Vaga Servisu - Institutional Capacity Assessment Coordinator (ICA) - Fundasaun Klibur Mata Dalan (FKMD)

TALENT EDUCATION PROJECT

JOB VACANCY

Project	Training and Institutional Support Contract – TALENT Project
Role	Institutional Capacity Assessment Coordinator
Start/ end date	Starting February, running through to mid-May 2025
Inputs	Up to 30 working days across the period. Specific input timings to be agreed in advance with the Team Leader.
Travel	Occasional travel to the municipalities is expected
Supervision	The Institutional Capacity Assessment Coordinator will report directly to the Team Leader, while receiving daily guidance and supervision from the ICA Lead Researcher to ensure alignment with the research objectives and smooth execution of activities.
Location	Dili, Timor-Leste.

Summary

Timor-Leste signed a compact with the United States Government, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), awarding it a total of USD 420 million to implement 2 projects: (1) the water, sanitation and drainage project to improve water and sanitation in Dili; and (2) the Teaching and Leading the Next generation of Timorese (TALENT) project, which focuses on reforming the teacher training system in the country through the creation of a pre-service secondary education teacher training institution, the Center of Excellence (CoE). DAI in association with Mundi Consulting, Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação, the Polytechnic University of Leiria, and the Klibur Madalan Foundation, is implementing the Training and Institutional Support Contract, to support Millenium Challenge Account – Timor-Leste (MCA) to finalize key elements of the TALENT project. The project will undertake a series of interlinked assessments covering: (i) Institutional capacities of organizations to deliver teacher training (ICA), due on the week of 7 April, 2025, (ii) secondary school teacher training needs, due on the week of 28 July 2025, and (iii) school leader training needs, due on the week of 12 May 2025 and (iv) a rapid assessment of teacher ICT and Portuguese language training needs due on the week of 16 September 2025. These assessments will be used to inform subsequent TALENT project interventions, namely secondary teacher and school leader training, and establishment of a secondary training Center of Excellence (COE).

Background on the Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA)

The Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA) is a foundational component of the TALENT Project, designed to provide critical insights for establishing the Center of Excellence (CoE). This assessment will explore the capacities of institutions involved in pre-service and in-service teacher and school leadership training to understand current challenges and align with national educational priorities. An integrated approach will be adopted with the teachers’ Training Needs Assessment (TNA) and the school leaders’ TNA. Together, these studies will provide a comprehensive understanding of the education system by addressing both the demand for and supply of skills within the secondary-level professional workforce. The two TNA studies will identify the specific skill needs of teachers and school leaders, while the ICA will analyze the capacity of existing systems and institutions to address those needs effectively. The ICA will focus on several critical areas:

1. Mapping Training Programs: The study will collect and document the characteristics of preservice and in-service teacher and leadership training programs, including curriculum content, methodologies, geographical coverage, and enrolment patterns. Special attention will be given to their alignment with national standards and frameworks.
2. Teacher Supply Mechanisms: The ICA will examine workforce planning systems, identifying subject areas with teacher shortages, geographic recruitment challenges, and links between pre-service programs and employment opportunities.
3. Institutional Capacities: The study will assess governance structures, infrastructure, and quality assurance mechanisms of teacher training institutions. It will also examine the expertise of lecturers and trainers, along with the availability of professional development opportunities.
4. Barriers to Accessibility: The ICA will identify challenges that hinder participation in teacher training, focusing on gender-related barriers and accessibility issues for marginalized groups.
5. Benchmarking Against Good Practices: By comparing Timor-Leste’s teacher training programs with those in similar contexts, the ICA will highlight transferable strategies and practices to strengthen training outcomes.

The ICA will combine multiple methodologies, including desk reviews, key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), comparative analyses, and validation workshops to ensure the data collected is robust, actionable, and aligned with the objectives of the TALENT Project. The ICA will work closely with government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Culture (MoHESC), INFORDEPE, and the National University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), among others, ensuring that its findings and recommendations align with national priorities but are also enriched by insights from primary education and training providers. Last year, a Concept Note for the ICA was developed, outlining the research phases, key milestones, and the timeline for its execution. As the research is set to commence at the end of January 2025, DAI is now seeking an Institutional Capacity Assessment Coordinator to support the lead ICA researcher in implementing the planned activities. The ICA Coordinator will play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless operations, fostering collaboration with stakeholders, and driving the successful execution of the assessment. The Institutional Capacity Assessments Coordinator will also work collaborativelly with the other project team members to ensure the successfful implementation of this assessment.

Tasks

Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader, in coordination with the ICA lead researcher and with support from the wider team, the ICA Coordinator will:

1. Ensure effective data collection and organization
• Coordinate requests and follow-ups to collect institutional, legal, and policy documents from government institutions and stakeholders for the desk review phase.
• Assist in synthesizing and reviewing data gathered during the desk review to ensure it is wellprepared for analysis.
• Systematically categorize and organize data from KIIs, FGDs, and desk reviews to streamline thematic analysis and reporting.
2. Ensure logistical and administrative arrangements are made
• Maintain proactive communication with stakeholders to keep them informed and engaged throughout the assessment process.
• Plan and schedule Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) by liaising with key stakeholders.
• Manage all logistical arrangements for interviews and discussions, including venue booking, invitation dissemination, and material preparation to ensure seamless execution.
• Take comprehensive notes during interviews and FGDs and assist with transcription to ensure data accuracy and completeness.
• Provide informal translation or interpretation in Tetum during interviews or discussions, if necessary, although Portuguese and English are expected to suffice given the stakeholder level.

Assignment deliverables

1. Short monthly reports of all meetings held by the researchers, with brief descriptions of the topics discussed and contacts (phone, email and position) of all people met.

Selection Criteria

1. Educational Background or Relevant Experience: A tertiary qualification in education, social sciences, project management, or a related field is preferred. Alternatively, demonstrated experience working with development partners in Timor-Leste is highly valued.
2. Research Implementation Expertise: Proven experience in supporting the planning, organization, and implementation of research activities, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. Familiarity with qualitative research methods is an asset.
3. Strong Logistical and Organizational Skills: Proven ability to effectively schedule interviews, stakeholder meetings, and fieldwork activities, ensuring seamless coordination. Highly organized, with the capacity to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple responsibilities efficiently under time constraints.
4. Excellent Writing and Communication Skills: Ability to produce clear, concise, and well-structured reports, meeting documentation, and other written outputs tailored to diverse audiences. 
5. Excellent cross-cultural and teamwork skills.
6. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Portuguese is considered a strong asset.

How To Apply

Please submit your application including your CV and cover letter addressing how you meet

the requirements of this role.

To submit your application, please send it through: talent.tl@iob.edu.tl

Closing Date: Monday, 3rd of February 2025 (6 pm Dili Time)

For more information, please email to: talent.tl@iob.edu.tl

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