“The SEIA 2 household and MSMEs surveys provides relevant data that can be used by the government institutions to better help inform policies in Timor-Leste”-Mr. Elias dos Santos Ferreira, Director General from GDS.

Yesterday, (Thursday, 21/10/2021) UNDP and the General Directorate of Statistics (GDS) held a technical consultation workshop to present and discuss the results of the nationwide Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on Households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) surveys conducted between March and September 2021.

The findings of the surveys provide crucial data for evidence-based decision making to ensure that the socio-economic needs of vulnerable communities in Timor-Leste are met, as well as to further inform medium to longer-term COVID-19 response and recovery programmes of the Government. The workshop was chaired by Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel, Resident Representative of UNDP in Timor-Leste, and co-chaired by Mr. Elias dos Santos Ferreira, General Director of the General Directorate of Statistics.

Additionally, the workshop also provided an opportunity to get feedback from relevant stakeholders on how be able to build forward better in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the presentation of the findings, a question-and-answer session was held, where the importance of the surveys was affirmed by one of the workshop participants, an advisor to the Prime Minister, who stated that “the data provides more clarity to government and policy makers in these uncertain times”. Whilst the chairman of the Banco Nacional de Comércio de Timor-Leste (BNCTL) stressed the importance of cash liquidity, and more support in micro-finance in Timor-Leste to ensure a robust private sector, specifically in terms of supporting MSMEs”. The importance of strengthening national data systems especially in times of COVID-19 and natural disasters was highlighted by a general director from the Ministry of State Administration. Furthermore, as the surveys collected data on the perceptions of households and MSMEs regarding the government support measures, in the workshop discussions were held about the COVID-19 government support measures. A representative from Mercy Corps stated that “the useful data from the surveys must be reconciled with information from other sources including from the Government, to get a clear perception of the feelings of people about the COVID support measures”.

This consultation workshop was attended by representatives from the Government of Timor-Leste, including SEFOPE, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Health, BNCTL, Ministry of State Administration, Prime Minister’s Office, SERVE.IP, Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Industry. Representatives from various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and development partners including La’o Hamutuk, NGO Belun, Raes Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO), Mercy Corps, Maluk Timor, GIZ, World Bank, JICA, KOICA, Marie Stopes Timor-Leste, The Asia Foundation, and Fundasaun Mahein also attended in person and virtually via Zoom.  

The surveys were conducted in support of the Government of Timor-Leste’s efforts to mitigate the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the population. During the workshop, Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel said that she hoped that the “survey results could inform and guide future government policies”. The household survey was conducted by the United Nations (UN) in Timor-Leste with technical leads from UNDP and UNFPA, in partnership with the General Directorate of Statistics (GDS). The MSME survey was conducted by UNDP in partnership with GDS and the Ministry for the Coordination of Economic Affairs (MCAE). The surveys covered 4300 households and 1100 MSMEs across the country, and the surveys are the most recent nationwide survey on the impact of COVID-19 on households and MSMEs.