LocationsSeven STAE Offices Renovated with Support from UNDP and Japan
December 2, 2022
A renovated STAE office in Dili with H.E. Mr.Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, Minister of State Administration, H.E. Ms.Kazumi Yamada, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of Embassy of Japan, Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative
Dili, 01/12/2022 – The United Nation Development Program (UNDP) Covid-Resilient Elections in Timor-Leste (CORE-TL) project, with the financial support of the Government of Japan, handed over seven renovated offices of Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) for the upcoming Parliamentary Election.
A Hand-over ceremony of renovated STAE offices was held at the STAE headquarters office in Dili, Timor-Leste, with the participation of H.E. Mr.Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, Minister of State Administration, H.E. Ms.Kazumi Yamada, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of Embassy of Japan, Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Acilino Manuel Branco, Director General of STAE, and Mr.Olavo da Costa, Commissioner of CNE. At the event, the UNDP CORE-TL project and Japan handed over seven renovated STAE offices to the Government of Timor-Leste.
With the financial support from the Government of Japan, UNDP CORE-TL project conducted renovation work of seven STAE offices located in Dili, Baucau, Ainaro, Aileu, Bobonaro, Liquica and Lautem municipalities. Each office is designed to secure accessibility for people with disabilities by equipped with ramps, accessible toilets, as well as underground water tank pad, rainwater harvesting compatible roof, and hand-washing stations for hygiene and COVID-19 prevention.
“We are proud to fund this project, implemented by UNDP, along with the Government of Timor-Leste. Free and fair election is the cornerstone of democracy, and funding this project is indeed a symbol of friendship between two strong democracies and two countries of the rising sun, as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Timor-Leste” explained by H.E. Ms.Kazumi Yamada, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of Embassy of Japan.
STAE Office Renovated By UNDP's CORE-TL Project
“I sincerely thank the Government of Japan for its generous and supportive partnership. I also truly appreciate cooperative partnerships with UNDP to promote inclusive and informative elections at national and municipal levels in Timor-Leste” mentioned by Mr. Acilino Branco, Director General of STAE.
Finally, Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasized “Improved infrastructure for STAE and CNE will facilitate the political access of all people including people with disabilities. It will increase the number of voter-turnout and promote an inclusive election, and ultimately enhance the democracy in Timor-Leste”.
The UNDP CORE-TL project, with a total budget of USD 4 million from the Government of Japan, supports the Government of Timor-Leste to conduct COVID-resilient, informed, and inclusive elections both at the national and municipal levels. In order to ensure environmental-friendly and inclusive infrastructure facilities of electoral offices, the CORE-TL project renovated 7 STAE offices and will construct 6 new offices for both municipal STAE and CNE with the allocation of USD 1.58 million (USD 180K for the renovations, USD 1.4M for the new constructions). The renovation work for STAE offices have been completed in December 2022, and the new constructions of six offices for STAE and the National Commission of Election (CNE) are ready to start.
The UNDP CORE-TL project promotes free and fair elections for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
