Identifying sources of resilience in Timor-Leste

Dili, Timor-Leste
19 February 2015
For immediate release

-The innovative Frameworks for Assessing Resilience project holds the first national validation workshop-

Dili, Timor-Leste - Interpeace's Frameworks for Assessing Resilience initiative, that was launched in 2014, seeks to explore the assets, capacities and processes that make individuals, communities and nations resilient in the face of violent conflict. Unlike most peacebuilding approaches that concentrate on factors of fragility and tension, this initiative emphasizes that all societies possess the assets and capacities to be resilient to conflict. Recognizing these endogenous strengths can better equip societies to find context appropriate and nationally-owned solutions for sustainable peace.

Today, Interpeace's Timorese partner, the Centre for Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD) is holding the first forum to evaluate and validate the findings coming out of the Frameworks for Assessing Resilience initiative.

“In order to stimulate dialogue on resilience, an unfamiliar concept in Timor-Leste, we engaged participants in a reflection on what enables them to overcome past conflict and prevent it in the future,” explains João Boavida, Executive Director of CEPAD. “Following six months of consultations, our goal is now to unpack the elements of resilience identified and use them to reinforce CEPAD’s peacebuilding programmes,” he adds.

Four key elements have emerged from the research: culture, leadership, religion, and law and security. Community members identified these factors as key to coping with and overcoming conflict. Participants also pointed out that each of these sources of resilience can also be misappropriated in ways that undermine peace.

The national validation workshop marks the culmination of nationwide consultations. These included 15 focus group discussions and 16 stakeholder interviews across every district of Timor-Leste and at the national level.

Today's workshop will bring together 100 participants, including representatives from Timor-Leste’s thirteen districts and key stakeholders at the national level. Together, they will validate the findings of the research, enabling CEPAD to launch the next steps of the Frameworks for Assessing Resilience programme. This second step will involve the creation of a working group composed of national stakeholders. They will be responsible for making recommendations on how to strengthen resilience in Timor-Leste and propose methods to evaluate and measure peacebuilding efforts.

Lire le executive summary of the report coming out of the research from Timor-Leste.

About Interpeace
Interpeace is an independent, international peacebuilding organization. It was initially established by the United Nations to develop innovative solutions to build peace. Today it supports locally-led peacebuilding initiatives in over 21 countries across Central America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

About the Centre of Studies for Peace and Development
The Centre of Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD) is a Non-Governmental Organization in Timor-Leste that was founded in 2008 with the support from Interpeace. It contributes to breaking the cycle of violence and creating a climate in which Timorese can identify and address priority issues in a non-violent and durable manner.

About Frameworks for Assessing Resilience
The Framework for Assessing Resilience (FAR) is a two year programme created by Interpeace and funded by SIDA, to develope tools that deepen the understanding of resilience in conflict affected societies as defined by the population. It focuses on the positive capacities that contribute to resilience rather than sources of fragility of a country. In its first phase it engages local populations in defining and assessing resilience for peacebuilding. Currently this new project is being implemented in Timor-Leste, Liberia and Guatemala.

Media Contacts:

Anupah Makoond
Frameworks for Assessing Resilience Programme Officer
Email: makoond@interpeace.org

João Boavida
Executive Director, CEPAD
Email: joao.boavida@tl-cepad.org

For interview request, please send an e-mail to the media contact.

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Timor-Leste: Using innovative tools to combat corruption

Corruption remains a critical barrier to achieving sustainable peace in Timor-Leste. As revealed in Transparency International's 2013 Corruption Perception Index, Timor-Leste scored just 30 points out of 100, indicating the high level of perceived corruption in the country's public service

In November 2012, CEPAD and FOTI Timor-Leste (funded by Millennium Challenge Corporation and USAID) formed a highly productive partnership to combat corruption. Together, the two organizations have planned and executed an innovative anti-corruption civic education campaign, taking root from the rural areas of Timor-Leste, right up to the Ministry of Education.
Two televised debates were produced in 2013, moderated by CEPAD's Executive Director, which saw high-level decision-makers shed light on causes, impacts and possible remedies for corruption. These debates attracted a large number of viewers and sparked new and more informed discussion among citizens.

A civic education package

A package of civic education materials ranging through different forms of media was produced and included a children's story book, a CD album, a documentary film, a series of radio interviews, an anti-corruption action manual, and brochure on corruption, collusion and nepotism. The teams launched the civic education campaign in the capital Dili, in September 2013 before taking the campaign on the road through three regions of the country. The team used the existing infrastructure of CEPAD's Peace Houses to disseminate the materials. These events have helped to build action networks to inform, educate and encourage citizens at all levels to understand, identify and denounce corruption.

