2024: Building, Growing, and Moving Forward – Here's to What We’ve Achieved and What's Ahead! 🌟
Catalpa Quarterly Newsletter | December 2024
Catalpa
As 2024 wraps up, we’re buzzing with pride and gratitude as we reflect on a year packed with growth, collaboration, and meaningful strides forward.
Across the Asia Pacific, we’ve worked with partners to drive positive change in health, governance, social protection, and education. Together, we didn’t chase quick wins—we built systems designed to endure, evolve, and deliver meaningful, lasting change.
Change is never linear, and it’s rarely easy. It takes trust, patience, and partnerships. This year, we’ve worked to implement programs that amplify marginalised voices, empower educators and learners, and strengthen governance systems — laying the foundation for a world where equity isn’t just an ideal, but a lived reality.
To our incredible partners and supporters: thank you. Your passion and unwavering belief in this mission are what make it all happen.
And to our amazing team: you’re the heart of this organisation. Your creativity, resilience, and commitment—even through the most challenging moments—have made this year extraordinary. You’ve shown what’s possible when people come together to create impact that matters.
As we step boldly into 2025, we’re brimming with energy to dream bigger and tackle fresh challenges. Together, we can turn big ideas into lasting change and ensure inclusion, equity, and opportunity for all. Here’s to another year of possibility—let’s make it happen, together.
"It gives the district information to frame the budget, we will know exactly where to put money because the information is now available. It helps District Development Authorities to make sound decisions."
Catalpa’s highlights of 2024
96 districts nationwide began the roll-out of the Bilum Management System
Enhancing accountability and strengthening public fund monitoring in Papua New Guinea. Bilum monitors and reports on the Service Improvement Program (SIP), overseeing $650 million in annual government spending. The system transforms how districts operate—streamlining tasks, sharpening budget planning, and championing transparency.
7,174 children aged 0-5 were registered nationwide and received birth certificates
Through the mobile birth registration program in just two months. This milestone isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about opening doors to healthcare, education, and legal protections, setting these children on a path to brighter futures.
28,000 mothers of children under five received SMS reminders through the Liga Inan platform
Urging them to register their children’s births. Linked to the mobile birth registration program, these messages are more than notifications—they’re nudges toward securing a future filled with opportunity and protection for their children.
43 participants, including local leaders, healthcare providers, and community representatives
Were trained in using the Social Accountability and Inclusion Toolkit—a vital tool for addressing the challenges within Timor-Leste’s healthcare system and driving impactful, community-driven solutions.
2,603 emergency calls
Were managed through Ambulansia, a game-changing platform used across Timor-Leste’s health system. With real-time updates, quick dispatch, and seamless coordination, it ensures life-saving care reaches those in need without delay.
96,261 classroom observations recorded
Fostering better learning experiences and 1.4 million instant messages were sent by principals using Eskola’s Konversa which strengthens school management and enhances the education system.
452 villages, 67 administrative posts, and 13 municipalities
That’s the expected impact of the redesigned MIS branded as ida. Part of the transformative Program for Village Development (PNDS), it’s empowering communities to take the lead. From transparent decision-making to inclusive planning, it’s not just about development; it’s about ownership and a shared vision for the future.
We contributed to the 2024 UNESCO GEM Report
Technology in Education: A Tool on Whose Terms?, supporting insights on technology and education across the Pacific. Catalpa worked with DFAT in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, and with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in Kiribati, to design innovative education programs that improve teaching quality, enhance student learning outcomes, and address challenges unique to each context. We partnered with The Asia Foundation and Google to design digital skills curricula for youth, women, and marginalized communities across the Pacific.
Over 25 Human-Centered Design and Co-design activities were conducted
Across projects and partnerships, enabling our team and partners to build deep empathy with users. By understanding their needs, we collaboratively designed digital solutions that are accessible, inclusive, and purpose-driven.
23 young Timorese entrepreneurs participated in an interactive workshop led by Catalpa
Where they explored essential concepts like lean and agile methodologies, human-centered design, creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and delivering exceptional customer care. Designed to equip them with practical tools and insights, the sessions focused on empowering these aspiring entrepreneurs to navigate the challenges of a complex marketplace with innovative approaches to small business development.
Access to future education
"It makes it easier for our children to get birth certificates quickly, since the registration site is close to home. It also helps ensure they can access education in the future."
— Flaviano dos Santos, community member.
“The tracking system makes it easy for us to provide quick and clear services to people who contact the hotline and also allows for monitoring and tracking of our performance”
Discover our work
Health
Timor-Leste
Safer childbirth with skilled birth attendants
Connecting over 140,000 pregnant women with healthcare professionals for better maternal care and safer births.
View Project
Governance
Timor-Leste
Championing village development in Timor-Leste
Supporting rural development through end-to-end project management, data collection, analysis and reporting
View Project
Governance
Papua New Guinea
Maximizing rural development in Papua New Guinea
A powerful governance tool, custom made and designed to capture project and service data for better decision making
View ProjectRead more on our blog
A Pacific education journey beyond numbers
Artila Devi
