Timor-Leste - Building Markets
Launched 2007

The Sustainable Marketplace Initiative operated in Timor-Leste between 2007 and 2011. During this period, the project had a significant impact on local market development.

In Timor-Leste we create jobs by finding, building, and connecting refugee & Timor-Leste-owned SMEs to new customers & captial. Results to date :

  • 3,090

    Businesses
    Verified

  • $ 13,594

    Contracts
    Facilitated

  • $ 20,329,729

    Dollar
    Value Impact

Donors

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When you give to Building Markets, you are investing in a data-driven approach to change that is evidence-based and scalable. Your support helps Building Markets deepen impact where we work, enter new global markets, and spur job creation where it matters most.

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Country Context

Population: 1.2 million (UN, 2010)

Languages: Tetum, Portuguese

Monetary unit: Dollar

Main Exports: Coffee, oil

GNI per capita: US $2,460 (World, Bank, 2009)

ODA received:$217 million (OECD, 2009)

Human Development Index ranking: 147 out of 189 (UN, 2010)

Estimated GDP growth: 7.4% (UN, 2009)

Products & Services in Timor-Leste

  • Local Business Directory
  • Training
  • Matchmaking
  • Tender Distribution
  • Market Research
  • Advocacy

Our Impact in Timor-Leste

  • Helped facilitate over 13,000 local transactions and redirected more than $20 million into the Timorese economy.
  • Through verification surveys and registration on the Building Markets Local Business Directory, the project team brought visibility to more than 3,000 Timorese businesses, including 952 that were female-owned.
  • Tender Distribution Services collected and disseminated more than 723 tenders to local businesses, creating transparency in contracting and increasing access to new business opportunities.
  • The Building Markets operation in Timor-Leste included micro-matchmaking, a unique innovation in Timor-Leste. This service worked in nine districts to facilitate thousands of smaller transactions in the poorest and most isolated parts of the country. In addition to having a significant impact on rural livelihoods, this helped re-establish business relationships with Indonesia, Timor-Leste’s largest trading partner.
  • Through communication and advocacy efforts the team helped raise the profile of local procurement and received the full backing of the Government of Timor-Leste.

Reports on Timor-Leste

Read More
Timor-Leste Business Community Overview Part II (2010)
Report

Timor-Leste Business Community Overview Part II (2010)

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Timor-Leste Impact Assessment – Lautem (2011)
Report

Timor-Leste Impact Assessment – Lautem (2011)

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Timor-Leste Impact Assessment – Baucau (2010)
Report

Timor-Leste Impact Assessment – Baucau (2010)

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Timor-Leste Micro Matchmaking Impact Assessment (2011)
Report

Timor-Leste Micro Matchmaking Impact Assessment (2011)

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Donors and Partners

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