Helping People Help Themselves - Microfinance in Action in Timor-Leste

Felicidade Borges is one of Tuba Rai Metin's clients. She owns a vegetable shop in Dili.

Dili, Timor-Leste: 18 June 2010

Helping women from poor households to establish small businesses is the daily work of the Timorese microfinance institution Tuba Rai Metin (TRM). Their belief is that the prosperity of Timor-Leste has to be built upon the prosperity of the most important structure in society, the family unit.

The organization has expanded and seen a steady rise in the number of clients over the last few years. TRM now has offices in 6 districts. They employ 54 people and have over 3,000 credit clients (100% of which are women). TRM’s client base has grown by more than 25% in the last 6 months.

TRM’s Chief Executive, Angelo Soares, attributes much of this progress to the support they have received from the Inclusive Finance for the Under-Served Economy (INFUSE) programme. INFUSE is jointly implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support and funding from the Ministry of Economy and Development and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

The INFUSE programme strives towards building an inclusive financial sector with the overall goal of increasing sustainable access to a range of financial services for the poor and low income population in Timor-Leste; such as savings, loans, money transfer services, and insurance.

“The financial sector in Timor-Leste is developing and the microfinance industry has progressed beyond the start-up phase. However, the outreach of financial services providers remains limited and at this stage a sector-wide approach to develop a thriving and robust financial sector, that includes everyone, is required”, says Marcella Willis from the INFUSE project.

In 2008 INFUSE began supporting Tuba Rai Metin. In collaboration with another UNCDF Programme, MicroLead, INFUSE brought the leading Indian microfinance institution, BASIX, to Timor-Leste to provide technical assistance to TRM.

BASIX has over 1.5 million customers in India. It provides financial, agricultural and business development help to poor households.

“The partnership with BASIX has been very beneficial to us”, says Angelo Soares from TRM. “With their expertise we have made important administrative changes and our business has grown”.

Subhash Jindal is the BASIX representative who has been posted to Timor-Leste for 4 years to work alongside TRM.

“When I arrived I found the quality of the TRM team was good, but they were struggling. It was a case of them surviving but stagnating”.

Mr Jindal goes on to say: “We knew that we could help TRM, by providing the technical assistance that they were missing and helping them to implement changes”.

Leading financial service providers, like BASIX, from developing countries are showing an increasing interest in expanding their operations regionally and globally. The MicroLead Fund, managed by UNCDF, gives loans and grants to such providers so that they can replicate their success in other countries, or assist national providers, like Tuba Rai Metin, to do the same.

The relationship between TRM and BASIX is a good example of South-South cooperation; where developing countries work together to tackle problems, share information and offer support.

Felicidade Borges, from Dili, is one of TRM’s clients. During the crisis in 2006 her vegetable shop was destroyed. Recently TRM gave her a US$50 loan to set up a new shop. She now makes a profit of $27 a week and repays just $3.50 per week on her loan. She also deposits $1 a week into a savings account with TRM.

“The support of TRM gave me a second chance and in the future I hope to take out another loan in order to expand my business”, she says.

Following the 2006 crisis in Timor-Leste, 4 microfinance institutions were wiped out. Even now TRM is one of only three such organizations in the country. But the success of TRM over the last few years means the future looks bright. The beneficiaries of their success are the female clients, their families and Timor-Leste as a whole.

Source: UNDP 2010 (http://www.tl.undp.org/undp/Helping%20people%20help%20themselves%20%E2%80%93%20Microfinance%20in%20action%20in%20Timor-Leste.html)

Global Food Crisis: Timor-Leste's rice and maize prices increase significantly

Trends in staple food prices in selected vulnerable countries
Issue No 5, Oct 2009

Source: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

This bulletin provides information on price changes for the most commonly consumed staples and the potential impacts of these changes on the cost of the food basket. Staples contribute 40 – 80% of energy intake for the most vulnerable population groups in developing countries. Therefore, even a small increase in staple food prices has a high impact on overall food consumption, especially when the food basket is composed of very few staples.

The bulletin covers 60 countries over the period July to September 2009.

Highlights:

- Overall: Prices of the main staple food commodities have stabilized or slightly decreased in most of the countries over the last three months compared to the previous quarter. However, in most of the countries, the cost of the food basket is still higher compared to their long term averages (table 3). In 47% of the countries monitored, the overall cost of the food basket is more than 20% above the 5-year averages. This is most evident in countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Pakistan, Somalia, Southern Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

- Asia: Rice and wheat prices have either remained stable or declined during the last quarter, except in Timor Leste where the price of rice and maize has increased significantly. Rice and maize make up 60% of caloric intake for households in Timor Leste. In general, prices remain significantly high in comparison to the long term averages.