64,000 books raising awareness of corruption distributed

The campaign reached a significant new milestone in February 2014 when the Ministry of Education agreed to incorporate the story-book, Baino & Binoi, into the national curriculum in Timor-Leste. The book depicts the story of two children who have ambitions to become pilots and fly planes to faraway places. As they grow up, the female character, Binoi, enrolls to study and works hard to get her qualification. The male character, Baino, is reluctant to put in the hard work and attempts to achieve his goal using first corruption, then nepotism and then collusion. Failing at every turn, he eventually heeds the advice of his friend Binoi and decides to pursue his dream the right way. Although appealing to a younger audience, the book outlines clear definitions and examples of corruption and will provoke conversations at all levels. Sixty-four thousand copies of the book, which is written in Tetum, the local language and has been illustrated by a local artists' cooperative, Gembel, have now been printed and are being distributed to every student in grades 5 and 6 across the country.

CEPAD receives appreciation award

Earlier this month, Eduardo Flores-Trejo, Chief of Party of the FOTI Timor-Leste Programme, presented CEPAD with an appreciation award, on behalf of USAID and MCC, in recognition of outstanding efforts to promote accountability and curb corruption in Timor-Leste. Although the FOTI Programme will draw to a close at the end of March, the strong foundation it has built will allow effective anti-corruption efforts to continue into the future.

Timor-Leste: Using civic education to combat corruption

Recently, Interpeace partner in Timor-Leste, the Centre of Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD) together with FOTI Timor-Leste Programme kicked off another stage of the anti-corruption initiative. The USAID/MCC-funded FOTI Timor-Leste Program seeks to aid corruption fighting institutions by enhancing the watchdog capacity and public advocacy of non-state actors, such as Interpeace's partner CEPAD. FOTI is able to strengthen the anticorruption network by helping institutions to deter, detect, and sanction corruption. Together, CEPAD and FOTI have signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to work to implement citizen-driven initiatives to promote good governance, accountability, and transparency within the country.

In 2007-2009, over 1,000 Timorese citizens identified combating corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) as one of four main priorities in building a more peaceful Timor-Leste. CEPAD and FOTI Timor-Leste agreed that education is the one key to achieving this community-set goal. In a civic education campaign aimed at bolstering peacebuilding and productivity throughout the country, the partners co-commissioned and compiled a set of anti-corruption learning materials that celebrated their first release at the end of last month.

Building beyond corruption

Of the many challenges in eliminating corruption in Timorese society, one of the most difficult to surmount - and indeed the most crucial to accomplish - is deciding where to begin. And, for the two-year mapping period, Interpeace partner CEPAD devoted itself to just that. The result was a well-designed selection of civic education materials, ranging through different forms of media - a children's story book, a CD album, a television programme, a documentary film, and a KKN brochure. Each facet of the campaign is centred around the repercussions of corruption and ways to eradicate it, although each features different Timorese voices and targets different audiences throughout the country. The wide range of materials reflects one of the project's goals: distribute the package throughout the 12 remaining districts of Timor-Leste within the first year of the project.

Supporting a campaign for stability and peace

At the launch in Dili, a group of over 60 attendees and speakers discussed the role of these educational packages in the ongoing journey toward peace and stability in Timor-Leste. João Boavida, the Executive Director of CEPAD, claims that "the lack of public information on the basic concept of corruption" is a gaping hole in the process toward eliminating it. The development and distribution of this civic education package will hopefully "contribute to raising citizen's awareness of corruption and anti-corruption measures," he said in relation to the launch of the package.

Marçal Avelino Ximines, Vice-Minister for Higher Education and Science in Timor-Leste, shared Boavida's passion, announcing at the launch, "We wish to build for the children of our nation, a strong society - developed, fair, free of corruption, and focused on the values, traditions, history, and culture inherent in our people." He called the fight against corruption a "global concern [that] violates fundamental ethical principles," and goaded people everywhere to combat it with education and active citizenship.

Looking ahead

The September launch was a good start to what has already become a national movement to end corruption in Timor-Leste. The large media presence at the launch in conjunction with the comprehensive civic education campaign provide the Timor-Leste anti-corruption initiative with a strong foundation for a journey toward peace and stability.

Timor-Leste: What can we do to combat corruption?

Interpeace local partner, the Centre of Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD) together with FOTI Timor-Leste Programme, hosted a debate to examine the topic of 'What Can We Do To Combat Corruption?', which aired on national television and radio on Wednesday, 4 September.

Corruption - alongside collusion and nepotism - has been identfied by over 900 Timorese as one of the main obstacles to lasting peace in the country. The fact that Timor-Leste ranks 113th out of 174 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index also demonstrates that it is one of the most pressing issues the country faces.

