United Nations in Timor-Leste

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Timor-Leste:

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21 September 2023

Avansa to’o 2030 - Opsaun no Oportunidade ba Timor-Leste

Iha tinan 2015, governu sira husi nasaun hotu-hotu, sosiedade sivíl no umanidade tomak foti esforsu boot ida hodi adopta Objetivu Dezenvolvimentu Sustentavel (ODS) - ambisiozu, haree ba oin, no atu hetan liuhusi parseria no konsensu - ho objetivu atu hasai ema husi kiak, hamenus dezigualdade, no rezolve kestaun sira seluk ne'ebé limita ita-nia potensialidade; atu proteje ita-nia planeta, ita-nia uma, husi mudansa klimátika no dezastre sira ne'ebé kauza husi ema; atu hetan prosperidade ba ema hotu-hotu, hamenus dezigualdade, hamenus modelu konsumu, promove igualdade no justisa, atu nune'e ema hotu-hotu, maske iha sira-nia sirkunstánsia, Bele moris no moris-di'ak; promove ko-ezisténsia pasifika no mundu ida-ne'ebé la iha konflitu; no buat hotu-hotu ne'ebé sei realiza liuhusi parseria - hanesan, respeitu, la iha diferensa bazeia ba nasaun ida-ne'ebé boot, ho ema hotu-hotu iha lian no partisipasaun iha futuru. Semana ida-ne'e iha Nova Iorke, hahú husi 16 Setembru 2023, mundu ne'e halibur fali hodi marka pontu balun husi ODS sira no diskute dalan sira atu aselera implementasaun ODS sira-ne'e. No ho konkluzaun ne'ebé triste teb-tebes katak ita la'o sai husi dalan atu atinje ODS sira. Iha mundu tomak, iha pandemia COVID, ne'ebé taka mundu, estraga ekonomia no hatudu ita-nia interligasaun; funu foun sira ne'ebé sa'e maka'as; susar ba multilaterizmu no konsensu atu rezolve krize sira ne'ebé urjente liu iha mundu; ameasa emerjente sira husi governu sira ne'ebé eleitu demokrátiku; falta konfiansa ba governu sira ne'ebé eleitu; intoleránsia ne'ebé aumenta maka'as; todan ba tusan boot; dezempregu no inkapasidade atu absorve foin-sa'e sira ba ekonomia. Ita haree hela problema ida-ne'ebé boot kona-ba direitus umanus ne'ebé ita hotu hanoin rezolve ona; diseminasaun notísia falsu no informasaun ne'ebé la loos liu husi média sosiál sira, ho ideolojia perigozu sira sai hanesan "faktu"; Tragédia sira ne'ebé hamosu mudansa klimátika ne'ebé la iha rohan no klaru katak la iha satisfasaun ho asuntu globál no dezigualdade sira ne'ebé aumenta - iha nasaun sira-nia laran, entre nasaun sira no ema sira-nia laran. Tuir mai iha númeru ne'ebé boot katak sei lori tinan 500 tan atu alkansa igualdade jéneru no haree duni feto no labarik-feto sira hanesan ema ho direitu hanesan. Maski la iha tempu ne'ebé di'ak liu atu moris - teknolojia aprezenta ona oportunidade no transformasaun ne'ebé hakfodak hodi inventa, inovasaun, ligasaun, ne'ebé la eziste de'it iha tinan 50 liubá; iha labarik barak liu ba eskola kompara ho tempu ne’ebé deit iha istória; demokrasia barak liu; muda norma sosiál ne'ebé la'o ba oin no bazeia ba direitu. Ita haree ona aumentu iha Artifisiál Intelijénsia no oportunidade sira ne'ebé aprezenta ona, konsensu globál ne'ebé boot tebes no hakarak loloos atu salva ita-nia planeta; oportunidade foun sira ba kreximentu ekonómiku ne'ebé di'ak no sustentavel no emerjénsia husi bloku podér foun sira iha Global Sul, ko'alia no dezafia ba injustisa istórika sira, enkuantu ezije fatin ne'ebé justu liu - iha negosiasaun finanseira sira, inklui reestruturasaun instituisaun finansiamentu globál sira, iha komérsiu no justisa klimátika. Sira ne'ebé sempre iha direitu marjinál - feto, LGBQTI+, ema ho defisiénsia, joven - hotu-hotu luta hasoru violénsia no diskriminasaun. Hanesan Exelensia, Prezidente Repúblika, Jose Ramos-Horta, envolve hela iha konversasaun globál no pozisaun lideransa Timor-Leste nian iha Nova Iorke ba Simeira ODS nian, ne'e mak tempu di'ak atu reflete kona-ba oportunidade sira ba tinan 7 oin mai. Ha'u-nia fiar dezde ha'u to'o iha Timor-Leste fulan 9 liubá, no hafoin dekade rua hetan independénsia no dedikasaun atu harii fali nasaun ida-ne'ebé destruída, mak Timor-Leste hanesan nasaun ida-ne'ebé iha oportunidade atu avansa no atinje kreximentu dezenvolvimentu ba ajenda 2030 nian. Timor-Leste, maske iha istória ida-ne'ebé difisil, pasífiku no estavel, ho lideransa ida-ne'ebé konfia, ne'ebé hili husi eleisaun regulár no la-kontroversiál ida ho eleisaun parlamentár ikus ne'ebé hetan susesu iha nasaun ne'e no estabelesimentu governu konstitusionál IX ne'ebé lidera husi S.E., Primeiru-Ministru Xanana Gusmão. Timor-Leste kontinua hatudu respeitu ba direitus umanus, iha instituisaun sira ne'ebé forte, inklui governasaun, nia pozisaun no influénsia iha asuntu internasionál maske ho nia dimensaun, membru ida-ne'ebé iha valór no adere ba padraun internasionál liu husi membru Nasoins Unidas, CPLP, fundador/membru g7+, relasaun bilaterál forte ho nasaun sira iha mundu tomak, no nia estatutu observador atuál ASEAN nian. Nia iha rekursu sira hosi Fundu Petróleu ne'ebé jere didi'ak, atu koko solusaun inovativu sira ba dezenvolvimentu. Timor-Leste mós sai hanesan nasaun primeiru entre nasaun sira seluk ne'ebé kompromete ona ba Ajenda Dezenvolvimentu Sustentavel tinan 2030 no hahú kedas, nasaun ne'e halo ona revizaun nasionál voluntáriu rua (VNR), ne'ebé foin lalais ne'e aprezenta ona iha Forum Politiku Nivel Aas (HLPF) iha fulan Jullu tinan ida-ne'e. Maibé, iha kestaun boot sira ne'ebé presiza rezolve. Enkuantu fokus ne'ebé loos mak kona-ba saida mak asuntu sira-ne'e - taxa kreximentu ne'ebé aas ba kapitál umanu husi tinan 2002 to'o 2022; 70% dependénsia ba importasaun ai-han, 40% dezempregu, 48.3% pobreza multidimensional ne'ebé agrava inseguransa ai-han no taxa malnutrisaun ne'ebé aas, 47% husi labarik sira ne'ebé seidauk to'o tinan 5 sofre stunting, rezultadu edukasaun ne'ebé fraku, dezafiu ba infraestrutura no konetividade, seidauk iha fokus sufisiente ba “oinsá” - sistema revizaun kona-ba oinsá dezafiu hotu-hotu nia interasaun, liu husi aproximasaun integradu no koordenadu. Ida ne'e atu orienta oinsá rekursu sira implementa la'ós de'it atu alkansa efisiénsia no efikásia, maibé atu eskala intervensaun sira liuhusi solusaun sira ne'ebé sei rezulta rezultadu eskala, nesesáriu atu alkansa ODS sira. Dezafiu la'ós atu identifika problema sira, maibé atu identifika sistema saida mak presiza troka no oinsá atu intervén ho diferente. Iha dalan balun ne'ebé Timor-Leste bele avansa no halo iha tinan 7 oin mai. Primeiru, estabelese objetivu dezenvolvimentu, inklui apoiu husi asisténsia dezenvolvimentu, tenke koordena maka'as iha lideransa governu nian okos. Aprosimasaun ida-ne'ebé integradu husi parseiru governu/dezenvolvimentu sira hotu ne'ebé koordena ona ba planeamentu, prioritiza, identifika populasaun no munisípiu sira ne'ebé presiza liu, orientasaun finansiamentu