Timor-Leste
EWB Australia has worked with communities in Timor-Leste for over a decade to create positive social impact.Population: 1.3 million
Capital City: Dili
Language: Portuguese and Tetun
Timor-Leste is still in recovery post its fight for independence in the late 1990s, which saw years of conflict that significantly damaged infrastructure and dislocated thousands of its people. It continues to be one of the world’s poorest countries (ranked 147/186 on the UN’s Human Development Index). Health and education remain important challenges and development priorities.
%
Of population uses basic sanitation services
%
Schools have fully functional toilet facilities
%
Households that use clean energy (electricity and gas) for cooking
%
Women in the labour force (of total working age population)
* Sources: UNICEF, Asian Development Bank
Our Work
EWB Australia works to improve the quality of life of people living and working in disadvantaged communities in Timor-Leste. Our work is impact-led, with a focus on positive, sustainable and long-term change. We do this within local communities, to ensure we build the capacity of the people who live and work in them. Through this approach, we have established long-term relationships with local organisations with whom we partner, to ensure the solutions developed are evidence-based, relevant and, importantly, approved by each community.
In Timor-Leste, we work across a specific range of thematic programs, including Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Education & Training, Professional Skills Development and Women In Engineering
.
Our Team
Key to this work are our in-country EWB Australia staff and our volunteer Field Professionals. Our Field Professionals are technical or thematic specialists from Australia and New Zealand who volunteer in Timor-Leste to provide critical expertise, mentoring and capacity-building. These technical professionals are not only skilled in the development of appropriate systems and solutions, but also in community-led design and engagement. Our Field Professionals work closely alongside local counterparts in a mentoring and coaching role, sharing knowledge and bringing innovative approaches to the development of appropriate solutions for communities.
Elsa has been involved with EWB Australia in Timor-Leste for some time as a Feto Enginhera member and Design Challenge participant. Elsa undertook an internship with EWB Australia in Timor-Leste in early 2019 as well as attending the mid-year Humanitarian Design Summit. Chandra has been involved with EWB Australia in Timor-Leste for some time as a Feto Enginhera member and Design Challenge participant while studying engineering at university. Chandra also attended the 2019 mid-year Humanitarian Design Summit.
Our Partners
Our Timor-Leste programs are supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). Our current partners in Timor-Leste include:
Other Programs
Alongside our Community Program within Timor-Leste, EWB Australia facilitates a range of education, research and training programs for Australia students and professionals that aim to broaden awareness about the challenges in Timor-Leste and mobilise expertise to create even more opportunities for impact.
Impact Stories
Seeking solutions to acceptance of female engineers in Timor-Leste 21 January, 2021 - A new report aims to highlight the challenges and explore solutions to the barriers that female engineers face in Timor-Leste – of which there are many. Feto Enginhera was formed in 2014 to support the technical and engineering careers of women in Timor-Leste. Less than one in five Timorese engineering graduates are females and even… read more
Engineering Possibilities Webinar Q&A 13 November, 2020 - During our Engineering Possibilities Webinar Q&A, held on Wednesday November 4th, 2020, we received many insightful questions and whilst we attempted to provide as many answers as possible, there were a handful we couldn’t get to. We've answered these outstanding questions below. If you missed the Engineering Possibilities Webinar, you can view the recording here.… read more
EWB adapts to support its partnerships for recovery in the Asia-Pacific 23 September, 2020 - EWB Australia’s work in the Asia Pacific region has deep impact due to the multi-layered partnerships that have been fostered. COVID-19 has demanded that we adjust and strengthen these partnerships - to be supporting both response and recovery phases - with a focus on health, social cohesion and stability. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and… read more