João Boavida, Executive Director of CEPAD, moderated the debate with a panel featuring three experts: Adérito de Jesus, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Adérito Hugo da Costa, Vice-President of the National Parliament and Secretary of GOPAC Timor-Leste Chapter, and José da Costa Ximenes, General Prosecutor of Timor-Leste.

Including the voices of the people

The debate was a lively exchange of ideas and opinions interspersed with the voices of citizens taken from the streets of Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. People were asked to share their ideas about corruption and their opinions on ways to address the issue. Panellists were asked to comment on these responses, drawing on their own knowledge as key actors on the national stage. They were also asked to share their ideas about identifying corruption, addressing it through legal instruments and the judicial system and suggesting actions citizens can take at the local level to combat it themselves.

José da Costa Ximenes commented: "I want to say that corruption is an organized crime, therefore, the best mechanism to address this is for all responsible institutions and entities at the national level also to organize themselves to fight corruption together." While Adérito de Jesus added: "Combating corruption requires a social movement I think, which CEPAD can play a large role in...we must have coordination between anti-corruption agencies and civil society."

Innovative means to increase awareness

The debate was promoted extensively in order to maximize participation and awareness of the issues in all parts of the country. One of the innovative ways this was done was through a text message that was widely distributed to mobile phones across the country. An advertisement was also aired on national television over the week leading up to the debate and an email address was created to receive comments and questions both before and after debate was aired. João Boavida emphasised the importance of raising awareness of the issue of corruption across a wide section of the population: "One of the best ways to combat corruption is to increase public knowledge. When the public don't have awareness of corruption; what corruption is and its impacts on our national development, they cannot participate in the campaign to combat corruption. Efforts to strengthen public awareness of corruption and its effects is very important."

The initiative, which was viewed and listened to throughout the country, is an important step towards increasing citizen awareness on the causes, consequences and avenues to combat corruption in Timor-Leste. Citizen awareness and everyday actions are the key to fighting corruption and creating a transparent and peaceful society.

Speaking on the importance of the event and the potential impact it could have, Adérito Hugo da Costa noted: "We must have a national movement with strong will to take preventative action, such as being involved in this very serious debate. This will requires more than words, but a deep commitment to do good to serve our nation. Otherwise, our statements on the stage, on television, on the radio create a system without action. The system may be established but without political will, we cannot resolve problems, therefore, the solution lies in genuine political will to strengthen the system that we have".

Innovative political reform initiative launched in Timor-Leste

Earlier this month Interpeace's local partner in Timor-Leste, the Centre of Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD) brought together about 60 guests in the Timorese capital Dili to officially launch the Group Promoting Change (GPC).

The mandate of GPC is to facilitate the implementation of recommendations on priority peacebuilding issues put forward by a wide cross-section of the Timorese population. More specifically GPC will focus on two of the four priority areas identified in an earlier nationwide consultation process that involved over 900 Timorese: (1) the promotion of individual and political party interests over the national interest and (2) corruption, collusion and nepotism (known as KKN).

An action-oriented mandate

GPC has an action-oriented mandate and will analyze the feasibility of the recommendations that have already been developed by the respective Working Groups on these two issues. It will then translate these recommendations into concrete policy proposals and will involve the political leadership, civil society, decision-makers and ordinary citizens in the process.

"The main role of the GPC is to fill the gap left by the lack of a countrywide, systemic approach to discussing the causes of conflict, peacebuilding priorities and implementing policy reforms in Timor-Leste," explains JoãoBoavida, Executive Director of CEPAD. "As an advocacy coalition, it forms the link between the research and policy recommendations and their practical implementation."

In the presence of H.E. Minister of Justice, Dr. Dionisio C. BaboSoares, political leaders, representatives of civil society organizations, the international community and journalists the President of GPC, Mr. LeovigildioHornai stated: "I honor and respect CEPAD's Executive Director for bringing us together as Timorese with knowledge and capacity to look at this issue in a positive way."

The importance of a local peace infrastructure

GPC also encourages the use of an already existing local peace infrastructure like the four Peace Houses or permanent dialogue platforms to facilitate the discussion on the development of solutions to obstacles to lasting peace. In his official launch speech H.E. Minister of Justice, Dr. Dionisio C. BaboSoares highlighted the importance of the involvement of Timorese from all walks of life: "CEPAD has been impartial and independent in undertaking this process with direct participation of citizens in the 13 districts of Timor-Leste which gives this [GPC] initiative legitimacy and merits our support...Political reform requires reform of mentality as a prerequisite to institutional reform."