no eskala tenke sai nu'udar prioridade absoluta. Porezemplu, planeamentu no intervensaun sira kona-ba uma rurál sira labele hala'o sein análize integradu kona-ba oinsá atu fornese uma rurál sira mós bele uza atu alkansa asesu ba bee, saneamentu, asesu ba kuidadu saúde no edukasaun, uza dadus no evidénsia ne'ebé forte kona-ba saida mak funsiona, inklui atrai tipu investimentu no teknolojia oin-oin hodi alkansa meta sira. Esforsu atu hamenus mortalidade labarik no inan nian, inklui hamenus malnutrisaun no stunting, tenke iha pelumenus empoderamentu feto nian. Porezemplu, iha estimativa katak feto isin-rua hamutuk 40,000 kada tinan iha Timor-Leste, no ho koordenasaun, planeamentu no alokasaun ne'ebé loos ho valór USD28M kada tinan, feto hamutuk 28,000 ne'ebé reprezenta 70% sei simu kuidadu ante-natal, ema na'in 32,000 ne'ebé reprezenta 80% sei hetan atende husi asistente partu ne'ebé iha kualifikasaun, ema na'in 36,000 ne'ebé reprezenta 90% sei simu kuidadu pos-natal no asesu ba servisu planeamentu familiár ne'ebé sei lori ba alkansa objetivu sira husi ODS kona-ba mortalidade inan nian hamutuk 70/100,000 mortalidade inan iha 2030 no se feto sira simu planeamentu familiár hodi loke espasu ba oan, sei hamenus stunting 50%. Planeamentu dezenvolvimentu ida-ne'ebé koordena sei rekere konsisténsia, espesializasaun téknika adisionál ne'ebé ajénsia ONU sira lori ba meza no tenke halo ho instituisaun governu relevante hotu-hotu, parseiru dezenvolvimentu bilaterál no ajénsia ONU - atu hala'o planeamentu konjuntu, identifika responsabilidade sira bazeia ba vantajen komparativu, identifika fonte finansiamentu, oinsá atu atrai finansiamentu adisionál, konkorda hamutuk kona-ba saida mak atu halo, oinsá atu halo monitorizasaun no importante liu, saida mak sei atinje eskala. Segundu, oportunidade ba finansiamentu ba dezenvolvimentu labele depende de'it ba finansiamentu públiku. Tenke identifika fonte finansiamentu seluk ba objetivu dezenvolvimentu nian iha maneira koerente, estratéjiku no kona alvu. Enkuantu orsamentu governu nian ba tinan 5 oin mai identifika ona prioridade no orsamentu sira, ida-ne'e mesak de'it labele finansia realizasaun ODS sira-nian. Sei iha nafatin nesesidade atu halo kustu finansiamentu hodi alkansa ODS sira iha períodu tinan 7 nia laran no finansiamentu adisionál saida mak bele hetan asesu. Ida ne'e sei la'ós de'it fo rezultadu lalais no kresimentu ekonómiku maibé sei garante estabilidade ba Fundu Petroliferu. ONU iha istoriku iha konvoka konversasaun kona-ba finansiamentu inovativu, inklui kona-ba finansiamentu bazeia ba rezultadu, iha ne'ebé investidór sira selu fali governu ba rezultadu espesífiku sira kona-ba edukasaun no alvu saúde nian. Diálogu hirak-ne'e atu halibur parseiru tradisionál no investidór privadu sira, instituisaun finansiamentu multilaterál sira kona-ba identifika fatin ne'ebé mak iha sentidu atu investe iha Timor-Leste, la'ós de'it atu kria empregu maibé atu kria emprezariedade lokál (franchising, cadeia de valór, asesu ba teknolojia, rekursu, abilidade, dijitalizasaun) ne'ebé sei responde ba dezafiu sosiál sira. Konversasaun sira-ne'e mós sei identifika dalan konkretu ba investimentu no finansiamentu, ho objetivu klaru no vontade polítika ne'ebé forte, atu hasai bloku sira-ne'e. Porezemplu, PNUD dezenvolve ona mapa investidór ODS ba nasaun sira iha Azia (Malazia, Tailandia, Sri Lanka, etc.), ajuda governu sira-ne'e atu identifika oportunidade ba investimentu privadu sira atu alkansa ODS no identifika investidór privadu/sosial potensiál sira, enkuantu suporta governu sira atu kria ambiente ida-ne'ebé bele fasilita. Terseiru, tenke iha esforsu konsultadu ida no rekursu inisial sira ba dijitalizasaun no abilidade sira ne'ebé liga ho kriasaun empregu. Planu kona-ba kriasaun empregu ba foin-sa'e sira tenke foka liu ba kriasaun empregu dijitál sira. Planu ne'e tenke dezeña bazeia ba enkuadramentu adaptativu ida atu identifika abilidade téknika no dijitál ne'ebé presiza no númeru ema ne'ebé disponivel ba abilidade hirak-ne'e, atu aselera kapasitasaun ekonómika, rekoñese dezafiu kontinu sira iha sistema no infraestrutura sira, dezenvolve enkuadramentu formasaun tékniku no dijitál ida, hahú husi inisiu, identifika iha ne'ebé mak abilidade hirak-ne'e sei implementa no sustenta no sistema monitorizasaun ida-ne'ebé forte ne'ebé deliberadu - mak planu ne'e bele lao? Ba dala haat, protesaun ba direitus umanus no dezigualdade sira ne'ebé iha ligasaun tenke sai sentrál ba foti desizaun kona-ba dezenvolvimentu. Asesu ba servisu ho kualidade no abilidade atu iha abilidade no instrumentu atu hadi'a kondisaun moris, liuliu ba ema ne'ebé vulneravel liu, nu'udar direitu fundamentál ne'ebé sidadaun sira tenke iha kbiit atu ezije, no governu nu'udar ema ne'ebé kaer devér, tenke fornese hanesan baze atu alkansa objetivu dezenvolvimentu no kria pás sustentavel ho maneira inkluzivu no la-diskriminatoriu. Ikusliu, buat hotu iha leten labele akontese sein reforma governasaun - setór públiku ida-ne'ebé ativu, kapasitadu no adekuadu ho kapasidade atu orienta desizaun polítika sira, maibé konsistente no apolitiku nafatin. Sistema jestaun finanseira públiku ida-ne'ebé halo monitorizasaun ba despeza governu nian ne'ebé hale'u alkansa meta sira no la'ós de'it despeza no prestasaun servisu sira no permite foti desizaun lalais iha nivel foti desizaun ne'ebé aas liu, suporta mudansa lalais iha aprosimasaun sira bainhira presiza no hamenus duplikasaun la'ós de'it atividade sira maibé iha funsaun no instituisaun sira. Ha'u hakarak atu ramata ho subliña dalan balun ne'ebé ONU no ninia ajénsia espesializada sira bele kontinua fó apoiu ba governu no povu Timor-Leste hodi alkansa ODS sira. ONU nia vantajen komparativu mak iha nia baze koñesimentu ne'ebé luan husi Timor-Leste no globalmente, atu fornese konsellu polítika imparsiál no neutral, inklui uza bid data (hanesan sensus). Ajénsia ONU nian, iha koordenasaun husi Koordenador Rezidente ida-ne'ebé iha kapasidade, bele fó apoiu ba governu hodi fasilita finansiamentu adisionál, inklui liuhusi investimentu sosiál sira, atu konvoka fasilita parseria rejionál no globál sira, eskala projetu pilotu sira- kona-ba saúde, nutrisaun, transformasaun sistema ai-han, hapara stuntung labarik sira no mortalidade inan no iha fornesimentu abilidade sira kona-ba kriasaun empregu. ONU nia papél normativu no apoiu ba governu nu'udar xave atu asegura katak governu kontinua kumpre nia responsabilidade direitus umanus, promove igualdade jéneru no empoderamentu feto sira-nian, no mós halo relatóriu kona-ba konvensaun ONU nian ne'ebé Timor-Leste asina - hotu-hotu importante atu fasilita realizasaun Programa Governu IX nian ne'ebé lori ba ODS.

