DFAT intends to approach the market to procure a managing contractor to deliver the flagship labour mobility and skills bilateral program in Timor-Leste. The managing contractor will be responsible for implementing the Labour Mobility and Skills Support Program (LMSSP), including coordinating technical and strategic partnerships, managing infrastructure delivery, administering grants or partnership mechanisms (as required), and delivering monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting services in accordance with Australian Government requirements.
LMSSP aims to support the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) to expand employment pathways by strengthening skills development systems, English language training and labour mobility opportunities linked to domestic and international employment. The program will complement and build on existing bilateral and regional initiatives.
The investment is also expected to include an infrastructure component, comprising the design and construction of a Labour Mobility Centre in Dili. DFAT anticipates approaching the market in the third quarter of 2026 with a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) as the first stage of a two-step procurement process. DFAT will hold an industry briefing during the RFEOI period. Failure to respond to the RFEOI will result in a potential respondent not being invited to participate in the subsequent Request for Tender (RFT). The proposed procurement will be published on AusTender and updates on the status of the procurement can be found on the Development Procurement Pipeline.