The g7+ Secretariat

The g7+ Secretariat

The member countries collectively agreed to set up the g7+ Secretariat in Dili, Timor-Leste in 2010. In the beginning, it was housed at the Department of Partnership Monitoring Unit (DPMU) at the Ministry of Finance of Timor-Leste. In December 2013, the g7+ Secretariat was registered as an independent entity in Timor-Leste. In 2014, the g7+ Secretariat was officially established and received grants from the Government of Timor-Leste to operationalize the work of g7+ on Peacebuilding and state building.
The basic function of the Secretariat is to provide greater efficiency in the advice, coordination, and assistance in implementing the decisions of the Ministerial Forum, to support the Chair of g7+ and to coordinate activities of the Member States by acting as liaison for each group of Ministries of the Members States, often consisting of Ministries of Finance and Planning, and Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Follow the principles of Volunteerism, Solidarity and Cooperation, the g7+ Secretariat shall work to further strengthen and deepen links between Member States under the flagship program Fragile-to-Fragile Cooperation.
The g7+ European Hub: Deepening Partnership in Europe and the World

The g7+ Headquarters is hosted in Dili, Timor-Leste

g7+ European Hub in Lisbon, Portugal

The g7+ European Hub is located in Lisbon, Portugal 

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The g7+ New York Office

The g7+ Secretariat promotes the identity and activities of the group by representing it in multilateral, regional and bilateral donor organizations and encouraging the alignment of these organizations’ policies on engagement with member countries in accordance with the principles of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States. Finally, the g7+ Secretariat is also to represents the g7+ in various international for a to maintain visibility and increase the impact of the work of g7+.

In early April 2017, the g7+ leadership, comprised of Eminent Person H.E. Xanana Gusmão and H.E. Momodu Lamin Kargbo, Chair of g7+ (2016 – 2018), visited Lisbon. This visit resulted in the Lisbon Municipality granting an office space in central Lisbon to become the g7+ hub in Europe.


The office was officially inaugurated in the summer of 2018 with the presence of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, H.E. Teresa Ribeiro. The office allows the g7+ to serve our members better and remain actively engaged with development partners in Europe.


In May 2020, the Government of Timor-Leste made its first amendment to decree law no.14 of 17 August 2018 regarding the organic law of the VIII Constitutional Government and pronounced “The existence of the g7+ secretariat, which, being a service of an international organization, should not be included in the organizational structure of the Government of one of the Member States of that same international organization”. Therefore, the g7+ Secretariat now stands as international organization in Timor-Leste.

On 23 September 2024, the g7+ Secretariat symbolically opens its office in New York, in the presence of H.E. Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone and Chair, and H.E. Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste and Eminent Person of g7+. 
 
The opening of the new office in New York marks a significant milestone for the group. It serves as a hub for advocacy and coordination and aims to help amplify the priorities of the g7+ countries on the world stage. This initiative also reflects a commitment to becoming an agent for peace by supporting the UN in addressing the needs and aspirations of its member states in achieving peace and sustainable development.
 
Having obtained the UN observer status in December 2019 and successfully registered the g7+ charter at the UN treaty Department in 2021, the office will enhance the Secretariat’s collaboration with member countries and foster partnerships with international organizations, academia, and relevant stakeholders.

The g7+ Secretariat team

Helder da Costa

General Secretary of g7+
Dr. Helder da Costa

Dr. Helder da Costa has served as the General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat since 2014, providing strategic leadership to a unique intergovernmental organization representing conflict-affected and fragile states. In this role, he plays a central part in shaping the g7+’s vision and global advocacy, working closely with member states, the Chair, and Deputy Chair to advance collective priorities on peacebuilding, statebuilding, and development cooperation.

As Secretary to the g7+ Ministerial Forum and Advisory Council, Dr. da Costa leads the coordination of high-level engagements and oversees the preparation of ministerial agendas, ensuring alignment with the evolving needs of member countries. He is also responsible for the overall management of the Secretariat, including representing the g7+ in legal and institutional matters, and strengthening partnerships with international organizations and development partners. He was one of the 18 Sherpas representing the g7+ in the negotiation of the Busan Partnership Agreement for Effective Development Cooperation, OECD.

Dr. da Costa brings over two decades of leadership experience across academia and international development in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Prior to joining the g7+, he served as Advisor on Aid Effectiveness to the Ministry of Finance of Timor-Leste, where he contributed to strengthening national systems and development policies.

He has also worked extensively with leading international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and Australian Agency for International Development, and has published in peer-reviewed journals on development issues.

Earlier in the career, Dr. da Costa held senior roles in New Zealand, including Tertiary Education Manager and Asia Programme Manager with the Asia New Zealand Foundation and Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), where he oversaw programs across Bhutan, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.

Beyond his institutional leadership, Dr. da Costa has also contributed to democratic processes in Timor-Leste. He was selected to moderate the country’s first presidential debate following the restoration of independence in 2001 and has continued to support electoral dialogue, including moderating national debates during the 2017–2018 elections.

Dr. Da Costa earned his PhD in Trade Policy at the School of International Applied Economics, University of Adelaide, South Australia, in 2001.

Habib Mayar

Deputy of g7+
Mr. Habib Ur Rehman Mayar

Mr. Habib Mayar is Deputy General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat based in Dili, Timor-Leste. He has served in the Secretariat since 2013 and leads on policy and advocacy for better engagement in fragile situation. 

He has actively engaged in global policy discourse on aid defectiveness, peacepbuilding, statebuilding and agenda 2030. He represents the g7+ at various global forums debates. He led the advocacy work for getting the g7+ an observer status the United Nations that was granted in 2019. Currently he also represents the g7+ as a co-lead in the HDP Nexusu coalition.
He has authored several blogs and pieces on the related matters including a chapter on the g7+ in the recently released “handbook of fragile states”.

