UNICEF Timor-Leste’s Post

Earlier this month, 80 participants from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Art and Culture (MoYSAC), Youth Centers, Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs), and youth organizations joined a Training of Trainers sessions on state budget process, jointly launched by MoYSAC, the Ministry of Finance, and UNICEF. This Training of Trainers is a follow-up to the July 2025 launch of the State Budget Module, which is designed to strengthen youth participation in Timor-Leste’s budget development process. Mr. David Tomas de Deus, Director General of Youth, emphasised MoYSAC’s commitment to integrate budget literacy into Youth Center outreach programs across all municipalities, ensuring rural youth understand and engage in the annual budget process. Soumen Ray, Chief of Social Policy with UNICEF, highlighted the importance of budget literacy and civic engagement to empower youth to understand and participate in public financial management and national governance. Mr. Frendito, National Director of Planning, from the Ministry of Finance, noted that this training equips young people to advocate for fair budget allocations, especially in rural areas. ©UNICEF Timor-Leste/2025/NASoares Soumen Ray