku;  
• Monitor and compile weekly progress updates to TOMAK Regional Manager;  
• Participate in monthly AEWs meetings at the Posto Administrativo;  
• Manage necessary data collection as required and instructed by TOMAK’s Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team; 
• Support in identifying lessons learned and facilitate sharing of best practice learned from community implemented activities;
• Develop and manage relationships with key local authority representatives, MALFF, AEWs and health workers to build linkages between these actors as required;
• Support in developing good relationship with the agribusiness market actors in the respective area.
• Support regular communication and coordination with relevant programs, organizations and agencies, and participate in monthly meetings held at the Posto Administrativo.
• Promote gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and disability inclusion as an integral part of agricultural production activities and the extension service.
• Promote gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, youth and disability inclusion as an integral part of agricultural production activities and the extension service.

Skills and experience required:

1. Graduate qualifications in a relevant field (e.g. agricultural science and/or agricultural economic; nutrition, climate change/mitigation/climate-smart-agriculture; business; development/rural development/community development);
2. Minimum 3 years’ experience in agriculture-related programming in Timor-Leste including strong understanding of agribusiness, nutrition, climate change, GEDSI, and community saving practices;
3. Demonstrated experience working in remote/rural areas including willingness to stay at Posto Administrativo locations and work with farming communities;
4. Demonstrated capacity to coordinate and collaborate with partners and government entities for relevant field levels activities;
5. High level facilitation skills and experience designing and delivering training for farming community;
6. Excellent organizational skills and a proven track record of meeting deadlines
7. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team;
8. Advanced computer literacy, particularly in MS Word, MS Excel and Outlook.
9. Fluency in Tetum and 1 or more local languages from Baucau, Bobonaro, and Viqueque. (English ability is a bonus but not required).
10. Residence in the municipality will be considered an advantage.

 

To Apply:

 

Applications should be sent to TOMAK’s HR Team by emailing hr@tomak.org by 14 October 2024, 5pm local time (Timor-Leste).

 

Please submit:

1. Short cover letter detailing experience in line with the Terms of Reference (TOR) (2-3 pages)- Please indicate which municipality you are applying for.
2. An up-to-date CV/resume (3-5 pages)
3. Three (3) references: preferably one from your most recent job and a personal reference from a stakeholder or counterpart you liaised with.

 

Adam Smith International is an equal opportunity employer and applications from a diverse range of candidates including from women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

This posting is open to Timorese nationals only.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interview.

 

TOMAK is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skin color, marital status, or parental status. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.