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21 September 2023

Leapfrogging into 2030 – Options and Opportunities for Timor-Leste

In 2015, governments of all nations, civil society, and humanity as a whole took a giant stride by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - ambitious, forward-looking, and to be achieved through partnerships and consensus - with the aim of lifting people out of poverty, reducing inequalities, and addressing other issues that limit our potential; of safeguarding our planet, our only home, from climate change and human-induced disasters; of achieving prosperity for all, reducing inequalities, rebalancing consumption patterns, promoting equity and justice so that all individuals, regardless of their circumstances at birth, can thrive and prosper; fostering peaceful coexistence and a world without conflicts; and all of this to be accomplished through partnerships – equal, respectful, without distinctions based on the size of a country, with everyone having a voice and a stake in the future. This week in New York, from 16 September 2023, the world is again gathering to mark the halfway point of the SDGs and discuss ways in which to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs. And within the backdrop of the very depressing conclusion that we are completely off-track in achieving the SDGs. Globally, there has been the COVID pandemic, which shut down the world, ruined economies and demonstrated starkly our interconnectedness; new and escalating wars; the rising distrust of multilateralism and consensus to resolve the world’s most urgent crises; the emerging threats of the overthrowing of democratically elected governments; increasing lack of confidence in elected governments; growing intolerance; huge debts burden; unemployment and inability to absorb young people into economies. We are witnessing a growing backlash on human rights that we all thought were settled; dissemination of fake news and misinformation through social media, with dangerous ideologies becoming ‘facts’; unending climate change-induced tragedies and clearly a dissatisfaction with global state of affairs and growing inequalities – within countries, among countries and within people. Then there is the grim figure that it would take us another 500 years to achieve gender equality and truly see women and girls as human beings with equal rights. Even with all the bleakness around us, there is no better time to be alive – technology has presented astounding opportunities and transformation to invent, innovate, connect, that did not exist just 50 years ago; there are more children in school than any time in history; more democracies; changing of social norms that are more progressive and rights-based. We have seen the rise of Artificial Intelligence and the opportunities it presents, the overwhelming global consensus and genuine desire to save our planet; new opportunities for green and sustainable economic growth and the emergency of new blocs of power in the Global South, speaking up and challenging historical injustices, while demanding fairer playing ground – in financial negotiations, including for the restructuring of global financing institutions, on trade and on climate justice. Those whose rights have always been marginal – women, LGBQTI+, people with disabilities, young people – are all fighting back, against violence and discrimination. As His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta, is engaging in the global conversations and positioning Timor-Leste’s leadership in New York for the SDG Summit, this is a good time to reflect on the opportunities for the next 7 years. My belief since I got to Timor Leste 9 months ago, and after two decades of independence and dedicated rebuilding of a then wrecked country, is that Timor-Leste is one of the few countries with the opportunities to leapfrog and achieve development growth in time for the 2030 agenda. Timor-Leste, despite a difficult history, is peaceful and stable, with a trusted leadership, enabled by regular and uncontroversial elections with the country’s last successful parliamentary elections and the establishment of the IX constitutional government under the leadership of HE, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Timor-Leste continues to demonstrate respect for human rights, has strong institutions, including for governance, its position and influence in international affairs despite its size, a valued member and adherent to international standards through membership of United Nations, the CPLP, founder/member of g7+, strong bilateral relations with countries across the world, and its current observer status of ASEAN. It has the resources from a properly managed Petroleum Trust Fund, to test innovative solutions to development. Timor-Leste was also among the first countries to commit to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and since then, the country has conducted two voluntary national reviews (VNR), the latest of which was presented at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in July of this year. There are, however, major issues that will need to be addressed. While the focus rightly has been on the ‘what’ of the issues – a flat rate of growth for human capital from 2002 to 2022; 70% dependency on food imports, 40% rate of unemployment, 48.3% multidimensional poverty that aggravates food insecurity and a high malnutrition rates, 47% of children under 5 suffering from stunting, poor education outcomes, challenging infrastructure and connectivity, there has not been enough focus on the ‘how’ – systems review on how all the challenges interact, through an integrated and coordinated approach. This is to guide how resources are deployed to not just achieve efficiency and effectiveness, but in scaling up interventions through solutions that will result in scale of outcomes, necessary to achieve the SDGs. The challenge is not about identifying the problems, but in identifying what systems need to change and how to intervene differently. There are a few ways in which Timor-Leste can leapfrog and make the next 7 years count. First, setting development objectives, including support from development assistance, must be strongly coordinated under government leadership. An integrated and whole of government/development partners coordinated approach to planning, prioritizing, identifying the most in need populations and municipalities, guiding financing and scale must be an absolute priority. For example, planning and interventions on rural housing cannot be undertaken without an integrated analysis of how the provision of rural housing can also be used to simultaneously achieve rural access to water, sanitation, access to health care and education, using strong data and evidence of what works, including attracting different types of investments and technology to achieve the goals. Efforts at reducing child and maternal mortality, including reducing malnutrition and stunting, must have at the very least, women’s empowerment at its core. For example, there are an estimated 40,000 pregnant women per annum in Timor-Leste, and with right coordination, planning and allocation of USD28M a year, 28,000 women representing 70% will receive ante-natal care, 32,000 representing 80% will be attended to by skilled birth attendant, 36,000 representing 90% will receive post-natal care and access to family planning services which will lead to achievement of SDG targets on maternal mortality of 70/100,000 maternal mortality by 2030 and if the women receive family planning to space their children, will reduce stunting by 50%. A coordinated development planning will require consistency, additional technical expertise of which UN agencies bring to the table and must be done with all relevant government institutions, bilateral development partners and UN agencies – to undertake joint planning, identify responsibilities based on comparative advantage, identify sources of funding, how to attract additional financing, agree jointly on what to track, how to track and most importantly, what will achieve scale. Second, opportunities for financing for development must not only rely on public finance. Other sources of financing for development goals must be identified in a coherent, strategic and targeted way. While the government budget for the next 5 years has identified priorities and budget, this alone cannot finance the achievement of the SDGs. There will still be a need to undertake the cost of/financing for achieving the SDGs within a 7-year period and what additional financing can be accessed/mobilized. This will not only fast-track results and economic growth but will ensure stability for the Petroleum Fund. UN has a track record in convening conversations around innovative financing, including on outcome-based financing, where investors repay the government for the achievements of specific outcomes on education and health targets. These dialogues are to bring together traditional partners and private investors, multilateral financing institutions on identifying where it makes sense to invest in Timor-Leste, not just to create jobs but to create local entrepreneurship (franchising, value-chains, access to technology, resources, skills, digitalization) that will concurrently address social challenges. The conversations would also identify concrete roadblocks to investments and financing, with clear targets and strong political will, to remove the blocks. For example, UNDP has developed SDG Investor Maps for countries in Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc.), helping these governments identify opportunities for private investments to achieve SDGs and identifying potential private/social investors while supporting governments to create an enabling environment. Third, there must be a concerted effort and seed resources for digitalization and skills linked to job creation. A plan around job creation for young people must be centred on creating digital jobs. The plan must be designed around an adaptive framework in identifying the technical and digital skills needed and the number of people available for these skills, to accelerate economic empowerment, recognizing the perennial challenges in systems and infrastructure, developing a technical and digital skills training framework, from the start, identifying where these skills would be deployed and sustained and a strong monitoring system that is deliberate – is the plan working? Fourth, the protection of human rights and bridging inequalities must be central to decision-making around development. Accessing quality services and ability to have the skills and tools to improve livelihoods, especially for the most vulnerable, are fundamental rights that citizens must be able to demand, and the government as duty bearers, must provide as the foundation for achieving development objectives and engendering sustainable peace in an inclusive and non-discriminatory way. Finally, all the above cannot happen without governance reforms – an agile, capacitated and fit-for-purpose public sector with the ability to guide political decisions while remaining consistent and apolitical. A public financial management system that tracks government spending around achievement of targets and not just expenditure and delivery of services and enables quick decision-making at the highest level of decision making, supporting quick changes in approaches when necessary and reduction in duplication of not just activities but in functions and institutions. I would like to end by re-emphasizing some ways in which the UN and its specialized agencies can continue to support the government and people of Timor-Leste in achieving SDGs. UN's comparative advantage lies in its extensive knowledge base from Timor-Leste and globally, to provide impartial and neutral policy advice, including using big data (census for example). UN agencies, under the coordination of an empowered Resident Coordinator, can support the government to facilitate additional financing, including through social investments, to convene facilitate regional and global partnerships, scaling up pilot projects– on health, nutrition, food systems transformation, ending child stunting and maternal mortality and in the provision of skills on job creation. UN’s normative role and support to government are key to ensuring the government continues to fulfil its human rights accountability, promotes gender equality and empowerment of women while also reporting on UN conventions of which Timor-Leste is a signatory – all critical to enabling the achievement of the IX Government Programme leading to the SDGs.

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10 May 2022

Solidarity to End Violence

Viqueque, Timor-Leste. The two-day ‘Do No Harm’ workshop on ethical and safe approach when responding to cases of gender-based violence (GBV) was held on March 30, 31 in Viqueque, Timor-Leste. The ‘Do No Harm’ workshop aims to promote better understanding of the nature of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) which interlinks with mental health of the survivors, and supports local communities to adopt ‘Do No Harm’ approach, namely ethical and safe method when respond to cases of VAWG. The workshop has been conducted in three municipalities, Bobonaro, Ermera and Viqueque, lectured by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), local authorities and Justice Institutions that work closely on VAWG and GBV. At the seminar, the participants including school teachers and students are encouraged to share their experiences when dealing with GBV cases and survivors, and discuss about how they can improve local community to response and prevent the VAWG. Irene Kobesi works as the PNTL (Policia National Timor-Leste) First Sergeant in Vulnerable Person Unit (VPU), supporting survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). She said “I participated in the ‘Do No Harm’ workshop, because, as a VPU officer, my duty is to protect women and girls.” At the workshop, interconnections between VAWG and mental health of the survivors were underlined to understand the wider perspective of VAWG: survivors are harmed not only when they received violence, but also when they receive indiscreet questions about the sexual violence during the judicial process. https://youtu.be/ilSYHxHS7Cc During the seminar, it was emphasized that people’s better understandings of VAWG and cooperation from local authorities are necessary to eliminate VAWG at the community level. Maria Odete do Amaral, a Chief of Village in Viqueque, stated “I really wanted to join this seminar because this is essential for me as a community leader. I can share what I learned in this seminar with my community, and those who experienced violence, mostly women and girls.” While “Prevention of domestic violence can start from family. If we have knowledge in VAWG, domestic violence can be prevented in the early stage. If we solve family issue with violence, our children never learn how to solve problem without violence” addressed by Jose Delima, a Coordinator of Public Defender. In Timor-Leste, climate change also exacerbates cases of VAWG. In the interview, Irene shared her experience in the flash floods during March 29th -April 4th 2021, resulted in disastrous landslide that produced more than 15,000 internally displaced people right after the disaster. “Last year, we experienced the catastrophic flood. Some people were traumatized, because they didn’t have place to live, and experienced violence from their partners. We provided support to those who suffered from both flood and violence. If their houses are not safe to live, we contacted local authorities to provide them an emergency shelter.” To respond and prevent VAWG, a bottom-up approach to adopt ‘Do No Harm’ at the community level is essential, because the causes of the violence are deeply connected to the social context of Timor-Leste. “Together, we can end violence against women and girls” concluded Irene. By Fidelia Mendonca, Ayumi Kimura

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Irene Kobesi, a police officer working with the Vulnerable Person’s Unit (VPU). She joined the ‘Do No Harm’ seminar to strengthen her knowledge of ‘Do No Harm’ approach. Photo: UNDP/ Ayumi Kimura

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18 April 2022

Historical insights, sustainable and inclusive development: What they might mean for us now and for the future

An essential first step is perhaps to help people clearly define what type of national development people of Timor-Leste would like to see in their country The United Nations is here to support the government and the people of Timor-Leste. The SDGs and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offer evidenced-based and solution-based directions for an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for all.
With the second round of the Presidential Elections imminent, it has been an interesting and exciting past week, thinking about now as well as the future of the country. Irrespective of the people’s decision for either of the candidates, the President’s ‘father-of-the-nation’ role entails a key guiding role that contributes to strengthening the economy, political systems, collaborations, and reconciliation in the wake of the COVID-19 fallout and critical development challenges facing the country.
In the past week, I had the privilege of joining an exciting and insightful online webinar featuring an interview with Professor Jeffrey Sachs on Accelerating Progress on SDGs in Malaysia . The interview –skillfully moderated by my friend and colleague UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia and Singapore, Ms Karima El Korri – was organised by the Sunway University and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), part of a global network of universities and institutions promoting sustainable development practices. Incidentally, we (the UN) are assisting the University of Timor-Leste to join this Network soon. As always, Professor Sachs covers a lot of historical ground and makes fascinating connections between social and economic progress and many global challenges that the world faces today. He starts by drawing attention to the combination of events that contributed to global economic growth in the period after 1776 (imperialism, the industrial revolution, the role of fossil fuels, self-interest, the dominance of market economies and many other factors).
Professor Sachs points out that “…one of the reasons the world is struggling to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels is that we have had 200+ years of economic growth based on a reliance on fossil fuels and market economies. The powerful forces behind fossil fuels are pervasive and shape almost every aspect of our lives. So, breaking that dependence and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and shifting towards carbon-neutral growth may take years, possibly decades.” This is why governments and development institutions need to prepare long-term plans now and to ensure that these are practically progressed annually for this critical global transition. He notes that sadly even after the past decade of rising global temperatures and changing global weather patterns contributing to more frequent and devastating environmental disasters, as well as the loss of biodiversity and the COVID-19 pandemic, we have yet to see many governments, industries and international institutions develop and implement robust long-term (20-year plus) plans for zero carbon growth. As the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) has said on many occasions (see: https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/ipcc-report-climate-change/) ‘time is running out’! “…one of the reasons the world is struggling to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels is that we have had 200+ years of economic growth based on a reliance on fossil fuels and market economies. The powerful forces behind fossil fuels are pervasive and shape almost every aspect of our lives. So, breaking that dependence and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and shifting towards carbon-neutral growth may take years, possibly decades.” By making a powerful case for the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) as the guiding principles for a better, more sustainable world for all, he advocates for “six big transformations” that he believes are essential for nations in the Asia-Pacific region (all of whom, according to data from ESCAP, are ‘off-track in terms of progress against the SDGs’ (see: https://data.unescap.org/data-analysis/sdg-progress.) The Asia-Pacific region is home to 60% of the global population, so if the world is to achieve the SDGs by 2030, it is vital that this region achieves the progress that is needed. The six transformations that Professor Sachs’ identifies are: (i) Quality Education for all; (ii) Health for all; (iii) Energy and industrial transformation; (iv) Sustainable land use (and one might add, especially for small island states and many others sustainable use of oceans); (v) sustainable cities; (vi) Digital transformation. While also emphasising the vital importance of gender equality and inclusion, Professor Sachs’ makes a personal plea for increased women’s leadership globally and in all spheres to accompany and accelerate the transformations needed to create a better world for all. This presentation made me reflect on the work that the UN is supporting in Timor-Leste and elsewhere. How can we better support political leaders, governments and key institutions in the countries we serve to develop serious, long-term, inclusive, and sustainable plans for climate action and carbon-neutral growth? And more importantly, how can we more effectively support the development and implementation of long-term plans for such transformations? An essential first step is perhaps helping people clearly define what type of national development they would like to see in their country. In my conversations with some Timorese citizens, I have heard friends and colleagues say that they would like Timor-Leste to be more like Singapore. I wonder, however, which aspects of Singapore’s development people in Timor really value. If that is a ‘model’ that Timorese citizens want to emulate, how can we start to chart a path to move from where we are now to foster a model of development that benefits and creates a better, more sustainable future for all? And critically, how can we ensure that progress is measured year-on-year to safeguard a better future for all?

