OUR STORY

Bridging Peoples began in Timor-Leste in 2014 with a simple question: could the principles of good community engagement be applied to large-scale aid and development programs in a way that truly worked?

The answer was yes.

Since then, we have grown to a thriving research and consulting agency with offices in Singapore, Timor-Leste and Australia. Today, we partner with government, civil society, and commercial clients to go beyond research findings – translating community insights into strategic direction that builds on local strengths and needs.

experts

WHAT DRIVES US

We bridge knowledge and action to create lasting, locally driven impact - ensuring communities are at the heart of development.

Our work is guided by the following values:

  • Evidence-Based .We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. That’s why we combine local knowledge with technical expertise to help organisations tackle complex challenges with research-driven solutions.
  • Context-Specific. No one-size-fits-all solutions. We identify the local conditions and unique contextual factors that organisations must address to make their programs a success on the ground.
  • Solidarity .We work with communities and local organisations, not just for them. Our approach is rooted in partnership and mutual respect, ensuring solutions align with real local needs.
  • Social Inclusion . We champion community-led change to tackle social inequalities, supporting marginalised groups in driving community transformation from within.
network

MEET THE TEAM

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Deborah Cummins
Deborah Cummins
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Anggri Safira Pires da Silva
Anggri Safira Pires da Silva
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Christina Benevides
Christina Benevides
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Ignatius Sabu
Ignatius Sabu
RESEARCHER
Samuel Benevides
Samuel Benevides
RESEARCHER
Judite Soares
Judite Soares
RESEARCHER
Policarpo de Sa Benevides
Policarpo de Sa Benevides
RESEARCHER
Adriana Pinto
Adriana Pinto
RESEARCHER
Franginho Alves Pereira
Franginho Alves Pereira
RESEARCHER
Mieckhel Lobo Campos
Mieckhel Lobo Campos
RESEARCHER
Aquino Dias
Aquino Dias
RESEARCHER
Antonio Cono Nono
Antonio Cono Nono
RESEARCHER
Calisto De Andrade
Calisto De Andrade
RESEARCHER
Rosita S Oqui
Rosita S Oqui
RESEARCHER
Isabel Ximenes
Isabel Ximenes
RESEARCHER
Angelina Quebo
Angelina Quebo
RESEARCHER
Ermelinda Sequira Rocha
Ermelinda Sequira Rocha
RESEARCHER
Herminia V. Niha
Herminia V. Niha
RESEARCHER
Jose Mendis Nono
Jose Mendis Nono

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

John M. Pile

UNFPA has contracted with Bridging Peoples on several pieces of research. We greatly appreciated the team’s approach, which resulted in high quality pieces of research with insightful findings and useful recommendations. Deborah and her team’s professionalism, deep understanding of the cultural context, strategic approach and strong analytical skills yielded a powerful result that will be useful for years to come.

John M. Pile

Country Representative - Timor-Leste