Press Release

Outgoing UN Resident Coordinator Roy Trivedy receives the highest national award, the Order of Timor-Leste

13 October 2022

Dili, 13 October 2022 – His Excellency President Dr José Ramos-Horta conferred the Order of Timor-Leste on the outgoing United Nations Resident Coordinator Mr Roy Trivedy in recognition of his outstanding services and contributions to Timor-Leste at Palacio Presidente during a ceremony to mark the RC’s 5-year end of assignment.

President Dr J. Ramos-Horta expressed his personal gratitude and that of the country for the support Mr Trivedy extended to Timor-Leste since he took office in 2018. He commended his achievements, notably in coordinating the work of all UN agencies operating in Timor-Leste, including harmonisation of support amongst UN agencies as well as the diversification and the quality of assistance. The President reiterated his appreciation for the United Nations work in pursuit of the Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, agreed by the Council of Ministers in 2020.

Mr Trivedy said he was privileged to have received the most prestigious award from HE Dr Jose Ramos Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. “The honour bestowed on me is as much a recognition of the efforts of the UN system and all partners,” said Roy Trivedy. He thanked the President for the trust and confidence in him and the UN system. “We will do our best to continue to serve the country’s development. I can confidently say that Timor-Leste is now better positioned in terms of its longer-term development than in 2018. This results from the collective efforts of national leaders, people and communities, supported by all development partners.”

Mr Trivedy thanked all the people, including political leadership, government officials, the private sector, civil society representatives, the media, communities, and all Development Partners. “I am also especially grateful to colleagues from the UN Country Team - who have made many valuable contributions to Timor-Leste’s development. Most of all, I would also like to thank my wife Teresa and my family and friends who have provided sustained support and encouragement for me in many ways.”

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NOTES TO EDITOR

Roy’s Work in Timor-Leste

Roy arrived in Timor-Leste in 2018 as UN RC and UNDP RR. One of the first things he was involved with was the Launch of the 2018 Human Development Report (which focused on Timor-Leste’s population profile and the potential for the country to benefit from the ‘Demographic Dividend’ as a result of the young population. In 2018, Roy also led the UN’s support for the Parliamentary Elections in 2018.

In 2019, the Government approached the UN RC to support the preparation of the first Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the SDGs. The UN RC helped to identify and recruit an International and a national Consultant who worked with DG Vicky Tchong and Mana Brigida Soares to prepare the Review. The Review was presented in New York at the High-Level Forum by Minister Fidelis Magalhaes. Roy also supported the Timor-Leste Delegation with the presentation of the VNR. In 2019 the UN also supported the 20th Anniversary of the Referendum – over 200 former UN staff, including Mr Ian Martin and others, came to Timor-Leste. As UN RC, Roy led the arrangements for those events.

In 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Roy, together with the WHO Representative (Dr Rajesh Pandav) was involved in Briefing the Council of Ministers to prepare for the pandemic. With Dr Rajesh, he advocated for establishing the inter-Ministerial CIGC (Integrated Crisis Response Centre) and also supported the Humanitarian flights into and out of the country. In 2020 the UN also prepared its new Cooperation Framework, which the Council approved of Ministers. Under the leadership of the UNRC, UN agencies supported the implementation of the US $200 support to poorer families and the performance of the first Cesta Basica program. The UN agencies also supported the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of COVID-19. Roy also initiated work with Minister Fidelis Maghalhaes’ office on Diversification of the Economy with the International Growth Centre (based at the London School of Economics and Oxford University) that report was presented to the Council of Ministers in 2021.

In 2021 the UN RC played a key role in helping respond to the floods, co-chairing Humanitarian Partner Group meetings, putting out weekly updates for all Humanitarian partners and helping the Government of Timor-Leste to launch an Appeal which generated roughly US $30 m of additional humanitarian support to the country. UN agencies also supported the Government’s Post Disaster Needs Assessment work, and COVID-19 response, including the second Socio-Economic Needs Assessment and continued to support the national COVID-19 vaccination programme and work on Nutrition and the Food Systems Summit. In 2021, Roy also accommodated for almost three weeks (at his residence in Scotland) the Timor-Leste Delegation to the COP-26 in Glasgow.

In 2022 the RC led the UN’s work to support the Presidential elections, implementation of the Integrated National Financing Framework (focusing on taxation of alcohol and tobacco, work with the diaspora and opportunities for Blue/Green Growth), provided support to Timor-Leste’s accession to CTBTO, support to the Universal Periodic Review, preparations for the Transforming Education Summit and the Census 2022.

He has co-chaired several of the Government and Development Partner Meetings, including Humanitarian Meetings and the Scaling-Up Nutrition Movement work.

It is worth mentioning that in addition to Roy’s contributions to Timor-Leste’s development, his wife Teresa has supported work with Ahisaun Foundation and the RELOKA organisation (teaching embroidery - SUKU and business skills to Girls with disabilities). His older daughter (Maya) worked as a volunteer with Maluk Timor and Mercy Corps for a year, his youngest daughter did an internship with The Asia Foundation and later set up an arrangement for an exhibition from Timor-Leste to Scotland to support Arte Moris and his nephew (Vijay) did an internship with ILO in Timor-Leste and his partner worked as a Volunteer Doctor with Malu Timor. Vijay also helped set up the Timor-Leste Hockey Association (with kit donated by the England Hockey Federation).