PDT wins Skoll Award

We have great news. PDT has been awarded one of the 2010 Skoll Awards!

Jeff Skoll, the founder of eBay, created the Skoll Foundation to drive large-scale change by investing in, connecting and celebrating innovators dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing problems.  Every year they choose a handful of organizations to receive the  prestigious Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship.  Winners are selected based on their track-record for success and their potential for large-scale influence on critical challenges of our time.

PDT was selected based on the impact of our procurement marketplace projects in places like Timor-Leste and Afghanistan, and on our potential to drive change and innovation in the wider peace operations aid industry.  Winning this award is a huge endorsement, but more importantly it will help us expand our operations and our ability to find and test new ideas for improving the nuts and bolts of peace and humanitarian missions.

Our thanks to our donors, and partners - both national and international.

Scott Gilmore
Executive Director
Peace Dividend Trust

Timor's Future. Buy Local - Build Their Future

Buy Local Build Timor-Leste at Nicolau Lobato Airport - Dili, Timor-Leste

PDT Supports Development of a Timorese Venture into Wood/Stone Carving.

On 12-13 December 2009 PDT faciliated a visit by the owner of Dili based Baniuaga Furniture makers to master carvers in Mas and Singakerta in central Bali.  Baniuaga has an interest in developing its employee skills in wood and stone carving.  Baniuaga believes that quality wood and stone carvings with Timorese motifs will be a welcome, complimentary and profitable addition to its existing line of furniture products.

You can contact Baniuaga through its website here, or via its unique business profile on BuildingMarkets.org, at this link here.

Featured Business - Energia Bio-Briquette

Founded by the Haburas Foundation in 2009, Energia Bio-Briquette directly responds to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ recommendation that trees not be cut down and used for cooking fires in an innovative way. In addition to the construction of stoves,  6 local men from the Haburas Foundation that operate Energia Bio-Briquette produce briquettes from recycled materials that can be used as fuel for cooking fires.

Although the business currently operates on a small scale, it is looking for new ways to develop a distribution network, engage the community and promote its bio-friendly products. Haburas also provides training to the local community and members of the cooperatives, teaching how to construct the stoves and briquettes, as well as helping to develop new methods to improve the quality of their products.

Featured Business - Flower Rosas Batik

Miss Maria Purificacao was a married woman with four children working for the National University of Timor Lorosa’e. To compensate for her limited salary, Ms. Purificacao had the innovative idea to turn her hobby (gardening) into a private enterprise. As a result, Flower Rosas Batik was founded in 1999 and now employs 7 local males.

Through her company, Ms. Purifcacao has gained recognition from the local community, government, and even flower sellers abroad. In 2007, she began importing flowers from Indonesia through her connections and linkages with an Indonesian cooperative; they are now formulating a plan to establish a joint-venture. This year, she was approached by the Secretary of State for Vocation Training and Employment to help raise the local capacity in gardening services. The number of trainees fluctuates anywhere from 10 to 25 people.

PDT’s local procurement database, BuildingMarkets.org, has already brought Flower Rosas Batik extra attention; 10 December 2009, 7 Indonesian travelers (2 government officials and 5 businessmen) visited Ms. Purificacao’s business inquiring how she raises her flowers, constructs the vases, and supplements the soil.

Timor Business Overview Word Cloud

To check out the full report click here.

Featured Business - Carpintaria Citra Mandiri, Ermera

On 19 November 2009 PDT's Business Verification Team discovered a new business named Carpintaria Citra Mandiri (Profile found here) in Ermera district.  Recently established this business owned by Ms. Leonica Trindade and makes a range of furniture products.

Baptista Da Silva of PDT takes information from Ms. Trindade, owner of Carpintaria Citra Mandiri

An Indonesian craftsman assiting in training Timorese staff. 

Interestingly this business has started a new development program in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Development, providing carpentry training to local youths interested in the trade. The Ministry has allocated Ms. Leoncia support funds to build a training facility which upon its completion will provide a training ground for their 10 current apprentices. Currently, in addition to the trainees, the enterprise employs 5 national workers, one of which is female, and 5 international males.

$18,750 of Viqueque Soybeans

In September 2009  PDT's Micromatchmaking (M3) Team in Viqueque District in eastern Timor-Leste were influential in assisting a local farmer make a large business transaction for much of his soybean crop.

PDT M3 staff Vasco M Ferreira and Antonio do Rosario assisted Mr. Alcino Soares in locating a buyer named Venancio Sequeira for his soybeans.  After making the connection between buyer and supplier 25 tonnes of soybeans worth $18,750 were purchased in Luka Viqueque for sale in Dili.  Mr. Sequeira is a middle man, buying from farmers and selling to wholesalers in Dili.  Mr. Sequeira is exploring the development of a customer base in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Viqueque Snake Fruit - Salak Midar Teb-Tebes

Interested in buying some Snake Fruit fruit?

This fruit, often known by its Indonesian name Salak, comes in both sour and sweet varieties. The Business Verification and Micro Matchmaking Teams have located the Bairo Zalacca business in Viqueque which sells Salak in addition to a range of seedlings and other agricultural products.

According to PDT staff in the field, this Salak is of the sweet variety.  Contact Bairo Zalacca or PDT at timor-leste[at]pdtglobal.org for more details.

Musing on New Funding

PDT's Edward Rees is tired after a 1 week long, but very necessary, and valuable, AusAID Evaluation.