Community & Social Development

Undertaking a contemporary analysis of bêche de mer (sea cucumber) value chains and establish a cost benefit analysis tool and methodology to demonstrate the economic rationale for sustainable management across various jurisdictions.

Leading the development of a range of publishable materials documenting how Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) has ‘contributed to the protection and sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity in line with the Regional Ocean Governance Strategy (ROGS) of the Nairobi Convention’. This includes an updated ‘Investment Overview’ of the Project, and a whitepaper on the legal, regulatory and fiscal environment needed to scale up privately protected areas (PPAs) like CHICOP.

Conducting a document review and consultations with local and international humanitarian organizations to inform the DFAT strategy to support recovery of communities affected by major disasters and protracted crises in the Philippines. Protracted crises can include compounding impact of natural disasters or the impact of armed conflict and displacement.

Designing and implementing ecological and socio-economic surveys in two Maldivian atolls to support UNESCO Biosphere Reserve assessments. Socio-economic surveys inform M&E indicators and reveal innovative MPA financing opportunities. Ecological surveys establish baseline data for MPA management and highlight each system’s natural values. The final report provides an analysis findings and proposes management and financing recommendations for the Biosphere Reserves, guiding phase two as the project scales across the Maldivian MPA network.

Delivering services to support the Vanuatu project team and output deliverables of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Pathways 2 Project. Key areas of support include Community-based Fisheries Management (CBFM) implementation and scaling, catch monitoring, food systems, gender equality, disability equity and social inclusion (GEDSI), capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation.

Starting with a barriers analysis including gender, social and demographic factors, Sustainable Solutions Timor-Leste (SSTL) is working with Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) and the National Eye Centre to identify ways to improve access to eye-health services. In addition to participatory approaches, SSTL conducted an innovative COVID-safe survey which allowed participants to respond electronically and mobilized local youth groups to facilitate data collection in their areas. SSTL continues to support FHF to deliver services for those most in need.

Supporting the design, development and implementation of a Youth Ambassador programme in Zanzibar, engaging and training youths from coastal communities to engage in, lead and influence wider community participation in marine and coastal sustainable management activities. Concurrently supporting the design, development and implementation of a first-of-its-kind Women Rangers Internship programme in the Chumbe Island MPA, empowering and engaging women in communities to become MPA rangers, including full training and three-month internships for on-the-job work shadowing (with Chumbe becoming the first MPA in Tanzania to have women rangers).

Providing support for key outputs related to gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) and community-based fisheries management (CBFM) in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati, in collaboration with wider stakeholders. The academic and translation outputs focus on gender and CBFM, and the inclusion of people with disabilities in coastal fisheries.

Assisting IBI Home Office in the copyediting and formatting of documents according to USAID standard guidelines and generating various graphics and data visualizations.

Assessing the feasibility of a multi-sectoral gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against children (VAC) hotline in Timor-Leste. Undertaking a desk review, stakeholder consultations, and targeted needs assessment to inform the design of a coordinated, survivor-centred support service. The study identified existing gaps, mapped resources, and proposed practical operational models for a national hotline and helpline. The findings supported government and development partners to improve access to services for women and children, and to advance integrated, sustainable responses to violence.

Researching and writing the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Analysis for the US$ 20 million USAID activity Partnerships for Green Investment (PAGI), with a focus on social issues, including benefit sharing mechanisms, in supply chains for commodities such as coffee, cocoa, and rubber.

Working within a team to develop a US$ 20,000,000 proposal to protect wildlife in Bangladesh, with emphases on wildlife trade and on human/wildlife conflict.

Undertaking research (primary and secondary), coordinating input, writing, graphic design and full production of a “Sustainable Seafood Guide” for tourism businesses, hotels and restaurants in Tanzania, under the USAID Heshimu Bahari programme. The guide introduces key concepts of seafood sustainability, including ecological, health, and socio-economic factors, the role of small-scale fisheries and marine managed areas in seafood production, and how seafood choices impact ocean ecosystems and community well-being. Includes the development of a color-coded Sustainable Seafood Rating for Tanzania (SeRaTa) for 32 commonly consumed marine species.

Exploring how mobile, digital, and emerging technologies can strengthen climate resilience for vulnerable populations, including women and rural communities. Comprising stakeholder interviews, fieldwork in Dili, and analysis of opportunities, enablers, and barriers to technology adoption. Findings will inform strategic recommendations for government, private sector, and development actors to scale inclusive ClimateTech solutions tailored to Timor-Leste’s context.

