LocationsAt the event, co-led by UNDP Timor-Leste and g7+, government, youth, civil society, community members, and development partners came together to discuss how Timor-Leste can strengthen social cohesion and prevent community-level conflict through youth-centered, locally owned solutions.
Youth and Communities Take the Lead on Peace: Timor-Leste Convenes High-Level Dialogue on Social Cohesion
July 30, 2026
Particpants at the High-Level Policy Dialogue
UNDP Timor-Leste
Government officials, youth leaders, civil society representatives, community members, development partners, academia, and the police gathered on 29 July at the Timorese Catholic University (UCT) for a high-level policy dialogue on strengthening social cohesion and preventing community-level conflict through youth-centered, locally owned solutions.
The event, organised jointly by UNDP and the g7+, brought together national and local actors to reflect on Timor-Leste's peacebuilding journey and to chart practical ways forward for connecting community experience with national policy.
With approximately 65 per cent of its population under the age of 30, Timor-Leste has one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia — a demographic reality that makes investing in youth central to sustaining peace and advancing inclusive development. While the country is widely recognized as a successful example of peace consolidation and state-building after conflict, community-level challenges persist: localized disputes, limited trust in institutions, and the exclusion of certain groups continue to test social cohesion. Youth from marginalized communities remain particularly vulnerable to instability, with some groups reporting that their voices go unheard and that they are unfairly blamed or exploited for political ends.
UNDP Timor-Leste Resident Representative Ms. Katyna Argueta speaking at the High-Level Policy Dialogue
UNDP Timor-Leste
"This dialogue recognizes that lasting peace is not built solely through national policies or institutional reforms; it begins within communities, where trust is fostered, and differences are managed constructively,"UNDP Timor-Leste Resident Representative, Ms. Katyna Argueta
H.E. Domingos Mariano Reis, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, reinforced the message, saying: "This partnership is very important in supporting Timor-Leste’s development. Young people are the foundation and a great force for promoting social cohesion, preventing conflict, and strengthening peace in villages and communities across the nation. Their contribution helps promote peace and stability and ensures the sustainability of national development. Because without security there can be no peace, and without peace there can be no development.”
Mr. Habib Meyer, Deputy Secretary of the g7+, also delivered remarks, situating Timor-Leste's experience within the wider g7+ platform of fragile and conflict-affected states, where the country's reconciliation processes, institution-building, and community resilience mechanisms continue to offer lessons for other nations navigating similar transitions.
Panelists of the Government policies and priorities for locally led youth engagement session
UNDP Timor-Leste
Two Conversations, One Goal
The dialogue unfolded across two moderated sessions.
The first, Community-led solutions and lessons learned from local practice, was moderated by Ms. Dulce Martins da Silva and brought together panelists Ms. Adriana Guerra Bere Garcia, Mr. Joao Da Silva Choque, Mr. Vicentino Soares Exposto, and Mr. Francisco De Arujo. The panel examined how local communities and youth-led initiatives contribute to building trust, encouraging participation, and resolving conflict without violence — as well as the obstacles that continue to stand in the way of implementing these initiatives at scale.
In particular, Ms. Adriana Guerra Bere Garcia stated: "Social cohesion efforts are most effective when communities themselves become the owners of peace promotion. Intergenerational dialogue helps young people understand the contributions of past generations while inspiring them to play an active role in promoting peace, social cohesion, and inclusive development for all, including minority groups."
The second session, Government policies and priorities for locally led youth engagement, social cohesion and conflict prevention, was moderated by Ms. Carmeneza dos Santos Monteiro, with panelists Mr. Deolindo da Cruz, Mr. Mario Tilman, Mrs. Maria Domingas Fernandas Alves, and Mr. Luis da Costa Ximenes. Discussions centered on current government priorities for strengthening social cohesion and preventing community-level violence through greater youth engagement.
UNDP Timor-Leste
Connecting Local Action to National Priorities
The dialogue reflects a broader push by the Government of Timor-Leste, articulated in its Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030, to embed conflict prevention and community resilience into national planning. Complementary frameworks — including the National Action Plan for Youth (2023–2027) and the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2024–2028) — offer entry points for institutionalizing youth and women's participation and integrating community-driven approaches into policy and programming.
As a strategic partner to the Government, UNDP continues to support efforts to link community-level initiatives with national systems, including the Youth Action Plan, the Ministry of Interior's Civic Education Initiative, and community policing priorities. The UN Peacebuilding Commission has likewise expanded its engagement with Timor-Leste, recognizing the country's progress in peace consolidation while emphasizing the continued importance of locally led approaches.
By bringing government, youth, civil society, and development partners into the same room, the dialogue aimed not only to take stock of Timor-Leste's peacebuilding gains, but to strengthen the connections between community experience and policy action — and to contribute the country's lessons to broader South-South learning across g7+ member states and other fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
The insights and recommendations gathered from today's discussions will feed directly into the second high-level policy dialogue, scheduled for October 2026, which will build on this foundation to advance concrete, youth-centered approaches to social cohesion and conflict prevention.
