Background

The To’os Ba Moris Di’ak (TOMAK) Program is a flagship 10-year agriculture initiative funded by the Australian Government (GoA) through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to support rural households to improve food security, nutrition, and climate-resilient, agriculture-based livelihoods across Baucau, Bobonaro, and Viqueque. The program has been implemented in two distinct phases:

1. Phase 1 (2016 – 2022) focused on piloting and scaling nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) and market systems development (MSD) approaches, while laying the foundation for systems change and community-level behaviour shifts. The program worked in three core municipalities (Bobonaro, Baucau, and Viqueque), reaching thousands of farming households through practical training, improved inputs and services, and strengthened agriculture-nutrition linkages.
2. Phase 2 (2022 – 2026) built on this foundation with a more integrated food systems lens, deepening support for key government and private sector partners, and scaling innovations in gender equality, climate-smart agriculture, and inclusive rural development (including for women, youth, and people with disabilities). Phase 2 also prioritised institutional strengthening and sustainability planning, working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry (MALFF), and other key ministries and stakeholders.

Over the life of the program, TOMAK has generated significant impacts across agricultural productivity, nutrition outcomes, inclusive economic participation, and local systems strengthening—through a mix of community engagement, technical assistance, and national-level policy support.

As TOMAK prepares to close, we are seeking a highly skilled production team to lead the development of a suite of legacy communications materials. These will capture TOMAK’s journey, highlight achievements, and share powerful stories of change—ensuring the program’s impact continues to inform and inspire beyond its end date.

Assignment Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and self-directed individual or production firm to lead the development and delivery of TOMAK’s core end-of-program communications materials. The consultant/company must be able to work independently, creatively shape storylines from existing materials and field footage, and deliver high-quality content aligned with TOMAK and DFAT communications standards. The work will involve:

Key Deliverables:

1. TOMAK: Our Story – 10 Year Documentary-style Film

A high-quality 5–7-minute film capturing TOMAK’s journey, showcasing impact through interview sound bites, field footage, and evidence-based storytelling. Voice over narration will be key. There is potential to include sign-language depending on cost.

2. Short Social Media Video Series

A collection of approximately 6-8 short 1–2-minute videos, each focused on a key impact area (e.g. nutrition, GEDSI, agriculture, innovation, agribusiness, climate-smart practices). Designed for social media platforms and community events. There is potential to include sign-language depending on cost.

3. Portraits of Progress

A set of 15-20 photographic profiles capturing individual farmer and stakeholder success stories. Includes impactful visuals and pull quotes for display at closure events and on social media.

4. TOMAK: Our Story Booklet (update only)

Update and finalize an already drafted visual summary of TOMAK’s achievements, case studies, and sustainability messages for print and digital distribution (note: this document is currently in PowerPoint and contains 46 slides).

Scope of Work

 The selected provider (individual or company) will be responsible for the following:

1. Review existing TOMAK materials: website, social media, past videos, story booklet draft, selected reports and presentations, and MEL outputs to better understand the program.
2. Develop draft outlines/storyboards and a clear production plan for each deliverable.
3. Conduct interviews and on-location filming in TOMAK’s target municipalities (Baucau, Bobonaro, Viqueque), including project activities, field sites, and stakeholder engagements.
4. Select and edit photography, footage, beneficiary quotes, and other creative assets.
5. Work closely with TOMAK’s Communications Adviser, MEL Adviser and Senior Communications Officer (SCO) to align key messages, validate data, and ensure storytelling is grounded in evidence.
6. Finalize materials for distribution in both Tetun and English (subtitles and/or voiceover as required). Translation support will be provided by TOMAK.

Note: Due to the timing of key agricultural activities (e.g. harvesting and planting), the production team will be required to begin filming soon after contract signing. This may mean that storyline development, content review, and concept finalization will occur concurrently with filming and photo capture. TOMAK will provide high-level guidance and coordinate initial field access, but applicants should demonstrate capacity to work independently and adaptively to capture stories and high-quality visual content under a dynamic timeline.

Required Skills and Experience:

1. Demonstrated experience producing high-quality multimedia products, ideally in agriculture or development contexts
2. Experience creating content for diverse audiences including rural, low-literacy communities
3. Strong storytelling and script writing skills
4. Strong graphic design and layout skills
5. Ability to work autonomously and deliver deadlines with minimal supervision
6. Familiarity with DFAT branding and communication standards (preferred)

Timeline & Deliverables

 Contract duration: August 20, 2025 – January 21, 2026

This is a part-time contract estimated at up to 55 working days over the six-month period, depending on the final scope and selected contractor’s work plan. Days will be distributed across pre-production, filming, editing, photography, design, and revision cycles. Additional days may be negotiated if scope demands and budget availability.

 Applicants must propose a suggested delivery timeline as part of their application. Final deadlines will be agreed during contracting and may remain flexible to ensure high-quality outputs align with DFAT and TOMAK standards.

Applicants must submit a detailed financial proposal outlining:

1. Required personnel: list of all team members proposed for the assignment, including their names and roles and short summary of experience. For individual applicants proposing to subcontract elements of the work, please clearly identify the subcontracted individuals or services and their roles.
2. Professional fees: daily rates and estimated number of working days for each team member and/or subcontractor.
3. Production costs: filming, editing, equipment use (please include a detailed list of equipment and software to be used).
4. Design and layout for photo posters and booklet updates.
5. Travel and accommodation for municipal travel for filming and interviews.
6. Other costs, including subcontracted services (if applicable).

Please note:

1. TOMAK will not provide per diem, vehicle rental, or accommodation directly, costs should be included in your overall budget.
2. Contractors must manage and budget for their own logistics, including transport and accommodation during municipal trips. TOMAK may provide suggestions/assistance in some instances (e.g. Viqueque where accommodation is scarce).
3. The TOMAK Senior Communications Officer (SCO) based in Dili may accompany selected field activities (e.g., farmer interviews), but the contractor will primarily coordinate with TOMAK’s Regional Managers and regional teams for filming harvests, planting, and general B-footage needs.
4. All costs must be inclusive of taxes and presented in USD.

Payment Schedule

A milestone-based payment schedule will be agreed during contract negotiations. As a guide, TOMAK anticipates an instalment-based structure (e.g., 10% at contract signing/initial planning meeting, followed by staged payments linked to deliverables such as filming, submission of rough cuts, final edits, and completion of all deliverables). Applications should include a suggested payment schedule as part of their financial proposal.

How to apply

Questions should be submitted in writing by August 04, 2025; 5pm local time (Timor-Leste) to:

1. Katherine.Smith@tomak.org; and
2. HR@tomak.org.

 All questions and responses will be circulated publicly via the same means as the job posting and will also be emailed directly to those submitting questions no later than August 6, 2025.

 Interested applicants must submit their applications by August 14, 2025, 5pm local time (Timor-Leste). Please submit:

1. Short cover letter detailing experience in line with the assignment objectives,
2. CVs for relevant team members or subcontractors,
3. Examples of past work, and
4. Budget, including timeline and suggested delivery dates.

 Applications should be sent to Katherine.Smith@tomak.org, with a CC to HR@tomak.org by August 14, 2025, 5pm local time (Timor-Leste).

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 consultancy is open to both local (Timor-Leste) and international consultants.

Considerations:

Any publications/materials prepared remain the intellectual property of the TOMAK program and may be used in a range of program activities, shared with partners, and/or made available through the program’s website.

The selected provider may be credited on certain materials. This should be discussed on a case-by-case basis with TOMAK technical staff in preparation of the materials and requires DFAT approval.