USAID began our support for the people of what is now Timor-Leste in the early 1980s to improve agricultural productivity and fight malaria. In 1994, USAID worked with coffee farmers to start Cooperativa Café Timor, now the country's largest non-petroleum exporter. At independence in 2002, we worked with the new Government of Timor-Leste and our development partners to provide focused support in democracy and governance and economic growth. We added health programs in 2004, and we now include a special focus on providing health services to women and children.

 

USAID continues to work closely with the Government of Timor-Leste and development partners to ensure that priority areas are addressed effectively and in alignment with the Government's plans. USAID was the first development partner to sign comprehensive assistance agreements with the Government in 2009 and was the first to be assigned a liaison officer from the Ministry of Finance's Office of Aid Effectiveness as we develop our new country strategy. In early 2010, our Dili office achieved full Mission status and continues our programs in health, economic growth and democratic governance.