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.
Copy 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 attended the mid-year Humanitarian Design Summit. Copy 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 2019 mid-year Humanitarian Design Summit. Abigail has a background in human-centred design (medical devices) but for the last few years has been working in consultancy in three waters in New Zealand. Her role in Timor-Leste focuses on appropriate hydraulic design and implementation, as well as capacity building and development of standards. Abigail is excited to be able to draw on, and further develop, a wide range of skills. In Timor-Leste Abigail in working with Water Aid – an organisation she excited to be supporting as their values around inclusivity and sustainability in WASH resonate with her. Timor-Leste is also a great place for Abigail to pursue her other passions, including free diving and mountain biking. Alex works as a WASH Field Support Mentor with Plan IN Timor-Leste. Based in Aileu, she works with communities to improve access to sustainable, community-managed drinking water and sanitation services. Alex graduated with a Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wollongong and has been working in environmental consulting. Prior to joining EWB, she has worked on development projects in Rwanda, India, and Mexico. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Alex enjoys spending her free time in the mountains trail running, skiing, hiking, and climbing. Copy
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
Forging Pathways For Women 13 February, 2019 - In Timor-Leste, three in ten people lack access to clean water - essential services and infrastructure are still developing. A relatively low-skilled engineering sector compounds these challenges, and women face specific barriers accessing education and employment. EWB Australia’s program Feto Enjiñeira (Women in Engineering) works with female graduates and students of engineering to build their… read more
Stronger from the inside – supporting locally-led engineering sectors. 26 November, 2018 - “Culture and family are really important in Timor-Leste” explains Francisco Guterres Dos Reis. “One special tradition is when a family decides to build a house. All the families from the grandfather and the grandmother come to help. This is a celebration of our roots, and of all the family who will come from this house… read more
Youth enterprise opens opportunities for Timorese with disabilities 26 November, 2018 - Timor-Leste has what is described as a ‘youth bulge’. Almost 60% of the population of this relatively new nation are aged under 25. With increasing numbers entering the workforce every year, currently only around 11% are employed. (DFAT 2018) This is a difficult employment landscape, says Lewis Parish, project manager of Bee Lafaek, because there… read more