Timor-Leste Country Profile - 2016

The country is working to build its new democracy with still-nascent institutions, limited human capital, and significant economic and health challenges. The United States is committed to helping Timor-Leste realize its development goals and emerge as a strong, regional partner. USAID supports Timor-Leste in its efforts to build a more prosperous, healthy, and democratic nation. Roughly half of the Timorese population lives in extreme poverty, contributing to poor health and chronic malnutrition. This has resulted in stunted growth among children, with truncated height and weight. USAID works closely with the government and people of Timor-Leste to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, particularly in the agriculture sector, and to tackle serious health challenges, particularly those affecting women and children. USAID is helping more than 33,000 people in 250 communities earn higher incomes and improve their nutrition. Since over 70 percent of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, USAID focuses on increasing farm income and improving nutrition for farm households throughout the country. Partnerships support activities aimed at improving incomes by increasing farm productivity and establishing links to new markets. Additionally, USAID is a new development leader in the tourism sector, focused on sustainably increasing the number of tourists visiting the country and improving their satisfaction, which translates into new jobs and stronger businesses. Timor-Leste has the highest maternal and under-5 mortality rates in Southeast Asia. Building on previous health work, USAID is working to improve the clinical skills of Ministry of Health staff to deliver high-quality and high-impact basic health care services in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health. This includes increasing provider adherence with protocols and standards, and enhancing service delivery to provide family planning counseling and increase both the percentage of women receiving antenatal care visits and the number of deliveries at health facilities. USAID partners with the Government of Timor-Leste to strengthen democratic institutions, further consolidate good governance practices, and work with the judiciary and legal service providers to facilitate increased access to justice for rural populations. The country still lacks the fundamental governance systems essential to adequately respond to persistently high rates of poverty, unemployment, growing socioeconomic inequality, and unresolved conflict. USAID is committed to helping Timor-Leste address these challenges and establish a viable state and a representative democracy.