Outcome TLS_O_2

Increased engagement of diverse partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate in Timor-Leste

UNW through Spotlight Project has established and increased a solid and productive engagement with Faith-Based Organization, Particularly the catholic parish church of Gleno. - In 16 days activism campaing 2022, the Catholic Parish church of Gleno and its 11 category groups organized the event in Gleno church. The event supported by UNW-SI and participated by at around 100 members of Gleno church. Some results have been achieved, such as the participants have enhanced knowledge on Prevention RESPECT framework, Prevention Social ecological model, and referral network mechanism (how to address and refer the case comprehensively and systematically). - The church is now keen to include the prevention advocacy works as one of its annual apostolic activities/agendas, with close coordination and support from UNW-Spotlight and SEII.

Increased engagement of diverse partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate in Timor-Leste

In 2021 under Digital Literacy Training program funded by DFAT through RO, UN Women were able to expand more our partnerships with more diverse youth group to support UN Women's mandate in advocacy for GEWE through utilizing digital platforms. Some of the yuoth groups we were able to partners are: 1). Voice for the Voiceless Timor-Leste 2). Millenium Change Makers 3). Youth For Sustainable Alliance

Increased engagement of diverse partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate in Timor-Leste

In 2024, UN Women Timor-Leste significantly expanded its work across critical nexus areas under Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) , focusing on labour force participation, the care sector, climate change, migration, and gender-responsive governance . The office also advanced its strong Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) portfolio by diversifying into non-traditional security areas , such as cybersecurity and human trafficking , further broadening its impact in fostering gender equality and addressing emerging challenges. A defining feature of 2024 was UN Women’s increased advisory role to the Government of Timor-Leste , actively shaping institutions and policies. Partnerships with key government entities strengthened national efforts in addressing critical issues: Vice-Minister’s Office on ASEAN Affairs: Supporting Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession process through embedded staff and WPS programming in collaboration with UK ASEAN . Ministry of Justice (MoJ): Facilitating the development of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Counter-Trafficking through the National Commission . Ministry of Interior (MOI) and key line ministries: Assisting in the implementation and monitoring of NAP 1325 on WPS , NAP GBV , and CRPD commitments . In the care economy , the Government of Timor-Leste committed to joining the Global Care Alliance in 2024, an achievement leveraged by UN Women through signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with ministries leading on care-related work. A strategic pivot in 2024 was to formalize cooperation with the Government through MoUs (2024–2027) , ensuring alignment with national priorities and the UN Women Annual Work Plan (AWP). These agreements guide activities across various sectors: Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) Secretary of State for Arts and Culture (MCAE) Ministry of State Administration under the Civil Protection Authority (CPA) Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI) Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Ministry of Interior (MOI): Formalized partnerships under the Counter-Trafficking Commission . Additionally, UN Women embedded technical support within key government offices—including the President’s Office, National Parliament, SEI, MOI, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC) —to ensure continued influence on policy development and gender-responsive governance . By broadening its presence in emerging areas and formalizing government partnerships, UN Women reinforced its role as a trusted advisor and partner in Timor-Leste. These efforts strengthen institutional capacities, align with national priorities, and build a robust foundation for long-term progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Increased engagement of diverse partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate in Timor-Leste

