Mana Dulce: spurring change in Timor Leste

36 year old Dulce Junior from Timor-Leste is playing a key role in reshaping the future of the world's second youngest country.

Known as “Mana” (Sister) Dulce to her colleagues and friends, she is one of many prominent women activists in the country working to put women’s needs at the center of the Government's development and poverty reduction strategies.

“Women living in villages need to understand that their opinion in project planning and implementation is crucial,” said Dulce, speaking in her official capacity as head of the Local Development Programme at the Ministry of State Administration. “Only these women will be able to express their needs and help build more effective policies and programmes.”

Supported jointly by the Government of Timor-Leste, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), The Local Development Programme promotes decentralized and transparent local governance by reaching out to people living in remote and rural areas.

Dulce and her team travel long hours on different routes to visit all the districts of Timor-Leste. They work to build the capacities of district and sub-district assemblies to carry out small-scale infrastructure projects, such as rehabilitating schools and hospitals, and building roads and bridges, as well as systems for irrigation and sanitation.

One key priority of this work is ensuring the participation of women in local decision-making processes. This is accomplished, in part, through the provision of community development training sessions that are tailored to address the specific needs of women.

For the past four years, women’s participation in local assemblies has been considerably high, with women attending between 80 and 83 per cent of all local assembly meetings held in the country. Nonetheless, the level of participation of women is still lower than the participation of men.

When asked about the main difficulties faced by women in rural areas, Mana Dulce stresses the continuous need for water irrigation and pre-natal care for women who still give birth at home.

“Eleven years ago, when I gave birth to my first son, I was afraid of going to a clinic to have my baby. But today it is important that women learn the importance of seeking medical assistance during pregnancy and during birth,” said Dulce. “If more women seek appropriate medical support we will see maternal mortality rates reduce.”

Improved maternal health, public transport, and relief from time-consuming household responsibilities all help to ensure women's political participation. Yet, perhaps the greatest contributor to their success is confidence.

“Women should never give up if a sexist society tries to put them down," said Dulce. "We are capable of performing any job if we have the willingness to learn."