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15 March 2022

Children in Grade 1 inspired to learn by peer mentors in Timor-Leste

Around forty children between the ages of five to seven sit in small groups on a large verandah and in classrooms at the Eskola Basic Filial (EBF) Matata school in Ermera Municipality. All of them are completely engrossed in books that they occasionally point to as they emphasize a detail or show each other some of the illustrations. The setting is a school in the Ermera Municipality, where the UNICEF supported ‘Ready to LEAP’ (Learn, Engage, Achieve, Progress) programme, introduced in 2019 with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, is helping children have a smooth transition from home to formal schooling. Similar activity is being conducted at ten other basic education schools in Ermera and Liquica municipalities. The initiative helps children who enrolled in grade 1 or those repeating grade 1 to get additional support from the school, their parents, families and other students (peer mentors) to build up their confidence and prepare to continue learning in a school-based setting. Trained peer mentors play a key role in inspiring younger children to learn. UNICEF Timor-Leste/2020/Dmaia Grade 3 students involved as young mentors to Grade 1 students in EBF Matata, Ermera municipality. In a country where only 27 per cent of children are enrolled in preschools, and where the grade 1 repetition rate is 19 per cent, initiatives such as these make a big difference in inspiring younger children to transition smoothly into school-based learning. To date, the school readiness programme has benefitted 1,314 students in grade 1 classes and enabled 439 students between 10 -11 years old from eleven basic education schools to take part in this initiative as peer mentors. So as not to interrupt learning for peer mentors, these sessions take place every Saturday. The training for teachers and peer mentors at the school in Ermera was initially conducted in 2019 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. However, the rollout of the programme was interrupted by COVID-19 related school closures. Most of the trained peer mentors from Grade 5 and Grade 6, who usually take part in this initiative, had also already graduated or were busy preparing for their final examinations. However, the EBF Matata basic school introduced new ideas to keep the programme running. Teachers from EBF Matata school started engaging with Grade 2 and Grade 3 students who were once beneficiaries of the programme in 2019, to train and help them become peer mentors themselves and help inspire younger children to learn. “I feel so happy and proud when the teacher asked me to be a young facilitator. Since joining this programme, I have become much closer to grade 1 students and have become friends with them” said 10-year-old Davio Bosco Cardoso UNICEF Timor-Leste/2022/LRangel A peer mentor takes part in an interview through phone call to help other children continue to learn. Nine-year-old Merelia de Francia Mali Goncalves expressed her excitement at being part of the programme “I feel so proud because I am like a teacher for them, I make them feel happy, to be diligent, and they come to the school every day. So it is a great feeling,” she says. At the beginning of the programme, teachers accompanied the peer mentors and supported them until the mentors were capable of running the activities on their own. As the programme progressed, teachers say the peer mentors got over their initial shyness and became more confident to speak up and lead the sessions. “This is not only benefitting the Grade 1 students. After taking a role as peer mentors, the literacy and numeracy skills of the mentors also improved, and so did their social skills, for example, understanding ways to solve problems, or how to communicate with friends and manage time,” said Lurdes Rangel Goncalves, a teacher at the EBF Matata School in Ermera. With additional funding from UNICEF Australia, the ‘Ready to LEAP’ programme will continue in 2022 and 2023 in 30 more schools in five municipalities. These would incorporate additional inclusive and sustainable approaches, including supporting the participation of children with disabilities.

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17 August 2026

How inclusive education is transforming classrooms in Timor-Leste

Julio TalimetaUNICEF/Timor-Leste/2026/Talimeta"The training taught us that children with disabilities should be treated like any other child," says Aguida. "We learned how to include them in classroom activities, group work and daily lessons without discrimination."In the rural community of Searema, Manufahi Municipality, the sound of children singing fills the Grade 1 classroom of teacher Aguida dos Santos Orleans. Some students are learning to write their first letters, others are counting numbers aloud, while a few need extra support to follow the lesson. For Aguida, every child deserves the opportunity to learn.With over 16 years of her teaching career, Aguida has taught Grade 1, welcoming hundreds of children into their first year of school. Since 2022, she has been teaching at Branch Basic Education School Searema, where she continues to help young learners build foundational skills that shape their future. "Teaching young children requires a lot of patience," Aguida says. "Every child is different. Some cry when they first come to school, some need time to adapt, and others are very active. We need to understand each child and help them learn in ways that work best for them."To make learning engaging, Aguida often goes beyond textbooks and teacher manuals. She uses games, songs, practical activities and group exercises to help children develop essential literacy and numeracy skills. "In Grade 1, we focus heavily on reading, writing and counting because these are the foundations for all future learning," she explains.UNICEF/Timor-Leste/2026/TalimetaAguida supports Grade 1 students in developing their reading skills.Yet teaching young learners is not without challenges. Children learn at different paces, and some require additional support to fully participate in class. For years, teachers like Aguida had limited guidance on how to effectively include children with disabilities in the learning process."Some children understand lessons very quickly, while others need more time and individual attention," she says. "For children with disabilities, we often had to find our own ways to support them because the old teacher guides did not provide clear guidance on inclusive education."To address these challenges, the Ministry of Education, with support from UNICEF, and the Global Partnership for Education, has been supporting efforts to strengthen inclusive education through teacher training aimed to enhance school leaders’ and teachers’ understanding of inclusive education principles, functional difficulties, and their leadership role in guiding proper identification and responses for learners with diverse needs. These initiatives have benefited 236 school leaders and teachers across Covalima, Liquica and Manufahi. Aguida participated in two inclusive education training sessions in 2025 and early 2026. The experience changed how she approaches teaching.The new teacher guides have also provided practical strategies that Aguida and all the teachers like her to use every day. In her classroom, she also teaches children with visual impairments and intellectual disabilities.
UNICEF/Timor-Leste/2026/TalimetaAguida provides one-on-one support to a student during a learning session."For children with visual impairments, I often ask them to sit closer to the front of the classroom and regularly check their learning materials," she explains. "For children with intellectual disabilities, I provide extra support and spend more time helping them understand lessons. The important thing is that they learn together with their classmates and are not left behind."According to Carmelita dos Reis, the school coordinator of Branch Basic Education School Searema, inclusive education training has helped teachers better understand how to support all learners with dignity, respect and non-discrimination.UNICEF/Timor-Leste/2026/TalimetaCarmelita dos Reis serves as the School Coordinator at Branch Basic Education School Searema."The training provides teachers with clear guidance on how to use appropriate language to promote inclusion and create positive learning environments for every child," the coordinator says.The school has made inclusive education a priority. Teachers actively encourage children with disabilities to participate in extracurricular activities and school events alongside their peers. They also work closely with parents, providing storybooks, alphabet materials, and guidance to support learning at home."We cannot do this work alone," the coordinator explains. "Parents, teachers, communities and education partners all have an important role in helping children learn and thrive."While progress has been made, school leaders believe more support is needed. The provision of accessible learning materials and continued professional development would further strengthen inclusive education across the country. It will be also critical to create awareness among parents and caregivers about functional difficulties and how children can be supported at home.UNICEF/Timor-Leste/2026/TalimetaAguida and her Grade 1 students complete another day at Branch Basic Education School Searema."Every child has the right to learn," Aguida says. "When teachers have the right knowledge, materials and support, we can help all children reach their potential, regardless of whether they are a person with or without disabilities."Through dedicated teachers, supportive families and continued investment in inclusive education, more children in Timor-Leste are gaining not only access to school, but also the opportunity to learn, thrive and dream alongside their peers.

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11 August 2026

From Fear to Confidence: Julmira's Journey Toward a Safer Birth in Remexio, Aileu

For many years, 38-year-old Julmira da Silva believed that giving birth at home was simply part of life. Living with her husband, Bernardo Martins, and their five children in the remote Sub-Village of Ai-Kurus, Village of Tulataqueu, Remexio Administrative Post, Aileu Municipality, the family had limited access to health services due to distance, poor transportation, and a lack of reliable maternal health information.As a housewife who also helped her husband on their farm, Julmira went through all five pregnancies without regular antenatal care and delivered each child at home. One delivery nearly cost her life."I was very afraid when I gave birth at home because we live far from a health facility and there was no one available to help me," Julmira recalled. During labour, she experienced severe bleeding, dizziness, and blurred vision, highlighting the life-threatening risks women face when skilled care is unavailable.Everything changed when Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), locally known as VSK, visited Julmira's home through the Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) campaign supported by the BEmONC programme. During the visit, they explained the importance of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, birth preparedness, recognising danger signs during pregnancy, and encouraged Bernardo to actively support his wife throughout her pregnancy.The visit transformed the family's understanding of maternal health.Now expecting their sixth child, Julmira regularly attends Servisu Integradu Saúde Comunitária (SISCa) consultations to monitor her health and her baby's development. Together, she and Bernardo have prepared a birth plan and are committed to delivering at a health facility with skilled health professionals."Now we know what to prepare before the baby arrives and where to go if there are any problems. We feel much more confident and supported," Julmira said.Bernardo has also become an active partner, ensuring Julmira attends health services and helps prepare for a safe delivery.Julmira's experience reflects the wider impact of the SBCC initiative across six municipalities. Through trained community health volunteers, the programme reached 9,500 households with life-saving information on maternal and newborn health. As a result, 1,488 households with pregnant women now agree that delivering in a health facility is the safest option, while 3,212 households can identify danger signs during pregnancy. Home visits also encouraged 663 people to seek essential health services.Recognising that safe motherhood requires family support, the programme engaged 5,231 husbands and male decision-makers, alongside community and religious leaders, teachers, police, youth leaders, and village councils. It also provided sexual and reproductive health education to 15,140 adolescents and young people.For Julmira, knowledge replaced fear with confidence. Her story demonstrates how trusted community volunteers, accurate health information, and family support can empower women to make informed decisions and access life-saving care. As Timor-Leste continues expanding community-based maternal health services, stories like Julmira's show that changing behaviours at the household level can help ensure every pregnancy is safer and every mother has the opportunity to give birth with dignity, skilled care, and hope.

