DILI, 27 october 2022 (TATOLI)– Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS) held the first linking and learning meeting with 60 participants from 12 civil organizations which compasses of JSMP, ALFELA, Lao Hamutuk, PRADET, AHMDTL, ARCOIRIS, Acbit, RHTO, Fokuopers, MHVN, FUNDEF, and CASA VIDA in Timor-Leste.
The Linking and learning meeting in Timor-Leste is taking place from 25 to 28 october for three days.
Program Manager of Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, of HIVOS, Ni Loh Gusti Madewanti, said, HIVOS’s existence in Timor – Leste aims to make the link and connection with the Civil society and government to strengthen the society.
“HIVOS existence will strengthen our society through inclusive collaboration with Civil Society and Government by sharing the experiences of multi Capacity Building to help every institution to manage their organization with accountability and efficiently,” Madewanti told TATOLI in Fundacao Oriente, Lecidere Dili on thursday.
Medawanti added its commitment is to encourage individuals and organizations as well as the local community to make the decision based on their preferences and interests:” For this support, our main partners, and other civil society organizations and local community are using the linking and learning method,” she said.
Medawanti explained that HIVOS selected the Linking and Learning method as the foundation for one of its capacity-building activities because HIVOS recognize that people are an equal human being.
“We are all equal. We must be treated in the same manner as others. Our social, economic, and legal systems must reflect equality. Our networks and beneficiaries are at the heart of our vision, mission, and solution-driven approach because we use the Linking and Learning method” she said.
HIVOS believes that citizen engagement is critical to the advancement of democracy, human rights, and sustainability.
“Given the importance of local ownership, HIVOS believe it is our responsibility to assist marginalized people, facilitate their change agendas and organizations, and assist in the development of social movements that strive for just, inclusive, and sustainable societies,” she added.
There are three important purposes of HIVOS in Timor Leste, first is to Continue a program of capacity building for the project partners under Phase 6 implementation of the Civil Society and Good Governance Project in Timor-Leste; second-An overview of Linking and Learning as a method for explaining how a given intervention, or set of interventions, is expected to result in a specific development change, drawing on a causal analysis based on shared knowledge and experience from the main partners or other civil society organizations/communities that attend and participate; third-As a bridge connecting to civil organizations for them to learn from one another, understand, and share knowledge, including collecting evidence of what has changed and then
working backward to determine whether and how an intervention contributed to these changes.
So far, HIVOS will meet the President of the Republic José Ramos Horta and the National Parliament in early 2023 to spread the HIVOS s program in the municipalities across Timor – Leste.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