- West Africa: Staple food prices remained stable in most of the countries in this region compared to the previous quarter, except for sorghum and millet in Chad and Northern Nigeria, and rice in Côte where prices have risen significantly. However, prices continue to be high compared to their long term averages, up to 150% in certain cases such as the price of sorghum in Benin.

- Southern, Eastern and Central Africa: Staple food prices remained stable or decreased in most of the countries during the last quarter. However, in Tanzania and Swaziland, prices are still experiencing significant increases. Maize prices have risen by 17% and 19% respectively; representing 33% and 26% of caloric contribution to households diet. Prices remain very high when compared to their long term averages, especially in Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, and Zimbabwe where staple food prices are still more than double.

- Latin America and Caribbean: Staple food prices remained stable or declined in all countries over the last quarter. In fact, prices seem to be mostly returning back to their normal levels. Only Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua and Peru are still experiencing prices above their long term averages.

- Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: Staple food prices were either stable or decreasing in most of the countries during the last quarter. Compared to their long term average, prices are significantly high in Palestine and Tajikistan, and can be 27% to 93% higher depending on the commodity.

- Stand-Alone Countries: Staple food prices remained stable or declined in Northern Sudan, whereas they were very high in Southern Sudan. However, compared to their long term averages, prices continue to be very high in both Northern and Southern Sudan.

Wo sind die Milliarden an Hilfsgeldern?

Die Strassen in Osttimor sind baufällig, es gibt kaum Zugang zu sauberem Wasser oder medizinischer Versorgung. Sind die Hilfsgelder aus dem Ausland nie im Land angekommen?
Es geht nicht um Kleingeld: Im asiatischen Staat Osttimor fehlen Milliarden an Hilfsgeldern.

Die Armut in Osttimor ist trotz massiver Hilfszahlungen gestiegen. Langsam wird Kritik an der Verwendung der Unterstützung laut. Denn in den zehn Jahren seit seiner Loslösung von Indonesien ist Osttimor zwar mit mehr als 8,8 Milliarden Dollar unterstützt worden, erreicht wurde damit aber wenig. Nur ein Bruchteil des Geldes floss in die Wirtschaft, der Rest unter anderem in ausländische Sicherheitskräfte und Verwaltung. Aus Zahlen des IWF, der Weltbank und weiterer Quellen geht hervor, dass die Unterstützung den Armen kaum geholfen hat. Stattdessen ist die Armut gestiegen.

Die massive Unterstützung des Landes kommt umgerechnet einer Finanzhilfe von 8000 Dollar für jeden der 1,1 Millionen Einwohner Osttimors gleich - eine der höchsten Raten an internationaler Finanzhilfe pro Person weltweit. Vorrangiges Ziel sei immer gewesen, den Frieden zu bewahren, sagt James Dobbins, der Chef von RAND, einem Forschungsinstitut für internationale Sicherheit und Verteidigungspolitik in den USA. Aber: «Der Erfolg hinsichtlich politischer Reformen und der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung war wesentlich begrenzter.»

Osttimor hat sich 1999 von Indonesien gelöst, das die ehemalige portugiesische Kolonie 24 Jahre lang besetzt hielt. Indonesische Soldaten und Milizen hatten nach dem Unabhängigkeitsreferendum im August 1999 mindestens 1000 Menschen getötet. Erst UN-Truppen konnten die Gewalt beenden. Nach vorübergehender UN-Verwaltung erlangte Osttimor im Mai 2002 seine Unabhängigkeit.

Die Zahl der in Armut lebenden Einwohner ist nach Angaben der Weltbank zwischen 2001 und 2007 um fast 14 Prozent auf 522'000 gestiegen - rund die Hälfte der Bevölkerung. Laut Internationalem Währungsfonds (IWF) und der Regierung in Dili lag die Arbeitslosenquote bei den 15- bis 29-Jährigen 2007 in der Hauptstadt bei mehr als 40 Prozent.

