Mapping perceptions and commitment of stakeholders to SDGs in Timor-Leste
Project implemented: March 2019
Our project aims to inform the government, stakeholders and the UN of the support required by Timor-Leste to achieve the SDGs
Prosperity & stability of Timor-Leste, with opportunity through this project to better focus Australia’s significant support to this neighbouring country.
Financial institutions, businesses, NGOs, civil society movements and government officials were asked about SDGs
Stakeholders perceptions, problems and concerns were collated and presented in a report
Report submitted to United Nations Development Program, Timor-Leste in 2019
Paper entitled, “Is it Possible? Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on the Sustainable Development Goals in Timor-Leste” presented at Seventh TLSA Conference, Liceu Campus, UNTL, Dili, Timor-Leste, 28 June 2019. available at
Book chapter “View of the Sustainable Development Goals from Organisations Operating in
Timor-Leste” in New Research on Timor-Leste 2020 (forthcoming)
La’o Hamutuk: Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis. This organisation monitors and analyses the economic and social development of Timor-Leste; This report is uploaded on their their widely accessed website. Available at http://www.laohamutuk.org/misc/TLSA2017/CourvisanosStakeholderSDGMar2019.pdf
Used by UNDP in the production of Timor-Leste’s Voluntary National Report (VNR)2019 that was submitted to the United Nations SDGs platform. See VNR at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/23417TimorLeste_VNR_2019_FINAL.pdf
Timor-Leste, one of Australia’s closest neighbours, is a new nation, recently freed from the yoke of colonialism. The government of Timor-Leste has embraced the UN SDGs as a pathway for bottom up development of this impoverished nation. Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan drives the development process and uses the SDGs framework to harmonise this strategic development with sustainable development.
We interviewed a cross section of stakeholders in Timor-Leste in Tetum (Timor-Leste’s common language) and English to assess their understanding and commitment to the SDGs, challenges to SDGs implementation, and their actions that demonstrate commitment. Wide stakeholder support is essential for any development plan using the SDGs framework.
Stakeholder support for the SDGs-based development agenda is strong. However, the presence of institutional, economic and legal problems provides major hurdles to this development agenda. Stakeholders require education towards the development goals, help in defining their own goals, and ongoing government support.
