Women Leading Change in Timor-Leste: ILO Programme Unlocks Skills, Income and Leadership Opportunities

Backed by the European Union, the programme is helping women, youth and farmers move from subsistence to sustainability, while challenging deeply entrenched gender barriers.

In Timor-Leste, where traditional norms have long limited women’s access to leadership roles and economic opportunities, a new wave of change is taking root. Through the ILO-led Agroforestry Skills Programme, women across the country are gaining the skills, confidence, and support needed to transform their livelihoods—and their communities.

Backed by the European Union, the programme is helping women, youth and farmers move from subsistence to sustainability, while challenging deeply entrenched gender barriers.

Breaking Barriers Through Skills and Opportunity

In many Timorese communities, women remain excluded from training and decision-making roles, limiting their economic independence. The Agroforestry Skills Programme is tackling these constraints by combining:

• Agroforestry and climate-resilient farming techniques

• Financial literacy and entrepreneurship training

• Competency-based education and vocational skills development

The goal is not only to improve incomes but to empower women as leaders and agents of change.

From Training to Enterprise: Ana Maria’s Impact

At the forefront of this transformation is Ana Maria da Costa Freitas, Director of the Instituto de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Empresarial (IADE) in Baucau.

Having risen from an administrative role in 2004 to a leadership position, Ana now trains women and youth using the ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) methodology.

Her sessions focus on practical business skills:

• Financial management and cost calculation

• Market analysis and pricing strategies

• Developing innovative agroforestry-based enterprises

Her impact is already visible. One trainee, Genoveva, has scaled her Virgin Coconut Oil business to generate around $500 per day, demonstrating how targeted skills training can translate into real economic gains.

“I take great pride in helping others… Watching them grow into confident entrepreneurs has been transformative,” Ana said.

Strengthening Agriculture and Climate Resilience

Sabina da Costa, a senior trainer at the National Centre for Employment and Vocational Training (CNEFP), is equipping farmers with hands-on agroforestry skills.

As lead trainer, she has:

• Trained over 100 cacao and vanilla farmers

• Supported hundreds more learners across municipalities

Her training includes:

• Sustainable land management

• Organic fertilizer production

• Crop harvesting and processing techniques

• Climate-resilient farming practices

Farmers are now forming groups, sharing resources, and establishing demonstration plots—improving productivity and resilience.

“Women are the backbone of agriculture in Timor-Leste… When women lead, communities flourish,” Sabina emphasized.

Challenging Norms, Building Leaders

Beyond livelihoods, the programme is also reshaping social norms.

Junita da Costa, Director of the Cablaqui Community Development Center, is using the programme to strengthen both her leadership and institutional capacity.

Through ILO-supported training, she has:

• Organized 185 cacao farmers into groups

• Established demonstration plots for practical learning

• Upgraded training quality with competency-based education certification

Her work extends beyond agriculture—she is actively challenging the expectation that women should remain confined to domestic roles.

“Women are often encouraged to stay home… We can change that,” Junita said, highlighting her mission to inspire the next generation.

A Model for Inclusive Development

The Agroforestry Skills Programme demonstrates how integrated skills development, entrepreneurship support, and gender empowerment can drive inclusive growth.

Key outcomes include:

• Increased income-generating opportunities for women

• Strengthened local agricultural productivity and resilience

• Expanded women’s leadership in training and community development

Toward a More Equitable Future

As Timor-Leste continues its development journey, initiatives like this are proving that investing in women’s skills and leadership yields far-reaching economic and social benefits.

Through the work of trainers like Ana, Sabina and Junita, the programme is not only improving livelihoods—but also redefining women’s roles in society, ensuring they are not just participants, but leaders of change.