Mehr Kinder, weniger Schlaglöcher

Gleichzeitig merkte die norwegische Kommission für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit 2007 in einem Gutachten an, dass nur ein kleiner Teil der der Hilfszahlungen in «produktive Aktivitäten wie die Entwicklung des Privatsektors» geflossen ist. Zwischen 1999 und 2009 investierten die Vereinten Nationen etwa 2,2 Milliarden Dollar in ihre Osttimoreinsätze. Weitere rund 3 Milliarden Dollar Hilfszahlungen - der Grossteil aus Australien, Japan, der EU, den USA und Portugal - wurde durch 500 Non-Profit-Organisationen geschleust.

La'o Hamutuk, ein angesehenes Forschungsinstitut mit Sitz in Dili, geht davon aus, dass lediglich zehn Prozent der rund 5,2 Milliarden Dollar Hilfszahlungen in die Wirtschaft des Landes geflossen ist. Der Rest sei für internationale Gehälter, Importlieferungen, ausländische Berater und Verwaltung in Übersee verwendet worden, so das Institut. Die Zahlen schliessen mehr als 3 Milliarden Dollar, die Australien und Neuseeland für Militärausgaben bereitstellten, nicht mit ein. Eine andere Gruppierung, die Peace Dividend Trust, geht sogar von nur fünf Prozent des UN-Budgets zwischen 2004 und 2007 aus.

Atul Khare, der den UN-Einsatz in Osttimor seit Mitte 2006 leitete, weist die Zahlen von Weltbank und IWF als «absolut inkorrekt» und nicht repräsentativ zurück. Er sagt, das Land habe seit 1999 einen «deutlichen Fortschritt» gemacht. «All diese Zahlen sind ein Grund zur Sorge. Es handelt sich jedoch um Hochrechnungen, nicht um die wirklichen Zahlen», sagt Khare. Als positive Zeichen nennt er die gestiegenen Fruchtbarkeitsraten, neue Gebäude und weniger Schlaglöcher in der Hauptstadt Dili. Genaue Zahlen lägen erst nach der Durchführung des nächsten Zensus 2010 vor.

Rivalität, Missmanagement und Korruption

Die Weltbank hat Besorgnis über zu hohe Ausgaben für Berater geäussert, konnte jedoch keine Zahlen bereitstellen. Hochrangige timoresische Regierungsbeamte sagten der Nachrichtenagentur AP, Millionen von Dollar seien an Projekte verschwendet worden, die sich überschnitten hätten oder nicht beendet worden seien. Ausserdem sei es zu Rivalitäten zwischen den Gebern gekommen sowie zu Missmanagement und Korruption. Aus Angst vor Repressalien wollten die Beamten anonym bleiben.

«Wo wurde all dieses Geld investiert? Das ist die Frage, die sich die Hilfsgemeinschaft stellen muss», sagt der Nobelpreisträger und Präsident Osttimors, José Ramos-Horta. «Wenn das Geld grösstenteils in Timor investiert worden wäre, hätte es das Land verändert, wirtschaftlich und sozial.» Führende Regierungsmitglieder und die meisten Experten sind sich allerdings einig, dass Osttimor ohne ausländische Hilfe wohl nicht hätte unabhängig bleiben können.

«Nichts hat mein Leiden geändert»

Währenddessen warten die Menschen nach wie vor auf Hilfe. Domingos Pereira, ein 40-jähriger Strassenhändler, hat den Grossteil seiner Familie und sein Haus im Kampf um die Unabhängigkeit verloren. Den Lebensunterhalt für seine Familie verdient der Vater von sechs Kindern mit dem Verkauf von Soda, Zigaretten und Süssigkeiten. «Ich hatte erwartet, dass sich die Lebenssituation kleiner Leute wie mir mit der Unabhängigkeit verbessern würde», sagt er. «Doch nach zehn Jahren habe ich noch keine Verbesserung erfahren.»

Duarte Beremau schläft zusammen mit acht weiteren Familienmitgliedern in einer Zweizimmerhütte ohne fliessendes Wasser, Elektrizität oder Sanitäranschluss. Der Analphabet verdient wöchentlich 10 Dollar in einer Kaffeefabrik. «Nichts hat mein Leiden geändert», sagt er. «Mein Leben ist noch genauso wie es vorher war.» (tan/ap)

Source: Watch Indonesia!, Basler Zeitung
Aktualisiert am 16.11.2009

Persistent tensions threaten to undermine progress in Timor-Leste, warns Ban

12 October 2009 – The root causes of the community tensions behind the violence that shook Timor-Leste in 2006 remain, threatening the nascent country’s fragile security, despite its recent peaceful celebration of 10 years since a vote for independence, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today.

