Founded in 2000, La’o Hamutuk (“Walking Together” in English) is an independent Timor-Leste nongovernmental organization that monitors, analyzes, and reports on development processes in Timor-Leste, including the policies of East Timorese government and international institutions engaged in Timor-Leste. La’o Hamutuk (LH) believes that development should be based in the context of Timor-Leste’s history, culture, economic, and social conditions. It will be sustainable only if the people are the ultimate decision makers in a democratic and transparent development process. La’o Hamutuk facilitates communication between the public and decision makers in Timor-Leste as well as solidarity with other countries to explore alternative development models. As a resource center, the organization provides literature on development experiences and practices. We believe that broad participation in development decision making can help ensure that the people of Timor-Leste will benefit from their resources, enable them to direct the development process, and assume the responsibility for protecting their natural resource wealth.