Caring for Those Who Care: UN in Timor-Leste Puts Staff Wellbeing at the Centre of Change

Dili, Timor-Leste – In an ever-evolving global development funding and financing context marked by volatility, reform, and rising demands on the multilateral system, the United Nations in Timor-Leste is leading by example — placing staff wellbeing and resilience at the heart of its operational ethos. 

Recognising that a healthy, supported workforce is essential to delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office recently came together for a dedicated two-day session focused on navigating change, building resilience, and prioritising wellbeing. Facilitated by psychosocial expert Ms Loyda Santolaria, the initiative brought together staff across agencies for open and honest dialogue.

The workshop was convened under the leadership of UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Funmi Balogun, who has been at the forefront of championing a people-first approach within the UN system in Timor-Leste.

“At the heart of the UN is its people. When we speak of leaving no one behind, we must begin by not leaving behind those who serve,” said Ms. Balogun. “Staff wellbeing is not a side agenda — it is central to our effectiveness, our credibility, and our collective ability to build the future we all envision.”

The training was grounded in the rather sobering findings of a Psychosocial Needs Assessment (PNA) carried out between July 2022 and April 2023. Among other findings, it revealed that 33% of staff screened positive for PTSD symptoms, 18% for burnout, and 27% for one or more significant mental health concerns. These are not mere statistics — they represent real people, many of whom are national staff still living with the echoes of Timor-Leste’s difficult history of occupation, violence, and displacement. 

“Timor-Leste’s past and present realities mean that for many of our national colleagues, professional responsibilities are deeply intertwined with personal experiences of trauma,” Ms. Balogun observed. “This makes it even more important that the UN does not just deliver services — it must create safe, inclusive environments for those delivering them.”

Alongside this special training, the UN in Timor-Leste has rolled out monthly Cultural Awareness Sessions since early 2024, helping new staff and their families integrate into the local context while fostering mutual understanding in the workplace. Conducted in collaboration with UNDSS and across UN agencies, these sessions have created much-needed spaces for connection, knowledge, and cross-cultural appreciation.

The recent resilience-focused well-being workshop invited participants to explore real-time challenges—organisational restructuring, job insecurity, emotional exhaustion—and to develop personal strategies to cope and thrive. It included peer-sharing, grounding exercises, discussions on survivor’s guilt, and tools for managing team dynamics during uncertain times.

“The workshop has helped me understand that change is inevitable, and it has inspired me to start thinking more positively rather than worrying about what lies ahead,” shared WFP Head of Research, Assessment and Monitoring with WFP. “Together with my family, we’ve begun exploring additional income-generating ideas. I’m also looking at acquiring new skills beyond the white-collar sphere — like business and design — that could help build resilience in times of change.”

In a context of global financial tightening and structural changes across the UN, many staff in field settings — particularly those on short-term or project-funded contracts—are facing heightened stress, job uncertainty, and emotional strain. 

“The session provided timely guidance and encouragement, particularly for those of us with supervisory roles,”said UNFPA, Admin and Finance Associate at UNFPA. “It gave me clarity on managing uncertainty, stress, and the emotional impacts of change. More than that, it reminded me to stay grounded and focused—not only for my own wellbeing but to better support my team during challenging times.”

The workshop also reinforced key principles of the UN System Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, launched by the Secretary-General and adopted across all UN entities. The strategy aims to foster a system-wide culture where mental health is protected, supported, and promoted — one that recognises mental health as a foundation for performance, accountability, and a sustainable workforce. 

“We are asking our teams to deliver more, in more difficult environments, with fewer resources. That is the reality of today’s multilateralism,” said Ms. Balogun. “But we cannot achieve excellence through exhaustion. The wellbeing of our people is not only a moral imperative — it is a strategic investment in the UN’s mission and mandate.” 

The momentum built through these wellbeing sessions will not be lost. The RCO will continue to advocate for manager support and the integration of wellbeing principles into everyday team dynamics. There is ongoing interest in informal peer-support mechanisms and in building capacity to better navigate organisational transitions. This is not a one-off conversation. It is a shift in culture — towards one where being human is not a liability but a strength.

“If we want our staff to be resilient in the face of complexity,” Ms. Balogun concluded, “then we must build systems that honour their humanity. That’s the future of our work—and it starts now.”