In April 2006, fighting – attributed to differences between eastern and western regions of the country – erupted when 600 striking soldiers were fired, and the ensuing violence claimed dozens of lives and drove 155,000 people, or 15 per cent of the total population, from their homes.

Mr. Ban stressed that the causes underlying the 2006 crisis, including the rising level of poverty, persistent unemployment, the lack of an effective land and property regime, and under-strength justice and security sectors, could still destabilize the country.

“While the process of the return and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), a visible residual challenge from the 2006 crisis, has been by all measures successful, tensions in some communities remain and could lead to future local-level conflicts,” Mr. Ban said in his latest report on the UN mission in the Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

Contributing to the brittle state of the country, Mr. Ban noted that much remains to be done to fully develop and strengthen the security institutions in Timor-Leste, although he was encouraged that the national police force has begun to assume primary law enforcement responsibilities.

“More time is required to ensure that the various efforts aimed at tackling the many political, institutional and socio-economic challenges facing the young nation of Timor-Leste are allowed to take root in democratic institutions and processes,” Mr. Ban wrote.

Weaknesses in the judiciary continue to affect public confidence in the entire legal system, including in the national police, Mr. Ban said in his report to the Security Council. “Despite some progress, the prosecution service is still facing serious challenges owing in part to limited

specialized prosecutorial capacity and the lack of an overall functioning administrative system.”

Praising President Ramos-Horta for promoting dialogue across the country’s political spectrum to address priority issues facing the country, Mr. Ban warned against allowing the exchange of differing opinions to be exploited in heightening tensions in society.

In addition, he viewed renewed political dialogue on issues such as the provision of reparations to victims of criminal acts committed from 1974 to 1999, the period under Indonesian rule, as promising.

However, the “prolonged delay in delivering justice and providing reparations may further adversely affect public confidence in the rule of law,” said Mr. Ban, encouraging the Government to make every effort to ensure broad-based discussion and follow-up on the recommendations of the reports of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation and the Commission of Truth and Friendship, as promising.

On 30 August 1999, the United Nations-conducted a popular consultation, when Timorese turned out in huge numbers to vote on their future and overwhelmingly chose independence over autonomy within Indonesia. The eventual result was the birth of a State, but 1,500 to 2,000 people were killed in the immediate aftermath of the declaration.

[source: ETAN]

Dili minha cidade querida! :-)

The center of Dili:
Dili goes "modern"?
Former Indonesian police posts at Dili's intersections in new colours. The painting shows an agreement between UNPOL (United Nations Police) and PNTL (Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste) - UNPOL was established within the violence in 2006 to ensure the restoration and maintenance of public security. UNPOL now starts to withdraw from their mission and to place the responsibility on PNTL.
The new Government Palace... a Chinese gift (similar to the new government building in Praia, Cabo Verde):
Witnesses of the 2006 violence are still visible in Dili... efforts to restoration and recovery are huge though.
Old Portuguese buildings in Colmera:
Busy Colmera road - the city's shopping centre with a number of small shops and huge stores where you can find just everything:
Yes, there are traffic lights! And some of them are working! Most of them are ignored, though.
Wonderful morning view at the end of my street. Yeah, this is my daily way to work! The office is a few metres to the right:
The national Red Cross headquarter and my office:
Great ocean view in front of my office with traditional fisher boats:Fire next doors:
My street:
My home in Dili: I'm sharing this house with 3 Australians - Tim, David and Rowan - who are living next doors. My door is the left one. Below our kitchen.Traffic as usual in Timor's capital:
Public Transport in Dili - it's always great fun and an exciting experience! :-)
In a microlet (super crowded micro buses that give you a ride for 25 cents only):
In a taxi with limited view... who needs front windows, they are just useless!
Another Taxi with a great view!
Typical sunday activity: washing the car in the river.
Preparing one of the Red Cross' cars for a cool shower in the river:
The "river":
At Taibessi market:
Hoooot chili (aimanas / piri-piri):
Garopa... very tasty fish!
My personal vegetable lady:In my favourite Indian restaurant:Another one of my favourite's: Little Pataya
The Sri-Lankan restaurant:
The famous city monument: Christo Rei
The beach behind Christo Rei:
One of 1.000.000 dogs in Dili:
Sunset dinner at another local market: Catupa (rice balls in bamboo-baskets), grilled fish and corn: