Charity’s mission ends after 30 years

THE AID charity Progressio is pulling out of its 30-year mission in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, once brutally ­occupied by Indonesian forces, because of a funding shortfall, writes Paul Wilkinson.

The recent discovery of oil reserves in the now independent state, known today as Timor-Leste, means that its economic status has been revised upwards to middle income by major international and government aid agencies, which provide much of Progressio’s income. As a result, the country no longer meets its aid criteria.

Explaining the move, Mark Lister, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Progressio has taken the difficult decision to stop working in Timor-Leste due to the withdrawal of international funding bodies who are refocusing away from middle-income countries.”
His organisation spent 8 per cent of its total budget in Timor- Leste, which represented all of its Asian allocation. That expenditure is now being focused on Africa (47 per cent), the Middle East (18 per cent) and the Caribbean (15 per cent).

The charity’s recent annual general meeting disclosed its 2013/14 income was down to £5.7 million from £6.1 million in 2012/13. Its largest funder was the British Government’s Department for International Development, which provided 35 per cent of its total budget.

Mr Lister said: “For more than 30 years Progressio has been proud to stand at the side of the oppressed people of Timor, calling for independence, speaking out against atrocities committed ­during the occupation, working for reconciliation and justice, and accompanying emerging civil ­society.”

Its most recent involvement was launched in 2000, less than a year after occupying Indonesian forces moved out after a bitter 24-year independence struggle.

“More than 40 highly skilled development workers have supported local partner organisations to transform many thousands of lives,” said Mr Lister. “We are proud of what we  and local communities acting together have achieved.”

But a spokeswoman warned: “Our fear is that Timor-Leste’s oil will not last very long and in 10 years or so it is likely to be back in its previous state of poverty.”