Background:

Timor-Leste, the world’s third newest democracy, has conducted seven free and fair elections since independence in 2002.  While the country has made a number of significant gains in governance, legislative reform, building state institutions, and citizen responsiveness, the Government of Timor-Leste (GOTL) continues to face considerable challenges.  These include weak institutional and human capacity of government institutions, extreme dependency on the state’s petroleum fund, and high rates of poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy.  

The GOTL identified the need for capacity building of its youth to develop a more highly skilled workforce as among its top priorities in the Strategic Development Plan.  USAID likewise prioritizes human capacity for development in its five-year (2013-2018) development strategy for Timor-Leste.  

Summary:

USAID invests in human capacity in Timor-Leste through USAID’s Hillary Clinton Scholarship Program, which provides opportunities for Timorese students to complete skills-focused associate’s degree programs in the United States in fields of study such as accounting, agriculture, business, food technology, and management.  USAID’s Hillary Clinton Scholarship Program provides young Timorese with opportunities for professional development and training through the pursuit of academic degrees in the United States to strengthen the base of skilled, high-performing professionals in Timor-Leste.

USAID’s Hillary Clinton Scholarship Program selected its first group of six scholarship recipients in 2013 and its second group of seven scholars in 2014.  Four scholars have now returned to Timor-Leste; and there are currently nine scholars in the United States studying accounting, agribusiness, agriculture, business administration, food processing & technology, and machine repair to align with USAID’s economic growth programs and address priorities in Timor-Leste. 

USAID’s Hillary Clinton Scholarship Program, which is generously funded by the American people through USAID, compliments several other ongoing U.S. Government scholarship programs administered by the U.S. Embassy’s Public Diplomacy section in Timor-Leste: the Fulbright and Fulbright SERN (Secretary of State for Natural Resources) Scholarships for graduate students, the U.S.-Timor-Leste Scholarship for undergraduate students, the English ACCESS Microscholarship, and English Teacher Training.