Dili, April 28, 2014 – The Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) signed a five-year Development Assistance Agreement with the United States Government, through its  U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),  in a ceremony today at the  Ministry of Finance.  This took place as USAID aligns its five-year Country Development Cooperation Strategy (2013-2018) with the Government of Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan, to accelerate the development of the Nation and its People.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided over $168 million in development assistance to Timor-Leste since 2006.  USAID supports Timor-Leste in its efforts to build a more prosperous, healthy and democratic country through programs that foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, especially in the agriculture sector; improve the health of the Timorese people, particularly women and children; and strengthen the foundations of good governance; all areas which are highlighted in Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2013-2030.

Under the new agreement, USAID will provide up to $73.2 million, subject to congressional approval, to Timor-Leste in development assistance over the next five years in the areas of Democracy, Governance, Health, Education, and Economic Growth to ensure that the trajectory of Peacebuilding and Statebuilding in the young nation is well supported to reach its National goals.

H.E. Santina J.R.F. Viegas Cardoso, GoTL Vice Minister of Finance and  John Seong, USAID/Timor-Leste Mission Director, signed the agreement,  witnessed by  H.E. Constancio Pinto, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, and Scott Ticknor, Charge d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Timor-Leste.

At the ceremony, Vice-Minister Cardoso expressed gratitude to the Government of the United States noting that the United States was the first nation to sign the Dili Compact following the principles of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States endorsed in 2011. In turn, the U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Scott Ticknor noted the agreement is a key component of the strong, permanent partnership with Timor-Leste, supporting the country and its People.