Sustainable Development Goals
The Project
The Agriculture/Farming Mentor at Ainaro Parish is responsible for building the skills and confidence of the two parish farm workers—and other interested local farmers—through practical mentoring and training in improved, sustainable, and climate‑appropriate farming techniques. The role leads the development of the parish farmland into a reliable, year‑round source of vegetables and staple crops that will help ensure the parish farms produce a reliable source of food and nutrition, enabling kindergarten students and 40 student‑boarders to receive the essential meals they need while at school.
The Location
Timor-Leste is one of Australia’s nearest neighbours and the poorest country in our region but has much to offer in terms of beauty and adventure. Despite nearly 400 years of neglect during the Portuguese colonial period, Japanese invasion and Indonesia’s occupation from 1975 -2001, Timor Leste is now a new vibrant democracy enjoying its independence. Governance systems are being established and rebuilding of infrastructure destroyed by Indonesian backed militias in 1999 – 2000 is happening.
The assignment is in Parish of Ainaro. The Parish serves communities across the Ainaro municipality. Ainaro, one of 13 municipalities of Timor-Leste, in the southwest part of the country. Its capital is the city of Ainaro, a small mountain town.
The Challenge
The Ainaro Parish has access to agricultural land managed by the Parish Priest with support from two workers, but the Priest’s limited time means the farm lacks consistent guidance and strategic direction. Although a reliable irrigation source exists, the land remains underutilised and underproductive, reflecting broader agricultural challenges in Timor‑Leste such as low productivity, limited technical support, and weak management systems. Without regular oversight, improved practices, or structured planning, the farm will continue to fall short of its potential despite having good natural resources. To address this, two farm workers will receive direct mentoring from the volunteer, who will work closely with them and with other interested farmers to introduce new and improved farming techniques.
About You
Palms participants for this placement will need to demonstrate the following qualifications, skills, and attributes:
- Formal education in Agribusiness, Agriculture, or Rural Development.
- Ability to guide farmers in improving productivity, and diversifying crops.
- Understanding of climate-smart and sustainable farming practices.
- Skills in developing, implementing, and reviewing agricultural initiatives.
- Training expertise across design, delivery, implementation, and assessment.
- Ability to coach and mentor others.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team in community contexts
- A commitment to teamwork, coaching, and mentoring others
- Patience, adaptability and flexibility in responding to diverse challenges.
- Cultural sensitivity and openness to engaging within a different cultural context.
- The ability to cope with cultural isolation and different living standards
- Commitment to serve in Ainaro for 12 months working with limited resources and facilities
- Willingness to engage their Australian community in promoting the work of the host organisation and their role.
How You Will Help
First you must be willing to learn from the local community.
Over the first several weeks you are asked not to change anything or suggest a change to operations. During that six months you will take the time to learn language and cultural mores from a local counterpart willing to mentor you. You will also start a register of the strengths of the current personnel and the assets in the community/country that might be used to achieve the goals of the assignment.
You need to commit to clarifying why things are done the way they are rather than presuming from your own cultural lens to outline what is missing. So, you need to ask questions to enable you to learn from your hosts, rather than in ignorance make suggestions about how things can improve. Palms training will prepare you for this approach.
From then onward, your responsibilities are to:
- Mentor and Train Farm Workers
Provide hands‑on mentoring to the two parish farm workers by teaching sustainable, climate‑appropriate farming techniques and demonstrating practical skills—from soil preparation and planting to irrigation, composting, pest management, and harvesting—to build their confidence and capacity to independently manage daily farm operations.
2. Improve Farm Productivity and Year‑Round Production
Assess the current farmland and develop a simple, achievable plan to boost year‑round productivity by introducing crop rotation, seasonal planning, and water‑efficient practices, while supporting the use of low‑cost, locally appropriate technologies and methods.
- Strengthen Farm Management and Planning
Establish basic systems for record keeping, crop planning, seed selection, and yield monitoring while guiding workers in organising tasks, scheduling farm activities, and maintaining equipment, and fostering long‑term thinking and sustainable land management. - Support Nutrition Goals of the Parish by planning crop varieties and planting cycles that ensure a steady supply of nutritious produce for the feeding programs.