SEPI awards two Masters Scholarships

Two staff members of the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI) are off to Indonesia to pursue a two-year Master degree in Administration and Gender.  SEPI has fought hard during the last five years for the promotion of gender equality, and their return is hoped will strengthen the institutional capacity of the institution.

“We made an agreement with Gajah Mada Yogyakarta University, Indonesia to send a man and a woman to further their studies in institutional capacity building. From the development fund we have managed to provide training to the majority of our staff both here and overseas,” said Idelta Rodrigues, Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (26/07) at the launch of the SEPI website at Hotel Timor, in Dili.
According to her, SEPI has struggled with the human resources in gender and public administration and hopes in the near future to “use our own experts, there’s no need to bring in international consultants,” said the SE.

SEPI is also responsible for assisting in the institutional development through the provision of gender related capacity building training to its own staff.

Gisela de Carvalho, Director of Feto Ki’ik Servisu Hamutuk (FKSH) said SEPI’s sending of these two people to Indonesia was indeed a very positive step.

“SEPI should obtain adequate financial resources to increase the number of people studying overseas because as far as I can see, with only these two it won’t be enough in order for us to achieve our goals and vision on gender equality,” said the Director.