Dili, 27/07/2023 – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Covid-Resilient Elections in Timor-Leste (CORE-TL) project, funded by the Government of Japan, handed over two new offices to Comissão Nacional de Eleições (CNE) in the Municipality of Baucau.

On 27th July, the inauguration & handover ceremony of CNE’s new offices took place in the Municipality of Baucau, attended by Vice-Minister of State Administration Mr. Jacinto Rigoberto, H.E. Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste Mr. KIMURA Tetsuya, H.E. CNE President Dr. José Agustinho P. Belo, STAE General Director Mr. Acilino Manuel Branco, the President of Municipal Authority of Baucau Mr. Olívio Freitas, and Officer-in-charge Resident Representative of UNDP Timor-Leste Ms. Adeline Carrier. 

The ceremony represents the handover of CNE’s new offices in the Municipality of Baucau and Covalima, supported by the UNDP CORE-TL project and the Government of Japan. All the new offices are equipped with accessible facilities for persons with disabilities, such as an accessible toilet, an exit/hand washing station with a ramp, spacious multi-functional rooms, and climate-resilient facilities including solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system.

The Vice-Minister of State Administration Mr. Jacinto Rigoberto and H.E. CNE President Dr. José Agustinho P. Belo expressed their appreciation for the vigorous support from UNDP and Japan “We are grateful for the results of the cooperation between the Election Management Bodies and UNDP with the Government of Japan. Today we hand over the new, safe, and accessible offices that will facilitate our work forward.” said Mr. Jacinto. “In cooperation with the UNDP CORE-TL project funded by the Government of Japan, we completed three new constructions of CNE offices; the New CNE office in Aileu was handed over in April 2023, and finally, two new offices are thrivingly inaugurated today. We sincerely appreciate the collaboration for the great achievement” said Dr. José

Japan supports the UNDP CORE-TL project with US$ 4 million and approx. US$ 2 million was allocated to the construction activities for the Election Management Bodies (EMB) offices. H.E. Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste Mr. Tetsuya KIMURA stated “As we know, free, fair and open elections are 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. I would like to emphasize that the new offices were built based on the “inclusive” and “green” concept. We hope CNE will maintain and make the most of new buildings to carry out future elections in the most inclusive ways.”

Through the UNDP CORE-TL project, 7 STAE’s offices have been renovated (Dili, Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Liquica, Lautem) and 3 STAE’s offices (Manatuto, Covalima, Viqueque) and 3 CNE’s offices (Aileu, Baucau, Covalima) have been newly constructed. UNDP OIC Resident Representative Ms. Adeline Carrier congratulated on the completion of construction works “I’d like to celebrate the completion of all the construction activities supported by the UNDP CORE-TL project and the Government of Japan over the past two years. I have witnessed CNE and STAE officers working in the new, bright, and spacey offices with great satisfaction, women with children coming to the office comfortably, and people with disabilities using an entrance ramp with confidence. Improving the lives of people is the heart of UNDP’s mandate, I am delighted to see this tangible progress through the construction activities.”

In cooperation with the Election Management Bodies and the Government of Japan, the UNDP CORE-TL project ensures safe, informative, and inclusive elections at the national and municipal levels.