The role of development partners in Timor-Leste’s Covid-19 Pandemic response

Jesús Alberto Valero-Matas; Arie Paksi; Zach Dickson

doi:10.14198/cuid.22911

Autores/as

Jesús Alberto Valero-Matas Universidad de Valladolid, España https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7330-1635
Arie Paksi Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7738-6851
Zach Dickson University of Glasgow, Reino Unido https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9462-2980

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14198/cuid.22911

Palabras clave:

Asia; Timor oriental´, Asociación para el desarrollo, Ayuda internacional, Apoyo de donantes

Resumen

The Covid-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges

around the world and Timor-Leste is no exception. Despite volatile

economic performance, consistent low levels of health spending, and

bureaucratic fragility associated with young democratic institutions,

Timor-Leste is one of the few nations that has mitigated the virus

effectively. We consider the first-hand accounts of healthcare and NGO

workers, community leaders, and Ministry of Health officials

responding to the Covid-19 pandemic in assessing the effectiveness of

‘South-South’ development partnerships and co-operation. Our analysis

of interview data collected during April and May show that Timor-

Leste’s success in responding to the pandemic is a product of the

continuing efforts of genuine partnerships and international aid. We

argue that despite criticism of the development effectiveness agenda

following the 2011 Busan Forum, on-the-ground accounts in Timor-Leste

display the value of unconditional partnerships, mutually defined goals,

and development cooperation in combatting the pandemic. This research

contributes to the literature on development effectiveness and is the first of its kind

characterising the Timorese response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Financiación

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, University of Glasgow, Universidad de Valladolid

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