Limited income and livelihood opportunities

42% of the population in Timor-Leste currently lives below the national poverty line. Unemployment is high, employment opportunities in the formal sector are generally limited, and job creation by the private sector falls far short of demand. Most of the population have no consistent earnings, and many are subsistence farmers.

Supporting people to lift themselves out of poverty

UNDP’s work in poverty reduction focuses on improving the economic opportunities that help people to lift themselves and their families out of poverty through sustainable livelihoods programmes, social business enterprises and access to financial services. This approach supports the objectives of the Timor-Leste government’s current 20-year Strategic Development Plan.