The National Workshop on Statistical Framework to Harness the Demographic Dividend and Achieve Greater Gender Equality in Timor-Leste took place on 10 and 11 January 2022. It was organized by ESCAP, with support of the UNFPA country office in Timor-Leste and the National Statistical Office, Timor-Leste.  

The meeting was held in hybrid mode (Bangkok and Dili) as part of the Development Account project “Demographic Dividend with a Gender Dimension: Entry points for Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Africa and Asia and the Pacific”. Over 70 participants – from relevant line ministries, as well as municipal authorities, development partners, universities, civil society organizations and national media – took part in the workshop.  

The objective of the workshop was to review demographic dividend concepts, indicators and good practices, and plan ahead with regard to further project implementation, in particular applying the main knowledge product of the project: “Indicator Framework to Assess Progress on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend with a Gender Dimension in Asia and the Pacific”.  

The above-mentioned objective was achieved through a range of presentations on demographic and socioeconomic development issues, with a focus on data and indicators. Also contributing to the success of the workshop were active discussions by working groups on the five key sectoral domains of the demographic dividend, namely demography, health, education, economy and governance. The working group discussions were based on the indicator framework developed by ESCAP, and participants provided inputs and recommendations in plenary in the conmtext of taking the project forward and finding synergies with activities planned by the government and UNFPA. Participants thanked ESCAP and expressed appreciation for being part of the workshop; in their evaluation of the workshop, they gave high ratings in all areas, from organization to the meeting of objectives.