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Terms of Reference
Consultant for Assessment on Impact of Improved Cook-stoves at the
Household Level in Timor-Leste
Market Development Facility (MDF)
Position Title: Short-Term Adviser
Location: Dili, Timor-Leste
Duration: 20-25 days1
Australian Aid Adviser Remuneration Framework Classification: Short Term C2
1. Background
The Market Development Facility, an Australian Government funded initiative, aims to:
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Create additional employment and income-earning opportunities for poor women and men through
broad-based and sustainable pro-poor growth;
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By making rural and urban sectors of the economy in which the poor are involved as producers and
workers, more competitive and making them grow;
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By trigger lasting, 'systemic' changes in the market’s systems around these sectors to reduce
constraints to growth and to increase their capacity to innovate and deal with competitive,
regulatory, social and environmental pressures, so that the benefits for the poor will sustain and
expand in time.
The Facility is committed to implementing a systems approach to stimulating pro-poor growth:
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Rather than working with the poor directly, the Facility will seek to develop partnerships with
players in the private and public sector with the ability and leverage to trigger lasting systemic
changes that create broad-based, sustainable pro-poor growth
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With each partner, the Facility will design and negotiate detailed action plans, which include clear
financial and resource commitments, to arrive at appropriate, innovative and sustainable solutions.
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Sector players take the lead in implementing, and the Facility's role is limited and short-term.
MDF is a multi-country facility, currently operational in Fiji, Timor-Leste, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and
Papua New Guinea. Each country has its Country Team (CT) on the ground.
Nazareth Foundation is a local organisation based in Dili with diversified business interests spanning
computer training to manufacturing a range of concrete products such as fuel-efficient cook stoves.
Concrete Product Business (CPB) registered as a business under Nazareth Foundation in Timor-Leste
which began operations in 2014. Its flagship product is a fuel-efficient cookstove model, which uses
less firewood, causes less smoke and helps create savings at the household level through reduced
expenditure on firewood for cooking purposes.
In Timor-Leste, most rural households use traditional open fire methods for cooking. This method
involves a rudimentary setup of stones and earth open on all sides, meaning, the heat generated from
fuel is not efficiently directed to cooking. This translates to use of a lot more firewood than would be
1
Number of days will be finalized after identification of candidate
necessary if stoves could be made more efficient. The traditional cooking methods have other impacts
on the household, such higher spending on fuel (approx. USD 30 a month), or large amounts of time
(approx. 5 hours a week) spent on collecting firewood for those households who do not buy but rather
collect. Lastly, the traditional open fire method of cooking generates a lot of smoke (burns about 9 kg
of firewood a day in a household) which is hazardous for the household and the person responsible for
preparing food.
The CPB cookstove uses lesser firewood (reduction of approx. 80% firewood) and reduces time spent
on cooking and collecting firewood. Initially, CPB was only providing cookstoves to other NGOs and
INGOs who further distributed or sold them at subsidised rates. With the partnership with MDF, CPB
has expanded its distribution model to include sales through retailers and marketing activities (such as
cooking demonstrations) in different districts of Timor-Leste, with the aim of making the business
model more sustainable. Therefore, a study to understand and estimate the cost benefits, time benefits
and health benefits (through reduced burden of disease) experienced by households by using cookstoves
manufactured by CPB. The study should also provide insights on the stove's acceptability/performance
in everyday use, the perceived health benefits from reduced smoke intake and the gender preferences
for improved cookstoves.
2. Objective
The objective of this study is to understand and estimate the following:
 Key influencing factors in the decision to purchase alternate clean cookstoves sold by CPB;
and men and women’s preferences towards improved cookstoves
 The shift in household finances due to reduced expenditure on firewood and use of the income
saved
 Implications of time and effort saved, alternative activities pursued, and shifts in workloads
for men and women
 The perceived immediate and short-term health benefits experienced as a result of using clean
cookstoves
The study will also serve as a tool to gather information on barriers to sustained use of the improved
cookstoves such as:
 User experience
 Durability of the product
 Adoption rates/ reasons for reluctance to shift partially or completely from the traditional
cookstoves
3. Methodology
3.1. Key Steps
To address the broader objectives of the research, the consultant will need to go through the
following steps:
 Review secondary literature on the benefits (financial and non-financial) of using fuelefficient cookstoves, and the reduced burden of disease
 Review existing background materials and findings from previous monitoring visits
undertaken in the partnership by MDF.
 With guidance from MDF and its partner (CPB), meet with representatives from relevant
stakeholders such as other agencies involved in promoting clean cookstoves.
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Develop a research plan in close consultation with MDF
Conduct field research in Dili and selected districts of Timor-Leste along with the MDF team.
MDF will provide the necessary guidance in selecting districts and organising interviews.
MDF staff will accompany the consultant to field visits during the research.
 Consolidate findings based on a thorough analysis which must be done in close consultation
with MDF.