Providing an updated picture of aquaculture in Timor-Leste from a 2011 publication. Focused on the role of WorldFish and the Partnership for Aquaculture Development Project in increasing the culture and sustained availability of Tilapia as a protein source.

Conceptualising a project for anticipated major USAID activity for wildlife conservation in East Africa. Assignment ended after initial on-the-ground reconnaissance due to U.S. government termination of USAID.

Supporting the strengthening of Blue Economy programme design and incorporated of gender equity, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across three thematic areas: (1) Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), (2) conservation of key marine habitats (mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs), and (3) advancing sustainable blue ecotourism. In support of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Zanzibar. Included research and development, facilitation and presenting of findings at validation workshop (Zanzibar).

Assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of the PAC scholarship initiative (operational since 2017) to guide and inform scholarship planning and investment moving forward. This evaluation explored the impact of the scholarships on recipients of the awards, in terms of: (a) personal growth, (b) professional development, and (c) levels of understanding or reframing of Indigenous peoples and/or local communities (IP/LC’s) cultural knowledge, and ethical, equitable and effective ways of weaving Indigenous and local knowledge systems with western scientific knowledge systems to inform protected area management, and conservation policy and practice more broadly.

Supporting the client to create multiple business plans to present to several governments of Pacific Island countries for the purchase, delivery and implementation of dialysis machinery on home soil.

Completing a business prospectus and Theory of Change document to help a start-up permaculture non-profit to showcase their work to stakeholders and funders. Successful in attracting over $500k of funding and in-kind support.

Undertaking a mid-term review of the CR4All project to establish the progress made towards the project’s indicators, as well the general adoption of the introduced technologies to adapt to climate change.
The MTR follows a mixed method approach with a survey and qualitative data gathering among beneficiaries, as well as interviews among other stakeholders, including local officials and the private sector.

Providing regional consultant services for the development of a Fisheries related ‘Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures’ (OECM) from the Maldives, co-facilitating a case study presentation at the Asia Regional Workshop on Fisheries-Related OECMs in Bangkok (Dec 2023) and preparing a briefing paper on the IUCN Green List, providing inputs for List-related capacity building in Southeast Asia.

Undertaking a mid-term review of a livelihood project with women in rural eastern Indonesia as Lead Evaluator. The evaluation was designed to inform Australian government funding, guide project activities, stakeholder and government relations and investment modalities. Involved the oversight of evaluation design, desk-based review and consolidation of background information, field data collection and coordination, research, report writing and production.

Assessing the organisation’s internal MEL systems for potential improvements to support the achievement of their goals, measure their success and be accountable to community beneficiaries, wider stakeholders and program donors. Combining the results of this investigation with an assessment of capacity needs among staff and designing a training outline to empower them to deliver their programs successfully and increase their impact in the field.

Developing and facilitating data literacy training modules for use with organizations working on water resource management in Timor-Leste. Supporting a requirements gathering process for informing the development of data visualisations and dashboards.

Undertaking an analysis of existing monitoring data of the for Apoiu ba Lideransa, Mentoria no Aprendizajen (ALMA) program (a teacher and school leader capacity development initiative), and exploring the correlation between changes in teacher and teacher observation skills and student performance through program implementation.

Supporting improved understanding of the factors behind nutrition and health related behavioral change – why some people have, and other people have not, adopted positive practices. Sustainable Solutions Timor-Leste is working across four municipalities to explore the knowledge, attitudes and norms that enable and prevent the adoption of actions, including hand-washing, exclusive breastfeeding, joint-household decision making and consumption of nutritious foods.

Supporting the advancement of the positive parenting program. Introduced by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI) in 2014, this program has seen some positive results towards improving child development through engaging parents in building their knowledge about and behaviors towards positive parenting. Supported by UNICEF, Sustainable Solutions Timor-Leste are now revising the modules to take a gender-transformative approach aiming to contribute to prevention of violence against women and children, which will reinforce and contribute to the sustainability of healthy child and family development.

Following the successful completion of phase 1 (strategic framework development), phase 2 is expanding upon this for the development of a full five-year strategic plan. This plan will include a clear five-year vision and mission statement, a summary of organizational core values, a simplified theory of change, strategic goals and SMART objectives, targets and indicators, and a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan to assess key performance indicators (KPIs) moving forward.