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07 August 2026

Drought and Fire Risk in Timor-Leste: What El Niño Means for Our Communities

Timor-Leste is facing growing drought risk, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country, where hazard mapping identifies moderate to severe drought conditions. These areas are increasingly vulnerable to prolonged rainfall deficits, water shortages, and impacts on agriculture and livelihoods.The Lasting Effects of the 2023–2024 El NiñoThe current situation reflects the impact of the 2023–2024 El Niño event, which brought significantly below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures across much of the country. Between October 2023 and January 2024, rainfall was more than 30% below normal levels, triggering drought conditions in 10 of Timor-Leste's 13 municipalities and one special region. These conditions have already led to crop failures, livestock losses, and water scarcity in many communities (ACAPS, 2024).El Niño typically reduces rainfall and shortens the rainy season in Timor-Leste, especially in the northern municipalities. Climate change is compounding this pattern, driving more erratic precipitation, more extreme rainfall events, and rising temperatures. By 2099, Timor-Leste could experience up to 100 additional days per year with temperatures above 35°C, even under lower-emission scenarios (ADB/WB, 2021; CFE-DM, 2022). Climate change is also increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, with stronger El Niño and La Niña occurrences becoming more common compared to pre-1960 levels (Cai et al., 2023). Together, these shifts are likely to make future droughts more severe and harder to predict (ACAPS, 2024).Timor-Leste Wildfire Hazard MapUNDP Timor-LesteA Growing Wildfire RiskHazard mapping also points to a growing concern around wildfires. While most of Timor-Leste experiences low to moderate wildfire risk, historical fire data show that some areas face a notably higher likelihood of fire occurrence. During El Niño years, dry vegetation, grasslands, and forests become highly combustible, raising the risk of bushfires and wildfires across the country.A Compounding Threat to Food Security and LivelihoodsDrought and wildfire, when combined, can have severe and compounding consequences. Wildfires can destroy forests, crops, grazing land, and biodiversity, while drought diminishes water availability and agricultural productivity. Together, these hazards pose a significant threat to food security, livelihoods, and the well-being of rural communities that depend heavily on agriculture.According to the 2019 Timor-Leste Agriculture Census, 66% of households rely on agriculture as their primary source of income — underscoring how exposed much of the population is to these climate-related shocks. What can Communities do?Building resilience starts with practical, everyday actions:Save and store water whenever possible.Avoid uncontrolled burning of grasslands and agricultural land.Report signs of wildfire early.Protect vegetation and watersheds that help retain moisture.Follow seasonal climate and early warning information.Promote climate-resilient farming practices.Building resilience against drought and wildfires is crucial as Timor-Leste faces an increasingly variable climate. By understanding these risks and preparing in advance, communities, government, and partners can work together to protect livelihoods and the natural environment for future generations.Sources: ACAPS (2024); Asian Development Bank / World Bank (2021); Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (2022); Cai et al. (2023); 2019 Timor-Leste Agriculture Census.Drought and Wildfire Hazard Maps PDF (3,495kb)Download the Drought and Wildfire Hazard Maps

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07 August 2026

Immunization goes digital in Timor-Leste with launch of e-tracker

Henriqueta Sarmento has worked at Manleuana health post long enough to remember when it stood looted and empty during the country’s years of conflict, and when it slowly returned to the community it was built to serve. Through those years, one part of the work barely changed: the immunization registers. A daily register for every child coming to the centre. A register organized by vaccine. And a third aggregate register for each aldeia, used for reporting upwards. Three separate acts of writing for every single child who walks through the door.“For 20 years, I have written children’s names and the same details across multiple books,” Sarmento said. “This digitization will change everything.”Nurse Henriqueta Sarmento presents immunization ledgers used for recording vaccination data. © WHO Timor-Leste
The Ministry of Health (MoH), with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) Timor-Leste and financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has launched a pilot of the Immunization e-Tracker, a digital tool designed to transform how vaccination data is recorded, tracked and used. Importantly, this initiative promises to strengthen data quality, a long-standing constraint in the young nation.
At selected facilities across Dili, vaccinators have begun entering vaccinations directly onto tablets, marking the country’s first move to individual-level digital immunization records right down to the health-post level.Dr Elisabeth Leto Mau, DG, Primary Health Care, says that piloting the Immunization e-Tracker was a pivotal step in safeguarding Timor-Leste's hard-won gains: polio-free status, elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, measles and rubella, by anchoring them in real-time data that is accurate, complete, and timely. The system will allow managers at every level to monitor performance and make evidence-based decisions," she added.From ledger to tabletIn practice, the e-Tracker may look deceptively ordinary. A mother arrives with her child. The vaccinator opens an app on a tablet instead of a ledger. The child’s record, created at the first visit, is already populated. The dose is logged in seconds. The next appointment can be scheduled in seconds. If the mother does not return, the child's name is flagged on a drop-out list, which the vaccinator sees as an alert in the e-Tracker system. WHO Timor-Leste formally hands over tablets to support the implementation of the Immunization e-Tracker. © WHO Timor-Leste“What the e-Tracker gives us is something we have never had before at this scale: digitized immunization registries, interactive dashboards and automated monthly reporting,” said Dr Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative. “More importantly, it gives health teams the critical ability to identify and track children who miss vaccinations or drop out of the schedule. Instead of finding them months later, they can follow up sooner and ensure no child is left behind,” he added.Tracking the children who slip throughIn May, the MoH and WHO trained 30 health personnel, including nurses, immunization focal points and doctors, drawn from 12 facilities: eight health posts, one Community Health Centre (CHC), and three private clinics in Dili. Each participating site has received tablets and SIM connectivity for real-time entry. Private clinics are also part of the rollout, since the government supports immunization in private facilities in Timor-Leste. Mr Mateus Pinto, Director of the Dili Municipality Health Service, thanked the Health Ministry and WHO for entrusting Dili with the pilot, adding that the tool will help staff track zero-dose and partially vaccinated children.The drop-out rate in some vaccinations, such as measles-rubella, is estimated at 7–8%, above the desirable limit of about 5%, said Joaquina Francisca Belo, District Public Health Officer for Dili Municipality. “A digital system can alert us sooner that a child has not shown up,” she added. Children who move between facilities or areas are also often re-registered, a duplication that a digital system can eliminate, she said.Joaquina Francisca Belo presents the tablet to be used for the Immunization e-Tracker. © WHO Timor-Leste“A digital system also shields records from the slow damage of time, weather and storage,” says Margaretha Motu Bere, immunization focal point at Comoro CHC and among those trained on the tablets.The Immunization e-Tracker dashboard displaying real-time vaccination data. © WHO Timor-Leste The e-Tracker can function offline, essential in a country where connectivity remains patchy beyond the larger towns. The app has been built within the Timor-Leste Health Information System (TLHIS), the country’s principal health management backbone, which runs on the open-source DHIS2 platform.The e-Tracker is part of a broader digital health push. Patient-level tracking, introduced in 2024 for tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria, has since expanded to hypertension and diabetes, and now to immunization.Thirteen antigens, 40,000 newborns a yearTimor-Leste’s immunization journey has expanded from six to thirteen antigens. Under the national programme, children receive vaccines from birth through the first two years of life, including protection against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, pneumococcal disease, measles and rubella. Each year, roughly 40,000 newborns enter that schedule. The HPV vaccine for adolescent girls was added in 2024.Dr Leto Mau adds that the lessons learnt from the pilot will inform its expansion to more health facilities, and eventually a nationwide rollout.For nurse Sarmento, the shift promises continuity as much as change. “The big change since independence is that parents now willingly bring their children to get vaccinated,” she says. “Systems should constantly evolve as people are evolving too.”

