The scholarship activity has the following objectives:

1. Address critical human capacity needs and gaps in Timor-Leste;

2. Provide Timor-Leste with a pool of individuals whose increased knowledge and skills can advance

the country’s social and economic development, particularly as it relates to GoTL’s development

priorities and the strategic objectives of USAID/Timor-Leste’s programs;

3. Foster increased English language proficiency for those participants who have been selected as

scholarship recipients;

4. Increase understanding of the United States among a socially and economically diverse group of

Timor-Leste youth and young professionals.

The overall purpose of the DSHEP Program is to provide the training and technical services required to strengthen the base of skilled, high performing professionals to institutions in Timor-Leste. These individuals and entities must be able to implement and support policies; exercise equity, accountability and transparency in managing public resources; provide better service delivery; participate more actively in and contribute more broadly to the country’s economic and social development; and generally impact all of USAID’s priority sectors, thereby leading to a more functional society. The DSHEP program will include opportunities for long term degree, and short term certificate training in the U.S. or within the region with expectations that participants will return home better equipped with formal qualifications as managers, civic and government leaders, subject matter specialists or entreprenneurs , and will be knowledge resources in the workplace. USAID expects that the following outcomes shall be realized through implementation of the DSHEP Program:  Participants form a cadre of individuals equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to make valuable contributions to Timor-Leste’s social and economic development  Participants form an alumni group and networking teams and linkages with other groups to mutually enhance capabilities, participate in community service activities, reinforce leadership potentials and promote positive trends within the country.  Increased goodwill toward cultural understanding of the United States  Participants commit themselves to 1) timely completion of their program and applying their skills at their work sites and, 2) sharing their new skills, knowledge and perceptions with colleagues, thereby maximizing the impact of training and creating a climate of growth, wider access to information and an on-going learning environment in their institutions, as well as the broader community.

• Of the 13 HSCP candidates, one dropped out for medical reasons, ten completed associated degrees; two completed bachelor derees and there was one non-returnee. Five work for private employers or international organizations, three have their own or family businesses, three are job-hunting and one received a scholarship abroad.