Designing, coordinating and undertaking ecological surveys of marine and terrestrial habitats across the Maldives with the aim of designating protected areas and designing management plans. Using ecological and social surveys and secondary data to create impact mitigation strategies for local communities and coastal developments. Providing technical support for developing zoning plans and habitat and impact mapping. Liaising with government departments, private industry, and local communities. Creating comprehensive reports on the marine and terrestrial ecology of the Maldives.

Supporting the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) to develop a successful grant proposal to the Blue Action Fund, to support the ongoing management of the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA).

Undertaking a mid-term review of this multi-year arrangement, including the prepositioning of cash and relief goods by the Philippine Red Cross to ensure quick mobilization of support to victims of natural calamities. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the arrangement was expanded to include testing equipment and operational costs for the country’s largest COVID testing laboratory, and to provide other equipment to help the Philippines handle the outbreak.

Undertaking a mixed-method baseline study exploring the prevailing situation of communities and mechanisms to increase the capacity of local Disaster Management Committees to develop and implement gender- and disability-inclusive disaster risk-reduction and climate change adaptation plans. Exploring systems to increase livelihood and employment opportunities that are climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive, and increase access to financial services, especially for women and people with disabilities.

SSTL was contracted to study the effectiveness of DFAT’s support to the curriculum distribution.
Leading an assessment of the effectiveness of DFAT’s support to curriculum distribution, this work involved the analysis of existing databases complimented with key informant interviews and observation visits to warehouses and schools to assess the use of the distributed materials. The assessment advised on the sustainability of DFAT’s contributions, including a review of and input to the existing Operations Manual.

Providing editing services to USAID LGP and W-GDP Initiative PWEEP to edit / re-write technical documents in English (quarterly reports, annual work plan reports, training reports, standard operating procedures, factsheets, flyers, write-ups, good practices, success stories and other communication materials).

Evaluating the Hahan project, to measure the extent of achievements towards its intended outcomes in commercial food production and the adoption of good nutrition and hygiene practices in the project areas of Viqueque Municipality. In addition, the evaluation explored aspects like sustainability and inclusiveness of the project. The findings informed recommendations for the remaining period of the project, as well as an expansion programme until 2027.

Establishing a baseline study for the CRIB project, for a Community Disaster Risk Reduction and Management project.

Undertaking an evaluation to assess the program’s effectiveness, impact and likelihood of sustainability of the program’s achievements. SPDR is a program supported by DFAT Manila to support the capacity development of the Philippine Department for Social Welfare and Development to increase their preparedness for disaster response.

Evaluating the long-running Water and Sanitation Project of the Nusa Tenggara Association (NTA), which aims to improve living standards in rural areas of eastern Indonesia by providing access to adequate water and sanitary facilities and training people in relevant skills, leading to better health and hygiene. The outcomes of the evaluation will inform the NTA’s future Water and Sanitation activities, government relations and investment modalities.

Conducting an endline evaluation of the Crops Program aimed to increase food self-sufficiency through access to post-harvest grain and rainwater storage systems and the promotion of climate-smart farming production systems. Evaluation includes an assessment of the overall program performance against indicator targets, aggregate program successes and lessons learned, and providing recommendations for future programs.

Supporting the design and training processes to develop research questions, sample tools and ethical research mechanisms (using a Do-No-Harm approach) for collecting preliminary data on Covid-19 impacts on intra-households (funded by Government for Development [G4D]). Leading interviews with select households in two Municipalities, supervising research assistants and documenting daily debriefs during data collection as well as participating in coding processes and presenting to the Ministry of Social Solidarity.

Engaging with new international NGOs and private sector stakeholders to agree on an approach for the separation and collection of office paper waste for recycling and mechanisms for participation in pilot sites. Providing support to the administration and coordination of behavior change efforts for pilot adoption, working closely with the women’s groups, other consultants and youth group partners.

Supporting targeted Sucos (villages) in Bobonaro Municipality that have historically suffered from flooding. The project’s objective was: ‘Communities are prepared for and better assisted during natural disasters, particularly flooding and high wind events.’ The evaluation used quantitative and qualitative tools to evaluate the performance and document learnings from the project’s two core components: 1) improving the resilience of communities to natural disasters, and 2) establishment and testing of an efficient digital cash distribution system.

Supporting the design and training processes to develop research questions, sample tools and ethical research mechanisms (using a Do-No-Harm approach) for collecting preliminary data on Covid-19 impacts on intra-households (funded by Government for Development [G4D]). Leading interviews with select households in two Municipalities, supervising research assistants and documenting daily debriefs during data collection as well as participating in coding processes and presenting to the Ministry of Social Solidarity.

