East Timor Economic Growth

Project Overview

Location:
East Timor

Dates:
July 2005

Funding Body:
Fundeso

Project Status:
Completed

East Timor won its independence from Indonesia in November 1999. The project conducted a study with the objective of assessessing the feasibility of launching technical assistance projects to support the broader process of construction and development of the East Timor democratic state through the strengthening of its civil society.

This included a case study evaluating the impact of a technical training project Fundeso implemented with the aim of improving the living conditions of the Timorese by providing training and formation government officials as well as the youth, unemployed, while also assisting the unemployed to search for work.

The study conducted in 2005 by DS concluded that the new country was facing slow economic development, poorly organised institution and an unskilled workforce. Almost half of the population was unemployed and insufficiently skilled to meet the basic requirements of the labour market. Under such circumstances, unemployment had become a central problem and one of the underpinning factors of poverty. Recommendations were put forward for further actions required to kick-start economic development in the country, with special reference to the achievements of the technical training programme conducted by Fundeso, which achieved the following three main results:

• Improvement of the vocational training infrastructure through the establishment of a multi-use Centre.
• Improve the competency and practical skills of 2,350 Timor Leste citizens, including both unemployed and employed, through 19 courses on Computer skills, Accounting, Languages, Business and Management.
• Facilitate access to employment for 1,350 unemployed (both young and long time unemployed) through the creation of an Employment Agency and courses on techniques for job searching.