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06 August 2026

UNICEF supports newborn care programme in Timor-Leste

Lautem Municipality is found in the far east of Timor-Leste. The journey from Dili, the capital, to Lospalos, the main town of Lautem, takes about five to six hours by car.“As Head of the Maternal and Child Health under the Municipal Health Services, my job is not easy. It is a big responsibility. I supervise the newborn care team in five community health centres across Lautem Municipality. These centres are far from one another and often difficult to reach, especially during the rainy season because of poor road conditions. The success of the programme depends on my supervision and monitoring, which is why I say it is not easy,” Beatris Fernandes explains.Beatris is a midwife who began her career in 1992, when Timor-Leste was under Indonesian occupation. After the country gained independence, she continued her service as a midwife and remains dedicated to her community.As she supervises and monitors all the community health centres in her area, she ensures that the equipment is complete and in good condition and guides the midwives to perform well. Her supervision and monitoring reports are then submitted to the Head of the Municipality Health Services for evaluation and future planning.
UNICEF Timor-Leste/2026/DMonemnasiBeatris checks the health equipment to make sure everything is in good condition.UNICEF Timor-Leste/2026/DMonemnasiUNICEF's contribution of health equipment and training for the newborn care programme really helps health professionals do their work, benefiting mothers and newborns by ensuring they receive high-quality health services. “The health equipment, such as sterilizers, baby warmers, delivery sets, dopplers, tensiometers, thermometers, newborn care packages, and delivery beds, makes a big difference,” Beatris says. “Before, we used old sets that were not complete. Now, all the newborn care equipment is modern and reliable. It really helps pregnant mothers when they give birth at this health centre,” she adds.“I carry out supervision once every quarter as required. But I do monitoring every week, especially at the Lospalos Community Health Centre,” Beatris explains. “During supervision and monitoring, I also check the LISIO book (LISIO = Livru Saude Inan no Oan, English: Mother and Child Health Handbook of pregnant mothers and those who have just given birth at this health centre.” The LISIO book is produced by the Ministry of Health. It records the health and progress of pregnant mothers and children up to five years old.
UNICEF Timor-Leste/2026/DMonemnasiBeatris, Head of the Maternal and Infant Department supervises a midwife and an intern student at Lospalos Health Centre.Working in midwifery feels like a good fortune for Beatris. When she studied midwifery during Indonesia’s occupation, she only learned theory in the classroom, which was not enough for her. Later, she received training from the Ministry of Health, with support from UNICEF, on Essential Newborn Care (ENBC) and Safe and Clean Delivery (SCD). These training sessions strengthened and enriched her knowledge, equipping her with the skills she needs to serve mothers and babies with confidence.“I feel lucky that I continue my profession as a midwife, alongside my responsibility as Head of the Maternal and Infant Health Department,” Beatris says. “I had the opportunity to attend the ENBC and SCD trainings, and I received a certificate from each of those trainings. The training teaches me how to help pregnant mothers in emergencies and complications. It brings great benefits, improves our knowledge, and strengthens our ability to support mothers during childbirth. Also, on how to assist the mothers to have a safe and clean delivery”Beatris says that she has learned many new skills from the recent training. She learned how to assist pregnant mothers during birth, manage complications such as when a baby’s feet come out first, and help mothers who feel dizzy or suffer from high blood pressure during delivery, and to make sure every delivery is safe and clean. She also learns how to respond quickly when bleeding happens during or after birth, and how to handle cases when a baby dies in the mother’s womb.“Before the training, I only learned the theory. But in this training, I receive both the theory and the chance to practise. And I have been practising what I learned,” Beatris says confidently.
UNICEF Timor-Leste/2026/DMonemnasiHelping pregnant mothers before delivery is a new skill that Beatris learned from recent trainings.Pregnant mothers are aware and understand that giving birth at a health facility helps save both their lives and their babies’ lives. They know that delivering a baby at home carries great risks for mother and child. The three delivery beds donated by UNICEF make mothers feel safe and comfortable when they give birth at Lospalos Community Health Centre.Other equipment, such as the fetal doppler, is used in ultrasound to monitor the heartbeat. Additionally, it is used to diagnose blood clots, blocked arteries, and heart valve defects. This equipment also greatly helps the midwives in their work.
UNICEF Timor-Leste/2026/DMonemnasiA doppler us being used to provide antenatal care to a pregnant mother at Lospalos Community Health Centre.In a normal schedule, a pregnant woman visits a health facility at least eight times for antenatal care before giving birth. However, many mothers do not follow this schedule for different reasons, such as the long distance from their homes to the health facilities. If the pregnant patient does not come for a visit, health professionals follow up with them by phone.
Health professionals use this finding as a basis to take follow-up action through health promotion activities, both during outreach programmes in the villages and at the health facility itself.Health professionals always check the mother’s status from the first visit until the last one before birth. After antenatal care at the health centre, some mothers give birth at home with the support of health professionals, often because of distance issues. For example, in the past three months, health professionals have helped with nine home deliveries.A lack of delivery equipment and human resources at health posts across Lautem Municipality remains a challenge.
“Normally, there should be at least one midwife at each health post and twelve at the health centre level,” Beatris says. “Another challenge is that we are low on equipment and end up buying what is easily available, but it might not be the best quality.”
UNICEF Timor-Leste/2026/DMonemnasiA mother receives counselling after delivery.Using the national Tetun language to explain messages during outreach activities in the field and during counselling sessions with parents is effective. But communicating in the local language has an added value — it touches the hearts of community members.Beatris speaks Tetun, and other local languages such as Fataluku, Makalero, and Makasae. When she provides counselling to mothers before and after giving birth, she always uses their language, so it is easier for them to understand.
“I remain enthusiastic and continue to work as a midwife,” Beatris says. “For the future, I want to continue this work because I enjoy helping pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as their children,” smiles Beatris.
UNICEF Timor-Leste/2026/DMonemnasiBeatris completes another day as the Head of the Maternal and Infant Health at Lautem Municipality Health Department.

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Press Release

28 July 2026

Timor-Leste marks National Health Day with a pledge to people and planet

Viqueque, 27 July: The rain came down hard in Viqueque, but the crowds came anyway. Hundreds gathered on 22 July as Timor-Leste marked its 11th National Health Day, celebrated this year in Viqueque Municipality under the theme "My Sea, My Timor, My Health." The event honoured the dedication of health workers across the country while reinforcing the importance of protecting both people and the environment to achieve a healthier future.The celebration brought together government leaders, health professionals, development partners and the community to recognise the progress Timor-Leste has made in strengthening its health system.Vice Minister of Health José dos Reis Magno, together with local authorities and WHO Officer-in-Charge Dr Vinay, launched the Standard Treatment Guidelines for Primary Health Care © WHO Timor-Leste Three new resources developed with WHO support were launched: the Standard Treatment Guidelines for Primary Healthcare, the National Essential Diagnostic List, and the DNFM website, which together will strengthen access to essential medicines, diagnostics and health information. The Ministry of Health also handed over a new ambulance to the Viqueque Municipal Authority, and outstanding health workers and National Health Day Cup champions were recognised for their service.The Ministry of Health launched Timor-Leste’s National Essential Diagnostics List, developed with WHO support © WHO Timor-LesteJosé dos Reis Magno, Vice Minister of Health for Institutional Strengthening, told the gathering that good health starts well before the hospital door. "The sea gives us food, so protecting the sea protects our nutrition," he said. "Health does not begin at the hospital; it begins with how we live and care for our environment." He urged renewed commitment to a fair, modern health system that reaches every community and narrows the gap between rural and urban areas.
The Ministry of Health handed over a multifunction ambulance to the Viqueque Municipal Authority © WHO Timor-LesteThe weather itself became a tribute. "Rain or sunshine, day or night, our health workers are always there for the people," said Francisco Cruz Simões de Gonzaga Soares, President of the Viqueque Municipal Authority, who also voiced hope that the Viqueque Municipal Hospital would soon be completed.Representing WHO Timor-Leste at the event, Dr Vinay Bothra, Officer-in-Charge, pointed to milestones including the elimination of malaria, country’s three new medical oxygen production plants and health screening in more than 1,300 schools. "Timor-Leste has made remarkable progress, but our work is not finished," he said. "Primary healthcare is the foundation for tackling noncommunicable diseases, malnutrition, cancer and heart disease, ensuring quality care for everyone," he said.
Viqueque Municipal President handed over certificates to exemplary health workers © WHO Timor-LesteIn a message shared for the occasion, Dr Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste, congratulated the Ministry of Health and the people of Timor-Leste on the country's public health gains, from eliminating malaria and lymphatic filariasis to expanding immunisation and reducing maternal and child deaths. "This year's theme reminds us that the health of our people and the health of our oceans are inseparable," he said. "By protecting nature, we protect lives and build a healthier, greener and more resilient Timor-Leste."Eleven years on, National Health Day has become a symbol of celebration and reflection. Next year, the celebration will travel west to Bobonaro Municipality, which was selected through a lottery to host the 12th National Health Day in 2027.

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Press Release

29 August 2024

Joint Press Encounter with the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão [as delivered]

Senhoras e senhores jornalistas, quero em primeiro lugar prestar uma sentida e emocionada homenagem ao primeiro-ministro Xanana Gusmão.Primeiro ao combatente, ao líder da resistência, que nas montanhas tudo sacrificou para conseguir a independência do seu país e do seu povo.Depois, pela resistência que revelou, preso na Indonésia, mas agindo sempre com grande determinação em defesa da independência do seu povo.Tivemos na altura ocasião pela primeira vez de falar por telefone. E quero sublinhar que houve uma total identidade de pontos de vista entre a resistência timorense, liderada por Xanana Gusmão, e o Governo português, nas negociações que conduziram no final ao processo de autodeterminação.E depois, o líder da transformação de Timor-Leste num país independente, num país democrático, num país respeitador dos direitos humanos e num país que se afirma internacionalmente com crescente influência.
Timor-Leste ganhou a batalha da independência. Timor-Leste ganhou a batalha da democracia. E como Secretário-Geral das Nações Unidas eu naturalmente sinto orgulho de que as Nações Unidas tenham estado ao lado do povo de Timor-Leste na luta pela independência e na consolidação da democracia.Mas Timor-Leste tem agora que ganhar a batalha do desenvolvimento. E quero dizer que as Nações Unidas, na sua limitada capacidade, mas com total empenhamento, estão inteiramente ao lado do Governo de Timor-Leste para, de acordo com as estratégias do Governo de Timor-Leste, poder apoiar a vitória na batalha do desenvolvimento.Fiquei muito impressionado pela descrição que o Sr. Primeiro-Ministro fez do compromisso de um esforço renovado em matéria de segurança alimentar, de investimento na agricultura. Seguramente um desafio crucial para o êxito da estratégia de desenvolvimento.Fiquei muito impressionado com o compromisso expresso pelo Primeiro-Ministro em relação à educação e à saúde. Fiquei muito impressionado com a visão sobre as infraestruturas que são necessárias e as infraestruturas que porventura o serão menos e a capacidade de escolher e decidir aquilo que o povo de Timor-Leste necessita.E fiquei também muito impressionado com o facto de Timor-Leste, um país pequeno, Portugal também é um país pequeno, ter hoje uma capacidade de afirmação internacional que é absolutamente notável.
Timor-Leste é membro da Organização Mundial do Comércio. Timor-Leste é fundador do G7+, com influência crescente nas discussões ao nível da comunidade internacional e das Nações Unidas. Timor-Leste será em breve membro da ASEAN, onde espero que possa desempenhar um papel muito importante para que também finalmente em Mianmar a paz possa chegar ao povo de Mianmar.Timor-Leste é uma voz particularmente respeitada nas Nações Unidas num momento que para nós muito importante que é aquele que com a Cimeira do Futuro, vai procurar pôr em cima da mesa as reformas indispensáveis para que as instituições multilaterais possam responder aos problemas do nosso tempo.Às alterações climáticas, aos desafios da inteligência artificial e à multiplicação enorme de conflitos e desigualdades a que assistimos em todo o mundo.Contamos com a voz de Timor-Leste na próxima Cimeira do Futuro. Contamos com a voz de Timor-Leste em todos os esforços para fazermos do nosso mundo um mundo em que a Carta das Nações Unidas seja respeitada, em que a lei internacional seja respeitada e em que as desigualdades e as injustiças que continuam a persistir possam finalmente ser enfrentadas com determinação e solidariedade.