Supporting the ‘Womens Action for Voice and Empowerment’ (WAVE) Mid-Term Reflection for the International Women’s Development Agency, focusing on Timor-Leste’s partners utilizing feminist participatory approaches.

Piloting an innovative 12-month program to support staff of Timor-Leste’s only legal aid organization that supports women and child survivors of violence. The program involves over 25 staff members and combines self-care, monthly programs and plans for ongoing mentoring for staff involved. This is supported by International Women’s Development Agency who recognize the need to provide care and support to those involve in front-line service provision.

Supporting the Rural Women’s Development Program (RWDP) to develop and prepare for a three-year transition plan development through reflection workshops (mentoring and training of facilitation) for groups supported by the Covalima Community Centre (CCC) in Timor-Leste.

Developing an understanding of the concepts surrounding the Theory of Change and facilitating a review and planning process for the Community Policing Support Program.

The STAND UP project is implemented by The Border Consortium under LIFT’s Uplands Programme. The project aims to improve natural resource management, nutrition and sanitation, and to build local capacities. Interventions target displaced and conflict affected communities as well as returnees who are subsistence or smallholder farmers in areas where ethnic armed organizations exert at least some degree of authority. LIFT Fund evaluations assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and perspectives of sustainability of the project.

The Highlanders Accessing Rural Value- chains for Equitable Sustainability (HARVEST) program is implemented by Oxfam in Papua New Guinea. The program is implemented through six Implementing Partners including private enterprises and Community Based Organizations to help increase the income and well-being for rural farming families in the country’s highlands, particularly in Eastern Highlands, Simbu and Jiwaka Provinces. The Mid-term review was implemented to assess progress towards the project objectives and outcomes.

Undertaking an external evaluation of ASB’s program in the Central Philippines to: (1) determine if it has met its identified objectives and results (in particular the inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction and management); (2) provide insight and feedback on ASB programming and partnerships; (3) document the program’s engagement model; (4) provide recommendations to support future programming and partnerships.

Supporting the City of Greater Geelong in its development of new partnerships and funding arrangements Working with Council staff to develop program strategies and budgets, engage donors and develop funding bids and partnership packages. As a result of the work, two new funding arrangements are now in place to support cultural heritage management, and the innovative ‘Mountain to Mouth’ environmental arts trail.

Designing pedagogical curricula and implementing interactive grant writing training workshops in collaboration with the Coral Triangle Center (CTC). Workshops aimed to support Asia-based candidates for the National Geographic Society grant schemes to improve their grant writing skills and enhance their competitive potential to successfully acquire grants.

Evaluating the MILDAS project, implemented by the International Organization for Migration, which aimed to encourage people to position migration in their strategic livelihood planning while recognizing the negative consequences to migrants and their families. In addition, the project also aimed to strengthen LIFT’s stakeholders’ understanding on migration and development. The final evaluation assessed the progress of the project towards its expected outcomes, particularly in terms of the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability, as well as reviewed its overall approach and specific methodologies.

Assessing the status of candlenut plantations in Covalima in order to explore the potential for commercializing this traditional product in order to promote increased incomes for farmers in the medium and long-term. Identifying and providing recommendations to address the challenges in terms of accessing profitable markets and limited knowledge of appropriate management practices to increase productivity.

Undertaking a midterm review and providing recommendations to achieve progress towards program objectives, for two projects supported by the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund and implemented by local partners: (1) setting up sustainable livelihood funding mechanisms at the community level; and (2) the improvement of smallholder farmer access to certified rice seeds

Planning, implementing and monitoring of the WASH initiative in Schools (WinS) component of the on-going WASH program. Working with partners to implement hygiene promotion via the CHILD to child methodology and with contractors for the construction of new WASH facilities.

Designing survey tools and training enumerators in the conduct of electronic data collection; data analysis, qualitative data gathering with key stakeholders including community and government officials. Data analysis and report writing.

Producing a ‘Professional Development Curriculum’ to guide training for over 200 practitioners working in community engagement, promoting gender and social inclusion approaches and facilitation skills. This assignment included active field-based participatory research, staff training and the implementation of a social inclusion organizational policy, and resulted in a rise in the percentage of registered rural women farmers from 7% to 49%. This represents a significant shift in attitudes, opportunities for women and all farmers, as well advancing the potential for more equitable economic benefits in this sector.

