Institutional Support for National Network of Women's Organizations
(revised 2 March 2002)

In July 2000, Lorraine and Indai Sajor of the regional human rights NGO ASCENT based in Manila, undertook a one-week mission to East Timor. The main objective was to identify an East Timorese partner to participate with ASCENT in a Joint Assessment Mission to recommend the main areas for UNIFEM programme development on women’s leadership development for peace-building and gender justice. The mission identified the recently formed East Timor Women’s Network, REDE (which means "network" in Portuguese) as the most appropriate partner.

UNIFEM-REDE meeting

During the ASCENT-REDE Joint Assessment Mission in November, 2000, Hayat Imam, a consultant based in Manila, worked in close consultation with the REDE network of women's NGOs to produce a draft project document for UNIFEM funding for 2001. The UNIFEM Preparatory Assistance (PA) programme included funding for institutional support to REDE in 2001.

REDE is a loose network of the main women’s NGOs in East Timor, first formed to organize the June, 2000 National Congress of Women. Following the Congress, the network decided to continue in order to oversee implementation of the recommendations of the Congress. During the first UNIFEM-ASCENT mission, REDE decided to formalize its structure and set up a permanent secretariat to support its work. UNIFEM has been supporting the establishment and operation of the secretariat for its first year, as well as providing training and other support to strengthen the capacity of the network to promote and support women’s leadership in East Timor, and to implement the recommendations of the National Women's Congress. UNIFEM supported a Coordinator, Administrative/Finance Officer and Secretary, as well as operating expenses for the office, for one year to enable the Secretariat to develop the capacity to raise further funding for the secretariat as part of its programme of work.