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Press Release

28 August 2024

SG Remarks - Press Conference with the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste

Dear President Ramos-Horta,Dear friends from the media,Kalan Di-ak [Good evening]I am very happy to be here in Timor-Leste with all of you.I want to begin by expressing my enormous gratitude for the warm welcome and wonderful hospitality I have experienced in Timor-Leste.President Ramos-Horta, it is an honour to stand alongside a champion of peace.I cannot forget the many hours we worked together. The long days, late night phone calls and endless discussions.Seeing you travelling around the world, refusing to give up, defending the cause of the Timorese people was an inspiration for leaders everywhere. I am proud I was able to make a small contribution to support your efforts.And I am honoured to call you a friend.Ladies and gentlemen, friends,Timor-Leste’s motto is, quote, “Unity, Action, Progress.”That motto is a true reflection of your journey as a country, and inspiration for the road ahead. First, unity.The anniversary of the Popular Consultation is an opportunity to come together: …to celebrate your collective past;…to honour those who overcame differences to unite in the resistance;…and to commemorate those who dreamed of independence but are no longer with us.Independence was not the end.It was a new beginning that called for unity and resolve for new trials and challenges to come.Now, less than a generation later, I stand here as witness to a nation that prevailed.A nation at peace and in harmony with its neighbours.A thriving democracy, where human rights and fundamental freedoms are the common threads in the social fabric.Second, action.In the 25 years since the referendum, Timor-Leste has consistently taken action, moving mountains to create a society that serves all Timorese people.Your country may be small in size, but you are taking on some of the biggest challenges of our time.Timor-Leste has made impressive strides in building a democratic society and enhancing people-centred development, expanding quality education, especially in rural areas, achieving universal electricity access, addressing food insecurity, gender inequality, youth unemployment and improving healthcare.I urge you to show the same ambition on climate action. You are on the frontlines of the climate crisis that is threatening the very survival of small islands and low-lying coastal states.Across the Pacific, climate chaos is battering down the doors of those who have done the least to cause it.The time to act on climate change is now.I urge you to seize the benefits of a clean energy transition — with international support — towards long-term energy security and sovereignty. And to ramp up measures to protect your people from intensifying climate disasters.But Timor-Leste cannot act alone. The international community has an obligation to support you – including through an ambitious finance outcome at COP29 this year, and by doubling adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year by next year.We urgently need an SDG Stimulus to provide effective debt relief and scale-up resources for sustainable development.And we are pushing for reforms to Multilateral Development Banks, to substantially increase their lending capacity, and enable them to leverage far more private finance at reasonable cost to developing countries.Third, progress.The first time I visited Timor-Leste was in 2000 as Prime Minister of Portugal.Since then, this country has strived to climb higher and improve the lives of the Timorese people. Today, you are a full and active member of the global family.Making good progress on economic resilience, and joining the World Trade Organisation earlier this year.And working to become a full member of ASEAN – with the full support of the United Nations.Resolute in making progress for our global community -- this is the Timorese way.But progress is not only a matter of ambition. It relies on global institutions and frameworks for support.In September, at the Summit of the Future, countries aim to forge a new global consensus on how we cooperate and address our greatest challenges.Proposals on the table will make global decision-making more effective and inclusive, with more space for developing countries. I urge you to make your voices heard at the Summit. The world has a lot to learn from Timor-Leste.Dear President, dear friends,The United Nations and the Timorese people stood side by side as this country took its first steps towards owning and shaping its destiny.United Nations will continue to support the aspirations of the Timorese people on the journey ahead.I wish the best success for the people of Timor-Leste.Thank you.
______________________________________________Senhor Presidente
José Ramos-Horta,Caros amigos da comunicação social,Kalan Di-ak [Boa noite]É com muita alegria que me encontro hoje convosco aqui em Timor-Leste.Desejo, em primeiro lugar, expressar a minha enorme gratidão pelo caloroso acolhimento e pela maravilhosa hospitalidade com que sou recebido em Timor-Leste.
Senhor Presidente Ramos-Horta,V. Exa. é um intransigente defensor da paz e é uma honra para mim estar aqui hoje ao seu lado.Jamais esquecerei as muitas horas em que trabalhámos juntos. Os dias intermináveis, os telefonemas a altas horas da noite ou da madrugada, as longas e profundas conversas.As viagens de V. Exa. pelo mundo, recusando-se a desistir e defendendo a causa do povo timorense inspiraram líderes de todo o mundo.É-me particularmente grato ter tido a oportunidade de dar um contributo em apoio incansáveis esforços desenvolvidos por V. Exa..Considero-o um amigo, o que muito me honra.Senhoras e senhores, amigos,O lema de Timor-Leste é, e cito, “Unidade, Acção, Progresso”.Este lema é um verdadeiro reflexo do vosso percurso enquanto país e uma inspiração para o caminho a seguir.Em primeiro lugar, unidade.O aniversário da Consulta Popular apela à unidade:…na celebração do vosso passado colectivo;
…na homenagem aos que superaram as diferenças convergindo na resistência;…e na homenagem aos que sonharam com a independência, mas já não estão entre nós.A restauração da independência não foi o fim.Foi um novo começo que exigiu unidade e determinação para superar os desafios e obstáculos com que a Nação timorense se deparava no momento da edificação do Estado e de um novo País.
Hoje, menos de uma geração depois, estou aqui como testemunha de uma nação que se soube afirmar e que prevaleceu.Uma nação em paz e em harmonia com os seus vizinhos.Uma democracia consolidada, assente no respeito pelos direitos humanos e pelas liberdades fundamentais.Em segundo lugar, acção.Nos 25 anos que decorreram desde o referendo, Timor-Leste foi tomando medidas consistentes e movendo montanhas para criar uma sociedade que responde às necessidades e aspirações de todo o povo timorense.O vosso país pode não ter um território extenso, mas tem sido capaz de enfrentar alguns dos maiores desafios do nosso tempo.Timor-Leste tem feito progressos impressionantes na construção de uma sociedade democrática e na promoção de um desenvolvimento centrado nas pessoas, expandindo a educação de qualidade, especialmente nas zonas rurais, alcançando o acesso universal à eletricidade, combatendo a insegurança alimentar, a desigualdade de género, o desemprego jovem e melhorando o acesso a cuidados de saúde.Peço-vos que demonstrem igual ambição no que respeita à acção climática.
Pois estão na linha da frente da crise climática que ameaça a própria sobrevivência de muitos estados insulares e costeiros.Em todo o Pacífico, o caos climático está a atingir aqueles que menos fizeram para o causar.Este é o momento de agir contra as alterações climáticas.Apelo para que aproveitem os benefícios de uma transição para energias limpas – com apoio internacional – rumo à segurança e à soberania energética a longo prazo. E para que reforcem medidas que protejam o povo timorense da intensificação dos desastres climáticos.Mas Timor-Leste não pode estar só neste esforço.A comunidade internacional tem a obrigação de vos apoiar – nomeadamente através de um ambicioso resultado na COP29 deste ano em matéria de apoio financeiro, duplicando o financiamento para a adaptação para pelo menos 40 mil milhões de dólares por ano até 2025.Precisamos urgentemente de um estímulo financeiro aos ODS que proporcione um alívio eficaz da dívida e aumente os recursos destinados ao desenvolvimento sustentável.Estamos também a exercer pressão para que sejam feitas reformas nos bancos multilaterais de desenvolvimento, de modo a que aumentem substancialmente a capacidade de concessão de empréstimos, alavancando muito mais financiamento privado a um custo razoável para os países em desenvolvimento.Em terceiro lugar, progresso.A primeira vez que visitei Timor-Leste foi em 2000, enquanto Primeiro-Ministro de Portugal.Desde então, o País demonstrou empenho em atingir novos e mais ambiciosos patamares de desenvolvimento e em melhorar progressivamente a vida do povo timorense.Hoje, Timor-Leste é um membro activo e de pleno direito da comunidade internacional.Alcançou importantes progressos em matéria de resiliência económica e aderiu à Organização Mundial do Comércio no início deste ano.E trabalha para se tornar membro de pleno direito da ASEAN – com o total apoio das Nações Unidas.A determinação em contribuir para progressos que beneficiem a comunidade mundial constitui um timbre da atitude timorense.Mas o progresso não é apenas uma questão de ambição pois depende, em muito, do apoio de instituições e estruturas internacionais.Em setembro, na Cimeira do Futuro, os países serão chamados a forjar um novo consenso global sobre a forma como cooperamos e enfrentamos os nossos maiores desafios.As propostas que estão em cima da mesa tornarão mais eficaz e inclusiva a tomada de decisões globais, assegurando mais espaço para os países em desenvolvimento.Lanço o desafio para que a voz de Timor-Leste se faça ouvir na Cimeira pois o mundo tem muito a aprender com Timor-Leste.
Senhor Presidente, caros amigos,As Nações Unidas e o povo timorense estiveram lado a lado no momento em que o País assumia, nas suas próprias mãos, a construção do seu destino.As Nações Unidas continuarão a apoiar as aspirações do povo timorense na caminhada que tem pela frente.Desejo os maiores sucessos ao povo de Timor-Leste.Muito obrigado.
___________________________________________Sr. Prezidente
José Ramos-Horta,Belun doben sira hosi mídia,Kalan Di-ak [Boa noite]Ho laran ksolok tebes mak ohin ha’u hasoru imi iha ne’e iha Timor-Leste.Ha’u hakarak, uluknanai, hato’o ha’u-nia agradesimentu boot tebes ba benvindu no ospitalidade furak ne’ebé simu ha’u iha Timor-Leste.Sr. Prezidente Ramos-Horta,Exelénsia Prezidente Ramos Horta, hanesan onra ida ba ha’u atu hamriik hamutuk ho kampiaun dame ida hanesan ita.Haʼu sei la haluha oras barak neʼebé ita serbisu hamutuk. Loron sira ne'ebé laiha rohan, xamada sira iha kalan ka dadeer-saan, konversa sira ne'ebé naruk no kle'an.Ita-boot nia viajen sira, iha mundu tomak, lakohi rende no defende povu Timor nia kauza inspira ona lideransa sira iha mundu tomak.Hau orgullu hau bele fo kontribuisaun kiik ida hodi suporta ita boot sira nia esforsu.Ha'u konsidera ita hanesan belun ida, ne'ebé fó onra boot mai ha'u.Señora no señor sira, belun sira,Timor-Leste nia lema mak, no ha’u sita, “Unidade, Asaun, Progresu”.Lema ida ne’e hanesan reflesaun loloos ba ita-boot sira nia viajen nu’udar nasaun no inspirasaun ba dalan ne’ebé atu tuir mai.Primeiru, unidade.Aniversáriu Konsulta Populár nian bolu unidade:...iha selebrasaun ba ita-boot nia pasadu koletivu;...iha onra ba sira ne'ebé maka ultrapasa diferensa sira hodi konverje iha rezisténsia;...no hodi fó onra ba sira ne'ebé mehi ba independénsia, maibé la iha ona iha ita-nia leet.Restaurasaun independénsia la'ós ona rohan.Ida-ne'e nu'udar inísiu foun ida ne'ebé ezije unidade no determinasaun atu ultrapasa dezafiu no obstákulu sira ne'ebé Nasaun Timorense hasoru bainhira harii Estadu no Nasaun foun ida.Ohin, la to'o jerasaun ida, ha'u iha ne'e nu'udar sasin ba nasaun ida ne'ebé hatene oinsá atu afirma nia-an no ne'ebé maka manán.Nasaun ida ne’ebé hakmatek no harmonia ho nia viziñu sira.Demokrasia konsolidada ida, bazeia ba respeitu ba direitus umanus no liberdade fundamentál sira.Segundu, asaun.Iha tinan 25 dezde referendu, Timor-Leste foti ona medida konsistente no muda hodi kria sosiedade ida ne’ebé responde ba nesesidade no aspirasaun povu Timor tomak nian.Ita-boot nia nasaun bele kiik, maibé konsege hasoru dezafiu boot sira iha ita-nia tempu.Timor-Leste halo ona progresu impresivu hodi harii sosiedade demokrátiku no promove dezenvolvimentu ne’ebé sentradu iha ema, habelar edukasaun ho kualidade, liuliu iha área rurál, hetan asesu universál ba eletrisidade, kombate inseguransa ai-han, dezigualdade jéneru , dezempregu juventude no hadi’a asesu ba kuidadu saúde.Ha'u husu ba ita-boot atu hatudu ambisaun hanesan bainhira ko'alia kona-ba asaun klimátika.Tanba sira iha liña oin hosi krize klimátika ne'ebé ameasa sobrevivénsia hosi estadu illa no tasi-ibun barak.Iha Pasífiku tomak, kaos klimátiku kona sira ne'ebé maka ladún hamosu ida-ne'e.Ida-ne'e maka tempu atu atua hasoru mudansa klimátika.Ha'u husu ba sira atu aproveita benefísiu sira hosi tranzisaun enerjia moos nian – ho apoiu internasionál – ba seguransa no soberania enerjétika ba tempu naruk. No atu reforsa medida sira ne’ebé proteje povu timoroan husi intensifikasaun dezastre klimátiku sira.Maibé Timor-Leste labele mesak iha esforsu ne’e.Komunidade internasionál iha obrigasaun atu apoia ita-boot sira – liuliu liuhosi rezultadu ambisiozu ida iha COP29 tinan ida-ne'e nian iha termu apoiu finanseiru, duplika finansiamentu ba adaptasaun ba pelumenus US$40 billoens kada tinan to'o 2025.Ita presiza tebes estímulu finanseiru ODS nian ne'ebé fornese hamenus dívida ne'ebé efetivu no aumenta rekursu sira ba dezenvolvimentu sustentável.Ita mós dudu hela reforma sira iha banku dezenvolvimentu multilaterál sira hodi aumenta substansialmente sira nia kapasidade empréstimu nian, hodi aproveita finansiamentu privadu barak liután ho kustu ne'ebé razoavel ba nasaun sira ne'ebé dezenvolve hela.Terseiru, progresu.Dala uluk ha’u vizita Timor-Leste iha tinan 2000, enkuantu Primeiru Ministru Portugál.Hahú husi ne’ebá, nasaun ne’e hatudu ona kompromisu atu to’o iha nível foun no ambisiozu liután kona-ba dezenvolvimentu no progresivamente hadi’a povu timoroan nia moris.Ohin loron, Timor-Leste nu’udar membru ida ne’ebé ativu no nakonu iha komunidade internasionál.Ida-ne'e halo ona progresu importante sira kona-ba reziliénsia ekonómika no tama iha Organizasaun Mundiál Komérsiu nian iha inísiu tinan ida-ne'e.No ida-ne'e serbisu atu sai membru tomak ASEAN nian – ho apoiu tomak hosi Nasoins Unidas.Determinasaun atu kontribui ba progresu ne’ebé fó benefísiu ba komunidade mundiál nu’udar marka atitude timoroan nian.Maibé progresu la'ós de'it kestaun ida kona-ba ambisaun tanba ida-ne'e depende liu ba apoiu hosi instituisaun no estrutura internasionál sira.Setembru ida-ne'e, iha Simeira Futuru nian, nasaun sira sei hetan bolu atu harii konsensu globál foun ida kona-ba oinsá ita koopera no hasoru ita-nia dezafiu boot sira.Proposta sira iha meza sei halo foti desizaun globál sai efetivu no inkluzivu liu, hodi garante espasu barak liután ba nasaun sira ne'ebé sei dezenvolve hela.Ha’u lansa dezafiu atu Timor-Leste nia lian bele rona iha Simeira tanba mundu iha buat barak atu aprende husi Timor-Leste.Sr. Prezidente, belun doben sira,Nasoens Unidas no povu Timor hamriik sorin-sorin iha tempu ne’ebé nasaun ne’e foti konstrusaun ninia destinu iha ninia liman rasik.Organizasaun Nasoins Unidas sei kontinua fó apoiu ba aspirasaun povu Timor nian iha viajen oin mai.Ha’u dezeja susesu ba povu Timor-Leste.Obrigado barak.