Aiding the FHI360 team in the development of a US$2 million proposal for USAID solicitation on transnational migration of citizens of continental Southeast Asia.

This Community-led Rural Development Program (CLRDP) worked in partnership with district-based civil society organizations across four districts in Timor-Leste; DAC criteria were applied to document achievements and learning of CLRDP’s integrated and community-led approach to strengthen civil society and improve the livelihood security and voice of rural men and women in Timor-Leste.  A household survey and qualitative data gathering was conducted among stakeholders.

Designing and conducting a market assessment and identification of partners for a Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy for one of Mercy Corps’ corporate partners. Market assessment conducted for the rice sector, in particular smallholder farmers in Ubon Ratchatani province; consultations held with key stakeholders and recommendations made to the corporate partner.

Formative evaluation of the country strategy to date, both for learning and accountability; to be used both internally and externally. Providing training and accompaniment to country team to co-facilitate the research, the evaluation focused on how much progress has been made towards achieving the strategic ambitions; providing findings, conclusions and recommendations in order to draw learning from the last five years that needs to be retained and used to influence the next five-year strategy of the Leprosy Mission.

CRS was one of the first INGOs on the ground after Typhoon Haiyan hitting the Philippines on November 8, 2013. To complement and follow up humanitarian relief programs this assignment looked at the challenges and needs of the affected communities to recover and sustainably develop their livelihoods. To inform medium and long-term programs situational and market assessments were conducted in the heavily affected fisheries/aquaculture and coconut based sectors. As Team Lead the consultant integrated findings in proposals and a livelihoods development strategy.

Collaborative research with local partners following training in participatory methodologies and accompanying them with on the job capacity development in research skills including analysis, interviewing techniques, designing methodology and conducting primary and secondary data analysis. The study forms the basis of a multi-year community based approach to preventing and responding to violence against women and children at the community level. Assignment under UN Women, Association of Men Against Violence.

Working together with three key local partners to design and implement participatory evaluation methodologies to evaluate programs in four districts. Using innovative techniques to discuss outcomes for communities and collectively analyzing the results with local organizations to enable better program design that addresses community needs. Assignment under APHEDA (Australian Union Aid Abroad).

The evaluation of the Aid to Uprooted People Program included the conducted of quantitative research and review of collected data to evaluate the program’s achievements in the sectors of Food Security, Nutrition, Enterprise Development and WASH. Field sites in the Maluku Islands were visited and discussions conducted with beneficiaries to verify the quantitative data gathered by the program team.

Improving monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) skills and capacity of key staff of CRS’ partner, Social Services (KYSS). Support provided through training and hands on development of an MEL manual and tools, KYSS’ monitoring systems were elevated from output based monitoring to the ability to track changes in the application of newly learned agricultural techniques by project beneficiaries, and resulting changes in productivity.

Designing and supervising the end-line survey and conducting qualitative data gathering for evaluation. The LEAFS project, implemented with local partner CEDAC, was designed to empower women to improve food security and nutrition. The evaluation documented achievements and lessons learned on the introduction of savings and internal lending communities (SILC), and improved climate resistant agricultural techniques.

Documenting lessons learned and good practices of CAFOD’s work in East Timor to be used by CAFOD as well as partners and East Timorese civil society in general. Demonstrating the lessons and good practices, and presenting written materials detailing the inputs of CAFOD from 1999 to 2013. Working with partners and holding workshops to identify the key inputs and successes of partnership.

Following participatory methods with rural communities in western Flores to determine ecotourism sites for development, potential benefits and risks of ecotourism development, prioritization of sites for development, and production of action plans at organizational and community level.

Supporting the advancement of a regional Framework and Action Plan for the Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS), including (1) summarizing and socializing the CTMPAS Plan at CTI-CFF Roadmap events (through Info Sheets, Regional Exchange Report, and the draft CTMPAS Framework and Action Plan); (2) further developing the CTMPAS framework through consensus with the six Coral Triangle country focal points; and (3) facilitating discussions to finalize the CTMPAS Framework and Action Plan for presentation at Senior Officals Meeting.

Utilizing a participatory development process for the establishment of baseline survey tools, and providing training to staff data collection and assessment processes, with support provided for final data analysis and report production.  Trócaire’s livelihoods program worked with local partners and was focused on  food security in Ermera and Manufahi districts, Timor-Leste. The program incorporated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) within its design.

Managing, coordinating and providing technical support to the Academy for Educational Development for collecting, processing, analyzing and reporting education data for policy-making, decision-making, and resource allocation.