Edna Tesoro (left) with members of REDE Feto © Edna Tesoro/ Progressio

Edna Tesoro is Capacity Building Advisor for REDE Feto (the East Timorese women's network) in Dili, Timor Leste. Edna is from The Philippines.

Edna Tesoro's duties are wide-ranging, but one thing is constant: her good relationships with her colleagues at REDE Feto, an umbrella organisation of 16 women's organisations whose aim is to promote gender equality and the greater participation of women in the political, economic and social life of Timor Leste.  'I am very satisfied in working with the staff of REDE Feto,' says Edna. 'They are very open to learning. They do not look at me as an intruder but instead they see me as a learning partner.'

Edna's role at REDE Feto includes:

• building the capacity of staff to undertake specified roles and functions
• improving overall management systems
• aiding strategic planning
• examining the financial stability of the member organisations
• developing funding proposals
• encouraging regional exchanges
• undertaking research into issues surrounding gender in Timor Leste.

In the first year of the placement Edna concentrated initially on directly building the skills of her colleagues at REDE Feto and re-invigorating the board of directors. This work involved undertaking a needs assessment of the staff, developing financial systems, strategic planning, conducting leadership training, reviewing administrative systems and improving the management and dissemination of information across the network.

She has also worked to raise the profile of REDE Feto through increased networking and cooperation between the partner organisations, helping them to develop a greater sense of belonging and ownership within the network.

Future plans include direct capacity building with staff of organisations within the network while continuing the work alongside her colleagues at REDE Feto and ensuring the board of directors continue to improve and act effectively.

Edna is originally from The Philippines. She worked for several years as a VSO volunteer Capacity Building Advisor for a network of NGOs in Macedonia; previous to this she gained many years experience working on development projects with a variety of LNGOs around The Philippines. 

The civil society participation project in Timor Leste that Edna Tesoro is placed with has been previously supported by Irish Aid (formerly known as DCI) and DFID and we are currently in the process of seeking additional funding.