Elections in East Timor © Irene Slegt/Progressio

Latest news on development issues and from Progressio's projects around the world:

Hopes of the world upon Obama’s shoulders (5 Nov 2008 )
As the news slowly filters around the world that the US has elected its first black President, disbelief gives way to utter elation, writes Progressio's Executive Director, Christine Allen. When Martin Luther King first said he had a dream, how many of us thought that in our own lifetime we would see such a significant moment as this?

Obama victory offers hope for new international vision to tackle world poverty (5 Nov 2008 )
Barack Obama’s election victory is a “momentous day” for the international community and offers renewed hope to millions of people around the world who live in poverty.

Church still "leading light" in East Timorese struggle for justice, Christian MP will tell UK audience (6 Oct 2008 )
The church's ability to keep the East Timorese community strong through 25 years of occupation and conflict will also be "instrumental" in helping the poverty-stricken country to move forward, a leading Timorese politician, Fernanda Borges, will tell a UK audience when she visits London on October 14.

Cautious welcome from Progressio to news of Zimbabwe power sharing (12 Sep 2008 )
Development agency Progressio today gave a cautious welcome to the news announced last night by President Thabo Mbeki that there would be a power sharing agreement for a Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe.

Keep the Faith (8 Sep 2008 )
Reconciliation is central to East Timor’s future, reports Jo Barrett from Dili Cathedral, as Progressio prepares to step up its campaign for justice in the war-torn country.

Immediate Action Needed on Zimbabwe as Controversial Election Results Emerge (1 Apr 2008 )
International development agencies, Progressio, Tearfund, Trócaire and FEPA are calling for immediate action to stop what appears to impartial observers as government-led election rigging of Zimbabwe's March 29th polls.

Beyond the kitchen: advancing women’s political decision-making in Somaliland and Timor-Leste (29 Oct 2007 )
Although there are differences between Somaliland and Timor-Leste – Somalilanders are Muslims, whereas most of us Timorese are Catholics – there are also many similarities, writes Ivete de Oliveira. Both our countries are poor and have seen conflict in recent years. In both, grass roots organisations supported by Progressio have been playing a strong role in helping to rebuild our countries from scratch. And for me, a crucial similarity is that Somaliland’s culture, like that of Timor-Leste, has historically been deeply patriarchal and resistant to letting women’s voices be heard anywhere but in the kitchen.