What works in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste has implemented several notable development and governance initiatives. A mandatory 1-in-3 electoral zipper quota raised women's parliamentary representation from under 20% to 40% by June 2023, double the Asia-Pacific average. Rural connectivity has expanded through roughly 450 Starlink satellite terminals installed at village headquarters, with speeds up to 222 Mbps in some areas, though this is explicitly framed as provisional pending a planned fibre backbone. The government and FAO deployed an AI-assisted drought index system that matched observed drought conditions over 80% of the time and triggered the country's first formal Anticipatory Action protocol in October 2023, addressing agricultural vulnerability in a country where 79% of households depend on crop production.