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Press Release

08 February 2024

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety mission in Timor-Leste (8 -10 February 2024) to call for accrued mobilization for safer mobility.

The new World Health Organization (WHO) Global status report on road safety 2023, highlights that 28% of all road traffic fatalities occur in South-East Asia. The Region reported 16.1 deaths per 100 000 population due to road traffic crashes, three times higher than the European average of 5/100,000 (WHO 2023). According to the World Health Organization, the mortality rate in Timor-Leste is 12 per 100,000 inhabitants (WHO 2023). The country saw a 25% decline in fatalities since 2018 (WHO 2023), but road crashes still represent one of the main cause of fatalities in the country, especially among the young generations and men (WHO 2019). “Despite progress in the region, road crashes remain the main killers of kids worldwide, so it is time to act to protect the most vulnerable on the road. Going to Timor-Leste, my role, as UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road safety, is to support President José Manuel Ramos-Horta, his government, and stakeholders in their work to build safer and sustainable roads for all », highlights the Special Envoy. Road crashes are a public health issue… In Timor-Leste, there are still important areas to work on to improve road safety, such as limiting the speed at 30KM/h in urban areas or around schools, offering the population safe alternatives to motorized vehicles, or promoting the use of helmets responding to the UN minimum safety standards, which can reduce the risk of brain injury in case of crash by up to 74%. Timor-Leste is also highly vulnerable to natural hazards, which contribute to damage an already strained road infrastructure. In addition, the last full traffic survey in the country dates back 10 years, making precise planning difficult due to the lack of accurate data. … and an economic and development issue Poor road safety conditions affect the world's poorest people the most, especially women and youth, and deprive them of access to education, work, health, basic and cultural services. In that perspective, the UN system supported the Government of Timor-Leste in the establishment and rehabilitation of approximately 320 km of rural roads in 2021 (UN Timor-Leste 2022 Annual Report). This rehabilitation provided economic opportunities, access to markets, and social services to more than 17,000 individuals living in rural areas. In addition to the human tragedy, road crashes trap countries into a vicious circle of poverty. Some estimates put the global macroeconomic cost of road traffic injuries as high as US$ $1.8 trillion (WHO 2023). According to the World Bank, the cost of road crashes represents 4,4 % of GDP (WB 2016) in Timor-Leste. --------------------- Media Contact: Secretariat of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety: Priti Gautam priti.gautam@un.org Stephanie Schumacher stephanie.schumacher@un.org ----------------- Notes to Editors: The United Nations has invested significantly in tackling the problem of road safety globally. Following the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020”, the UN General Assembly in August 2020 adopted a resolution on “Improving Road Safety”, that reconfirmed its commitment to halving the number of global traffic deaths and injuries and to providing access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030. In October 2021, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Regional Commissions, in cooperation with partners in the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration and other stakeholders, developed the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, as a guiding document to support the implementation of the Decade of Action 2021–2030 and its objectives. In July 2022, the road safety community met in New York City for the first ever High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety at the United Nations General Assembly, unanimously adopting a text titled: “Political declaration of the high-level meeting on improving global road safety”. To galvanize intersectoral actions and raise the visibility of road safety, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by the new UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). In his role as UN Special Envoy, Mr. Todt contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to striving to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors. Special Envoy brochure and Twitter account. UNECE acts as the secretariat for the Special Envoy for Road Safety. UNECE is the custodian of the United Nations road safety legal instruments applicable worldwide, such as the Convention on Road Traffic, the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, and the 1958, 1997 and 1998 Vehicle Regulations Agreements. UNECE services the ECOSOC Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods, as well as the only permanent United Nations intergovernmental forum on road safety (Working Party on Road Traffic Safety) and the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, both in the framework of the Inland Transport Committee, which is the only permanent UN forum specialized in inland modes of transport.

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