Abstract
This country report is the first in a series dedicated to illustrating ILO’s approaches and implementation methodologies for promoting employment and decent work in situations of fragility, conflict and disaster. Each country report, developed by the corresponding Country Office with the support of the Fragile States and Disaster Response Group of the Development and Investment Branch (DEVINVEST), Employment Policy Department, analyses the work of the ILO in a particular crisis situation, describing its objectives, strategies and achievements and providing concrete examples and lessons learned. This paper provides an overview of selected lessons learned from the ILO’s involvement in fragile Timor-Leste. In particular it focuses on the embedded approach, also referred to as the working within approach, and its significance for the sustained engagement of the ILO in Timor-Leste. This people-centred approach has the merit of promoting true leadership and ownership within national institutions. It also facilitates conflict resolution and provides a common ground for building sustainable interventions.