The distribution of days for each step will be decided upon selection of the consultant.
3.2. Brief on the objectives
The following points provide a briefing on the key research objectives.
a. Key factors influencing the decision making to purchase alternative clean cookstoves sold
by CPB
There is a latent demand for clean cookstoves given the traditional cooking practices across TimorLeste and the relative newness of fuel-efficient cookstoves in the country. Therefore, CPB needs to
constantly understand it’s customers and establish which features of the product are most likely to
influence their decision on purchasing an improved cookstove. Improved understanding of clients
is required to design better marketing activities targeted around the key attributes that address the
population’s needs and requirements.
b. Shift in household finances due to reduced expenditure on firewood
Adoption of improved and efficient cookstoves are expected to cause changes in household
expenditure on fuels, firewood, etc. which in turn depends on various factors such usage patterns
of alternative cookstoves and cooking methods; and cost and availability of (dry) firewood. The
consultant will, therefore, need to ensure that the study design captures baseline and post-usage
information on:
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The different cost dynamics involved in cooking and associated costings before the
introduction of CPB cookstove
Analysis of shifts in costs after use of CPB cookstove
Alternate use of savings towards alternate household requirements (if applicable)
c. Implications of time and effort saved, alternative activities pursued, and shifts in
workloads for men and women
Preliminary monitoring visits indicate that there is some degree of time saved as a result of using
fuel-efficient cookstoves as the product design allows for heat to be contained allowing faster
cooking. Saving time on household chores like cooking can be beneficial for both men and women.
It is especially important for women as they often bear much of the household’s unpaid care work.
Thus, the time saved from collecting firewood and time spent in cooking can be utilised in other
alternate activities. Additionally, it is expected that efforts will also be saved due to the improved
cooking efficiency of CPB cookstoves compared to the traditional cookstoves. The assessment
should, therefore, capture the following:
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Information on time spent on cooking related activities in the base year (through recall) and
in the timeframe that CPB cookstove has been used
Alternate activities (if any) explored and pursued because of additional time available
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The base and post-CPB cookstove information on efforts involved in different cooking
related activities particularly in energy intensive dishes
d. Perceived immediate and short-term health benefits experienced, as a result of using clean
cookstoves
The efficiency of improved cookstoves also reduces the likeliness of health hazards while
cooking. For example, clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels reduce smoke created due to
extensive firewood burning during cooking. The introduction of clean cookstoves has the
potential to improve well-being such as shortness of breath, coughing, eye irritation, etc. The
study should report on immediate, and short-term health benefits experienced by all household
members. Additionally, the study should include a literature review of long-term health risk
averted because of use of improved cookstove.
e. Information on barriers to sustained use
Maximum benefits of cookstoves can only be experienced if the households use the cookstoves
consistently. However, literature reviews and early monitoring visits suggest that some households
continue to use traditional cooking methods alongside the efficient cookstove. The assessment will
need to capture alternative methods/stoves that are still being employed alongside CPB cookstoves
and for what purposes. This will allow CPB and MDF to understand and realise adjustments needed
in the design and durability of the product, and realise changes in the marketing messages to ensure
sustained use of improved cookstoves.
4. Deliverables
The assignment has the following deliverables:
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A detailed research plan (developed in consultation with MDF)
Final report consolidating the findings and analysis
A shorter communication piece (blog) detailing findings of impact analysis and
recommendations
All Reports shall be written in English and submitted within a reasonable time frame specified by
the consultancy period. All the documents are to be submitted to MDF office in Timor-Leste.
5. Duration and location
The total number of days for the assignment is expected to be approximately 25 days with a maximum
of 20 working days within Timor-Leste, and two additional travel days for internationally-based
consultants. Five days of preparation can be done off site in consultant’s home base if required.
The assignment is based in Dili, Timor-Leste, and the consultant will be required to travel to selected
districts within the country during the assignment.
6. Technical Direction
MDF will provide technical direction at all stages of the research assignment. The consultant is
expected to regularly consult MDF WEE-RM Advisor and Country Representative on the progress of
the assignment. MDF will provide examples and formats for the consultant to work with where it
seems fit.
7. Resources provided to the Consultant
The following describes the resources which will be provided to the consultant,
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The consultant will be provided with an office space and internet facilities in Dili free of
charge.
The per-diem and accommodation allowances provided to the consultant will be as per
Australian Aid Advisor Remuneration Framework Classification.
8. Application Submission
To apply please provide a CV and Cover Letter describing you or your institution’s experience and
interest in undertaking this assignment. The consultant is expected to meet the following basic
criteria:
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Extensive experience in renewable energy, working with/conducting research in improved
cookstove use, working with cookstove manufacturers in developing country context
Hold a graduate degree (preferably post-graduate)
Strong interpersonal skills
Excellent organisational and project management skills.
Good written and verbal communications skills in English
Please submit the documents to the following account: [email protected] no later than July
15, 2017.