The composition of GPC

Following the selection criteria of inclusiveness and representativeness, GPC is made up of 16 members from diverse backgrounds. The GPC Secretariat consists of the President Mr.Leovigildio Hornai, President of the Timor-Leste National Youth Council; Vice President Prof. Benjamin de Araujo Corte Real, Former Rector of the University of Timor-Leste; Secretary Ms.Ivete de Oliveira, President of Women's Network of Timor-Leste; and Vice Secretary Dr.Dionisio C. BaboSoares, Timor-Leste Minister of Justice. Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, Former President of Timor-Leste and UN Special Representative to Guinea-Bissau is an honorary member of GPC. Other members include Fr. DomingosAlves da Costa, Catholic Church; Dr. David Dias Ximenes, President of the Veterans Association of Timor-Leste; Lieutenant Colonel FalurRatelaek, National Armed Forces of Timor-Leste; Mr. Francisco Miranda Branco, Member of National Parliament and President of GOPAC Timor-Leste; Mr. Antonio Belo, President of the Press Club of Timor-Leste; Dr. Jose da Costa Ximines, Prosecutor General of Timor-Leste; Mrs. Maria Lurdes Martins de Sousa Bessa, Member of National Parliament and President of Committee B; Dr. Maria Natercia Pereira Gusmão, Judge of Timor-Leste Court of Appeal; Dr. Manuel Tilman, President of the Lawyers Association of Timor-Leste and Former Member of National Parliament; and Sister GuilherminaMarcal, Provincial Superior, Canossian Sisters Timor-Leste.

The GPC initiative is a key component of CEPAD's programme "Multi-stakeholder dialogue in defining solutions and strategies for a more peaceful and democratic society in Timor-Leste" which is funded by Interpeace and MISEREOR.

 

Timor-Leste: Raising public awareness to combat corruption

To mark the International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December, a national forum was held in Timor-Leste involving over 275 Timorese citizens. They were joined by political leaders, civil society organizations, high-level representatives of the international community and journalists. The conference organized by Interpeace local partner, the Centre of Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD), focused on corruption, collusion and nepotism known as “KKN” in Timor-Leste. Combating KKN is one of the priority issues identified by Timorese as being necessary for sustainable peace and development.

Recommendations to tackle corruption

Over 130 citizens from all sides of Timorese society came together to validate the recommendations that have been developed over the course of this year by a national Working Group on KKN. With a focus on inclusiveness, the Working Group consulted over 330 community members from throughout Timor-Leste’s 13 districts to develop recommendations to address ongoing reform processes. The recommendations for social, legal and constitutional reform included ways to improve the current weak anti-corruption legislative framework, the need to strengthen control systems and the regulation of political parties. Participants also discussed the establishment of a permanent civic education campaign to empower citizens with better knowledge and understanding of corruption and democratic rights and responsibilities within the Timorese context.

João Boavida, Executive Director of CEPAD, explained: “We need to work together to raise public awareness to combat corruption in Timor-Leste. The lack of political will should no longer be an obstacle on our path to combating corruption in this country. This fact became obvious as participants gathered here committed to take on corruption as a national cause. We were exposed to a wide range of ideas and opinions on how best to implement the recommendations put forward by national and international participants alike.”

Timor-Leste – a unique example

In his keynote address, Matthias Stiefel, Founder and Vice Chairman of Interpeace, highlighted how corruption hinders peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction. Following an introduction to the work of Interpeace, he shared insights from other Interpeace partner teams, while stressing that corruption is often a national problem in need of national solutions.

“In my experience, Timor-Leste is one of the only countries to openly tackle corruption. This is truly unique in post-conflict societies.” said Matthias.

A line-up of prominent speakers

Additional opening remarks were provided by Dr. José Ramos-Horta, Former President of the Republic of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; and Judith R. Fergin, Ambassador of the United States of America to Timor-Leste. National and international perspectives on fighting corruption were also presented by Adérito de Jesus Soares, Timor-Leste’s Anti-Corruption Commissioner; John Hyde MLA, Member for Perth and GOPAC International Board Member; and Luis Constantino, World Bank Country Director in Timor-Leste.

National Forum in Timor-Leste

Photo credit: João Vas for Interpeace

The National Forum was closed by the current President of the Republic, H.E. Taur Matan Ruak in the presence of members of parliament, senior government officials, civil society representatives, academics, religious leaders and journalists.

National and international keynote speakers agreed that fighting corruption and building trust between citizens and the state will be essential for the consolidation of democracy in Timor-Leste, as the country seeks to move beyond post-conflict reconstruction to sustainable peace and development.

CEPAD’s work in Timor-Leste

CEPAD works year round to consolidate peace in Timor-Leste through the engagement of Timorese stakeholders in the identification and articulation of the most pressing obstacles to lasting peace. CEPAD promotes a better understanding of the origins and the dynamics of conflict in Timor-Leste. They work with a cross-section of society to define the means to address conflict in non-violent and sustainableways.

This third National Forum in Timor-Leste was convened with support from MISEREOR, the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation.