UN Speech at Launch of Coordination Task Force

My deepest respects and gratitude to:

Your Excellency, Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, Honourable President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Your Excellency, Mariano ASSANAMI Sabino Lopes, Honourable Vice Prime Minister (VPM), Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing,

Your Excellency, Minister XXX

Excellencies, Ministers, Vice-Ministers, Secretaries of State, Distinguished Members of the IX Constitutional Government

Excellencies, ambassadors and Chargés d'affaires of UN Member States

Dear UN colleagues

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

BOA TARDE!

Thank you for the warm welcome and the invitation to address this distinguished gathering today. I am deeply honoured to stand before you as the representative of all United Nations agencies in Timor-Leste. It is a privilege to be here and share our commitment to the important work that lies ahead.

I would like to begin by expressing our profound gratitude to the Vice Prime Minister, H.E. Mariano ASSANAMI Sabino Lopes, for his vision and leadership in establishing the Inter-ministerial Coordination Task Force for Social Affairs. The creation of this platform and the development of its Terms of Reference were collaborative efforts that United Nations had the honour to support. It underscores the Government of Timor-Leste's commitment to the well-being and prosperity of its people, and the invaluable support of the United Nations in shaping and facilitating this process.

The 9th Constitutional Government has set a commendable priority to "maximize the Timorese people's overall health, education, and quality of life." This recognition that the country's economic success is intrinsically tied to the empowerment, health, and skills of its labor force is a testament to the government's dedication to the well-being of its citizens. Indeed, investing in human capital is a vital strategy for sustainable development and creating conditions for greater inclusion, well-being, and dignity in Timorese society. This vision aligns seamlessly with the United Nations' commitment to supporting countries in their pursuit of sustainable development, a commitment that we value deeply.

The UN welcomes the government’s announcement to establish a task force on social affairs, and prioritizing Early Childhood Development (ECD), Nutrition and Food Security, and Youth Empowerment and Employment.

Investing in social sectors provide the necessary foundation for the economic development of the country. In this regard, it is critical that the government continues to increase its state budget towards social sectors such as health and education to bring them at par with regaional and international standards. These sectors should be the last ones to see budget cuts in times of fiscal austerity. We hope that the government will increase its budgets towards social sectors and continue investing in programmes such as BdM Jerasaun Foun that target the most marginalized segments of the society.

In conclusion, the United Nations stands firmly by the Government of Timor-Leste and its people in their pursuit of a brighter future. We are committed to supporting these critical initiatives and working collaboratively to achieve sustainable development that improves the overall health, education, and quality of life for the people of Timor-Leste. We greatly value and cherish the partnership and collaboration between the Government and the United Nations in advancing development coordination under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Thank you for your attention, and may our collective efforts lead to a more prosperous and equitable Timor-Leste.