On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Finance, the Director-General Arlindo Monteiro closed the seminar by saying that “strong M&E is vital for public finance, as it ensures resources are used wisely, strengthens accountability, and provides the evidence needed for better decision-making. By investing in these systems, we build trust and improve the delivery of services to our citizens.”

UNDP Representative Mr. Bruno Lencastre emphasized the importance of results-based monitoring in advancing national development priorities: “Through our partnership with the Ministry of Finance, and PROSIVU, through Pro PALOP-TL ISC, European Union and UNDP is helping stronger institutions that can design, monitor and implement programmes with greater transparency and accountability. This workshop reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that development efforts are inclusive, evidence based and sustainable”

Team Leader of PROSIVU, Iain Smith, opened the workshop, underlining the significance of effective monitoring and evaluation systems : PROSIVU is proud to support this initiative alongside the Ministry of Finance and UNDP. By building strong monitoring and evaluation practices, that help ensure that public policies are implemented effectively and transparently”.

Ms. Valeria Sperandeo, representing the European Union in Timor-Leste, reiterated the EU’s long-standing commitment to strengthening public finance and management systems in the country: “The European Union is proud to partner with UNDP and the Government of Timor-Leste in this important endeavour. Through Pro PALOP–TL ISC, we are not only investing in technical skills but also reinforcing the institutional foundations of transparency, accountability, and good governance. A strong public finance and management sector is essential for ensuring that resources are used effectively and deliver tangible benefits for the citizens of Timor-Leste.”

The training is facilitated by Mr. Maheed Wahid, M&E Specialist, UMAD, with technical support from UNDP and PROSIVU. It builds on the success of a similar M&E training held in May 2025, which received strong engagement and positive feedback from participating ministries.

This initiative reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to improving institutional performance through Annual Action Plans (AAPs), Medium-Term Plans (MTPs), and robust performance reporting.