Prior to his role at the g7+ Secretariat, he was Head of the Aid Coordination Unit in the Ministry of Finance, of Afghanistan for 5 years.

Like many Afghans who fled their countries during the Russian occupation in 1980s, Mr. Mayar grew up in a refugees camp in Pakistan. He completed his master’s degree in business administration from Baluchistan University of IT and Management Sciences.

The g7+ Secretariat Staff

The g7+ Secretariat

Dr. Felix Piedade

Chief Operating Officer

Email: felix.piedade@g7plus.org

The g7+ Secretariat

Helche Silvester

External Partnership, Media and Communication Manager
Email: helche.silvester@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Flora Lebre

Finance Manager
Email: flora.lebre@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Eulalia Ribeiro Serpa

Corporate Services Manager
Email: lia.serpa@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Agostinho Tavares

Protocol and Liaison Manager
Email: agostinho.tavares@g7plus.org
Elisio Monteiro Valadares

Elísio Monteiro Valadares

Protocol & Partnership Liaison Officer, The g7+ European Hub
Email: elisio.valadares@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Hunter Mills

Climate Finance Advisor

Email: hunter.mills@g7plus.org

The g7+ Secretariat

Flora Lopes

Media and Communication Assistant
Email: flora.lopes@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Ema Rita das Dores Carceres da Costa

Protocol, Administration & Personal Assistant to DGS
Email: emarita.carceres@g7plus.org
Jose Gomes

Jose Alberto Gomes

Policy Assistant,

The g7+ European Hub

Email: jose.gomes@g7plus.org

The g7+ Secretariat

Cesario Barreto

Outreach Assistant
Email: cesario.barreto@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Jumentino da Costa

Photographer and Videographer
Email: Jumentino.costa@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Dalia Araujo

Finance Assistant
Email: Dalia.araujo@g7plus.org
The g7+ Secretariat

Nivia Alexandra

Book Keeping Assistant

Email: nivia.alexandra@g7plus.org

The g7+ Secretariat

Victor Liu Goncalves

Protocol and Personal Assistant to General Secretary

Email: victor.goncalves@g7plus.org

Antonio Goncalves

Antonio Goncalves

Logistic Lisbon Hub

Email: antonio.goncalves@g7plus.org

Maria Jose

Maria Jose Nunes

Logistic Lisbon Hub

Email: maria.nunes@g7plus.org

The g7+ Secretariat

Luis Gonzaga

Logistic
The g7+ Secretariat

Nelson de Oliveira

Logistic
The g7+ Secretariat

Georgina Martins

Logistic
g7+ Secretariat

Simao Alves

Logistic
reliquia

Relíquia Mendes Gonçalves

Executive Assistant to the GS and DGS
Email: Reliquia.Goncalves@g7plus.org
Ana Caetano

Ana Caetano

Legal Advisor, The g7+ European Hub

Email: ana.caetano@g7plus.org

The g7+ Secretariat

Delcia Sarmento

Human Resources Assistant

Email: delcia.sarmento@g7plus.org

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Ana Pereira

Receptionist

The g7+ Secretariat:

The g7+ Secretariat is the engine that drives coordination, advocacy, and peer learning across g7+ member states. Headquartered in Dili, Timor-Leste, with offices in Lisbon, Portugal, and New York, USA, the Secretariat serves as the central hub connecting member countries and international partners.

The Secretariat was established in Dili in 2010 following a collective decision by member countries. Initially housed within the Department of Partnership Monitoring Unit at the Ministry of Finance of Timor-Leste, it worked closely with the government to coordinate the g7+ agenda on peacebuilding and statebuilding.

By December 2013, the Secretariat was registered as an independent entity, and in 2014 it received grants from the Government of Timor-Leste to operationalize its mission.

Core Functions

The Secretariat enhances efficiency in advising, coordinating, and supporting the implementation of decisions adopted by the Ministerial Forum. It supports the g7+ Chair and connects Member States with national institutions, including Ministries of Finance, Planning, and Foreign Affairs.

Guided by volunteerism, solidarity, and cooperation, the Secretariat promotes peer learning through its Fragile-to-Fragile Cooperation program. It also represents g7+ in multilateral, regional, and bilateral forums, ensuring the group’s voice is heard and its priorities are aligned with the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States.

Expanding Globally

In April 2017, g7+ leadership, including H.E. Xanana Gusmão, Eminent Person of g7+ and H.E. Momodu Lamin Kargbo, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone visited Lisbon. This led the Municipality of Lisbon to grant office space in the city center for the g7+ European Hub, officially inaugurated in summer 2018 with the participation of Portugal’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E. Teresa Ribeiro.

The Secretariat gained formal recognition as a service of an international organization in May 2020, amending Decree Law No.14/2018 in Timor-Leste to ensure independence from any member state government.

On 23 September 2024, the Secretariat symbolically opened its New York office, strengthening advocacy and engagement with the United Nations and amplifying the priorities of g7+ countries on the global stage.

Leadership

The Secretariat is led by Dr. Helder da Costa, General Secretary, supported by Mr. Habib Mayar, Deputy General Secretary, along with a dedicated team across three offices, working tirelessly to advance the g7+ mission of peace, development, and collaboration.

About g7+

Our collective mission is to support our members to achieve transitions towards resilience and next stages of development, by engaging with actors at both the national and international level.

The g7+ Headquarters

 

Kobe House, Rua Palacio do Governo, Dili Timor-Leste
(+670) 3310 126

The g7+ European Hub

 

Av. 24 de Julho no.118 B/C/D Santos, Lisboa Portugal

(+351) 211322371

The g7+ New York Office

305 East 47th Street, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10017

(+1) 646 370 5560

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