The g7+ Secretariat
The g7+ Secretariat
The g7+ Headquarters is hosted in Dili, Timor-Leste
The g7+ European Hub is located in Lisbon, Portugal
The g7+ New York Office
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.
The g7+ Secretariat team
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.
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.
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
Helche Silvester
Elísio Monteiro Valadares
Ema Rita das Dores Carceres da Costa
Victor Liu Goncalves
Email: victor.goncalves@g7plus.org
Luis Gonzaga
Nelson de Oliveira
Georgina Martins
Simao Alves
Relíquia Mendes Gonçalves
Ana Pereira
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+
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