16 August 2019, Dili, Timor-Leste –

UNDP and UNICEF, in partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste, are launching the first-ever Accelerator Lab in Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste has been chosen as one of the global networks of 60 Acceleration Labs serving 78 countries around the world that have been established in partnership with the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Accelerator Labs is a three-year global initiative that responds to the widespread recognition that business-as-usual will not take us to the world we want in 2030 and beyond, and that the development community looks to organizations like UNDP and UNICEF to propose radical new ways of operating that will shape development in the 21^st Century.  The main objective is to work together with national emerging innovators to find untapped sustainable development expertise within developing countries, as most problems can only truly be faced by those who experience them in their daily lives.

Timor-Leste is blessed with high number of young people who, if well-educated and employed, can help to accelerate Timor-Leste’s economic growth and sustainable development. 74% of the population are young people, aged below 35. However, according to UNDP’s 2018 National Human Development Report, around 80% of youth are not formally employed and 25% are not looking for work because they are discouraged by the difficulty of finding a job.

The launching of UNDP’s Accelerator Lab will enable future generations to find locally relevant and locally driven solutions through the Lab’s four key approaches:

1.Building on locally sourced solutions, finding things that work and expanding on them.

2.Rapid testing and iteration to implement what works and go beyond the obvious solutions.

3.Combining the best understanding, ideas and expertise to generate collective knowledge.

4.Accelerating progress by bringing expertise, creativity and collective intelligence to bear.

The launching of the Lab has been greatly welcomed by UNDP’s Resident Representative, Munkhtuya Altangerel.  “The Accelerator Lab will help to unlock the potential of Timorese young people, and Timorese local solutions and best practices that can be redesigned, tested, and scaled-up to respond to the complex development challenges of youth unemployment and poverty. Thus, the Lab will contribute to the achievement of Timor-Leste SDP target: to eradicate poverty and establish a sustainable, diversified economy by 2030,” Altangeral said

“We must ensure the amplification of young people’s voices and their participation in defining what the future of their country will look like. UNICEF’s collaboration with UNDP on the Acceleration Lab means that we have the best chance of reaching even those in the most remote parts of the country, those who are the most disadvantaged, and those who have lacked the opportunity to reach their full potential. In reaching them, we hope to ensure a sustainable future for every person in Timor-Leste,” said Valérie Taton, UNICEF Timor-Leste Representative.

The Launching of UNDP Accelerator Lab will also include a night market, bringing together local producers and innovators who will showcase their work across food, jewelry, clothing, recyclables, art, architecture, infrastructure and education.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our donors, the governments of Germany and Qatar, and our partners, for their support in ensuring that youth have the opportunity to empower themselves and reach their full potential,” said Altangerel.

For further information please contact:

Laurelle Neugebauer, UNDP Communications Specialist. Mobile: 7408 5333, email: laurelle.neugebauer@undp.org

Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communication Officer (Tetum). Mobile: +670-7232441. Email: angomez@unicef.org

Rukshan Ratnam, UNICEF Communications Specialist. Mobile: +670 7723 1103. Email: rratnam@unicef.org (English)