In 2025, UN Women Timor-Leste strengthened its partnerships with national stakeholders, building on 2024 foundations, to advance gender-responsive governance, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The year was marked by a consolidated advisory role to the government, supporting policy development, institutional capacity, and implementation of national and international commitments to address gender inequalities and emerging risks. Secretary of State for Equality (SEI): Continued engagement as UN Women’s core government counterpart on gender equality and women’s empowerment, supporting policy coordination, institutional strengthening, and integration of GEWE across national frameworks and implementation processes. Ministry of Interior (MOI): Collaboration on the implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP 1325) and the National Action Plan on GBV, including civic education and prevention initiatives aligned with community security and protection priorities. Ministry of Justice (MoJ): Partnership to support the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons, strengthening gender-responsive justice systems and institutional coordination under the Counter-Trafficking Commission. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC): Technical cooperation to support Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession process, including embedded advisory support and programming on women’s leadership and WPS in regional and multilateral contexts. In 2025, UN Women also sustained and expanded partnerships under the women’s economic empowerment and care economy agenda: Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE): Collaboration to advance women’s economic empowerment through initiatives on care work, skills development, and promotion of decent employment, contributing to increased women’s participation in the labour force. In 2025, UN Women Timor-Leste strengthened its partnerships with national stakeholders, building on 2024 foundations, to advance gender-responsive governance, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The year was marked by a consolidated advisory role to the government, supporting policy development, institutional capacity, and implementation of national and international commitments to address gender inequalities and emerging risks. Secretary of State for Equality (SEI): Continued engagement as UN Women’s core government counterpart on gender equality and women’s empowerment, supporting policy coordination, institutional strengthening, and integration of GEWE across national frameworks and implementation processes. Ministry of Interior (MOI): Collaboration on the implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP 1325) and the National Action Plan on GBV, including civic education and prevention initiatives aligned with community security and protection priorities. Ministry of Justice (MoJ): Partnership to support the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons, strengthening gender-responsive justice systems and institutional coordination under the Counter-Trafficking Commission. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC): Technical cooperation to support Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession process, including embedded advisory support and programming on women’s leadership and WPS in regional and multilateral contexts. In 2025, UN Women also sustained and expanded partnerships under the women’s economic empowerment and care economy agenda: Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE): Collaboration to advance women’s economic empowerment through initiatives on care work, skills development, and promotion of decent employment, contributing to increased women’s participation in the labour force. Secretary of State for Arts and Culture (SEAC): Capacity-building support to the National Weavers Network (Rede Soru Na’in), strengthening women’s livelihoods, market access, and cultural value chains as part of inclusive economic development. Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI): Multi-dimensional partnership through the UNPRPD Joint Programme and the GBV Hotline Project to enhance inclusive, survivor-centred services for women, girls, and persons with disabilities. A key expansion in 2025 was strengthened collaboration with the education sector: Ministry of Education (MoE): Partnership formalized through a signed MoU under the STEP project to support gender-responsive education, inclusive skills development, and youth empowerment, strengthening linkages between education systems and future employment opportunities.

Increased engagement of diverse partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate in Timor-Leste

In 2023, UNW gained greater foothold and leadership, both technical and administrative, in the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), leading 5 out of 9 JPs in the country, including Secretary General (SG) and secretariat level funds. The Spotlight Initiative (SI) (the programme) was the largest and the most comprehensive multi-stakeholder initiative to address violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Timor. It was also the largest effort implemented in the country supporting national and local civil society organizations (CSOs) and movements pursuing social and gender justice and working to reduce VAWG. The programme reached a total of 74,305 right holders. The programme established formal agreements with 21 national, sub-national and municipality level civil society organizations (CSOs) advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) and ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG). The programme was effective in increasing and improving quality essential services for GBV survivors in Timor-Leste. Data from December 2023 show that as a result of the programme interventions under, 23,683 women and girls reported knowledge of essential GBV services and 1,750 reported knowledge of recovery services. SI was implemented by 6 articipating UN Organisations with UN Women as the technical lead. Over its entire implementation period, and with the objective to support the implementation, technical coherence, coordination, decision-making and oversight and to ensure transparency and accountability, the Spotlight programme in Timor-Leste tapped into the existing, and revived or commenced new, inter-agency coordination bodies, technical committees and other governance mechanisms. Specifically: ? The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Coordination Group (GEWECG) , was led by two Co-Chairs [1] , with UN Women (a RUNO with the Spotlight programme) serving as a permanent Co-Chair and the permanent Secretariat, helping to ensure the smooth working of this coordination group. Being comprised of bilateral, multilateral, development partners and UN agencies, the collaboration with the group contributed to the programme’s effective implementation of UN Reform. In particular, the GEWECG provided technical support to the SSEI, women’s alliances and networks in Timor-Leste, making an important contribution to strengthening women’s movement under Pillar 6 of the programme. ? The Gender and Protection Working Group [2] (GPWG), co-chaired by two RUNOs – UN Women and UNICEF, the GPWG provided the Spotlight programme in Timor-Leste with technical input and tailored guidance on existing and emerging gender and protection issues. Through its multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder character, it provided the programme with opportunities to foster and strengthen inter-agency and multi-partner GBV response coordination. By including local CSOs and grass-root groups, it propelled the programme to hold its participatory and rights-based approach and to effectively implement the principle of LNOB. ? The UN Gender Theme Group (GTG), chaired by two RUNOs - UN Women and UNICEF, it accelerated implementation of programme’s interventions and activities focused capacity building for VAWG prevention, and on strengthening EVAWG coordination and strategic partnerships. ? The Gender Equality Coordination Meeting [3] and the EVAWG Technical Group Meeting [4] , organized by RUNOs, including UN Women, provided the programme with opportunities to advance its Pillar I objectives by sharing technical inputs into multiple GoTLS’s policy and legislative plans, developments and budgets, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks on ending VAWG. It also enabled the programme to strengthen coordination amongst IPs, and the contributions to key national programmes on VAWG. ? Task Groups (Communications, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Finance) and Technical Unit , established by the programme, enable, and progressively strengthened, internal coordination including information and resources sharing, synergies in approaches, alignment of plans and harmonization in reporting among RUNOs.