I am Dr. Aniceto Guro-Berteni Neves, L.CG, MAPS. I am graduated with honor for doctoral degree at the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Development Studies at Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW) Salatiga, Indonesia, June 2023. I also graduate with honor for Master Degree in Arts and Peace Study at the Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW) Yogyakarta Indonesia in February 2012 as well as graduate with honor for Bachelor Degree at the Social Science Faculty of UNTL in 2003. I started my professional works as a Lecturer and Researcher to the Faculty of Social Science, Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL) in Dili, from the year of 2006 – present in Timor-Leste. During my career as a lecturer and researcher, I published several articles research in international scholar journal and books writer (in national languages) include contribution to the chapter writing. 

Apart from being a lecturer and researcher, I also have more than 10 years of experience doing professional works in field of Social affairs and development in Timor-Leste. Starting work as a human rights activist with a Human Rights Leading Organization named 'The HAK Association’ and Peacebuilding and transformation conflict with the national NGO named ITA BA PAZ in Dili from the year 1998-2012. During my work with NGOs, I actively advocated for the upholding of human rights, law enforcement and conducted negotiations, mediation and empowering dialogue to resolve conflicts and violence that occurred whether among civilian and armed conflict ever happen in Timor-Leste during 2006-2007. During the period of the military political crisis, I was appointed to represent a civil society group to assist the government in facilitating the community reintegration program and succeeded in facilitating the reintegration to the hundreds of thousands of IDP’s (internal displacement persons) to the original communities and residences in Dili and districts and succeeded assisting Government settle and managing the military political crisis involving members of the Timorese police and military.

From May 2012, I went even further to do professional work, starting as Advisor to the President Taur Matan Ruak for the Civil Society and Social Affairs and Deputy Chief of Staff during the mandated  in 2012-2017. As Advisor, I successfully performed my role as advisor in civil society matters including advice notes in integrating vulnerable groups such as women groups, LGBTI groups, children and people with disabilities into the public service of the Presidency and Government. I also successfully carried out the role of Deputy Chief of Staff. Because of this success at the end of the mandate in May 2012, President Taur Matan Ruak awarded certificate in recognition as a Competent and excellent leadership, clear express of opinion, sense of mission, dynamic and dedicate in duties, rapid in identification to the problem evidence bases and selection of priorities, strong demonstrating, determination and resilience to the objectives, strong in personality and character, and extra-ordinary performance ability to the realization of the tasks;

From the Presidential Palace, in March 2019 to June 2023 I move to new tasks in providing professional services to the investment project in millions of Dollars from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). I was recruited as Specialist and Coordinator focal point as well as Project Lead to the Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) as well to the Social Behavior Changes (SBC) into the Compact Project in Timor-Leste with the entity named ‘Compact Development Team (CDT TL) later on in July to March 2023 contracted as professional to lead the GSI-SBC component with the entity named Millennium Challenges Account (MCA-TL) with specific tasks ensuring that compact projects and activities are designed in compliance with MCC’s Gender Policy and the Gender Integration Milestones and Operational Procedures (GIMOP) as well as SBC integration to the compact activities. This includes in the development of the social and gender analysis, as well as integrating the result of his analysis into Concept Notes and Proposals and resulting activities, assessments and project designs. And Serve as focal point to the compact development and coordinate stakeholder consultation with Government and civil society on social inclusion and gender issues.

Referring to the Terms of Reference for the position as Team Leader, I feel very suitable in terms of my educational background, work experience including my role as Project Lead for the Project component both Lead Gender and Social Inclusion as well as Lead to the Social Behavioral Change (SBC) and previous important and strategic positions made me have relevant social capital for this Team Leader position. Referring to the specific tasks for the Team Leader position, this is not much different from the role I have usually carried out so far and therefore, I believe that I am one of the candidates who is capable and experienced to complete specific activities to meet specific outcomes, such as improve the coordination of the European Union cooperation strategies ensuring institutional relations and technical collaboration with the relevant counterparts and beneficiaries; enhance the capacity of line ministries and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of EU strategies, policies and projects and, increase the capacity of all relevant stakeholders to develop actions in the framework of the Global Gateway and the Indo-Pacific Strategy.

I have experience in facilitating international consultants while serving as project lead for Gender and Social Inclusion as well as Social Behavioral Change in the Timor-Leste Compact program during the period 2019 – 2023. I also have experience forming focal points involved representatives from different departments/ministries that are directly related to projects like this.

If I am accepted for the Team Leader position, I will ensure and guarantee that the social capital I have can influence cabinet members and encourage cooperation in accordance with the objectives of this project in Timor-Leste and guarantee the fulfillment of the outcomes of this project during the contract period. I have experience in building relationships with civil society organizations both National and International in Timor-Leste. I have expertise in lobbying and skills in building communication that convinces other parties to work together. I can use English and Portuguese for work needs.

If, I am accepted for the Team Leader position, I will ensure that I can influence cabinet members and encourage cooperation in accordance with the objectives of this project in Timor-Leste and guarantee the fulfillment of the outcomes of this project during the contract period. I have imagined that I will mobilized and ensure effectiveness of delegating task to the existing human resources, involving international consultants from IBF, experts and non-experts who are recruited for this project. I have even thought about each of outcomes can form a Technical Review Team with tasked reviewing, provide comments and recommendation in measuring each outcome of this project. I have experience in building relationships with civil society organizations both National and International in Timor-Leste. I have expertise in lobbying and skills in building communications that convince other parties, including members of the Government cabinet and members of the National Parliament, to work together. I can use English and Portuguese for work needs. THE ENDS!