Democracy
and Governance Program
USAID's Democracy and Governance Program helps
strengthen the basic foundations of Timor-Leste's democratic
system through increased transparency, accountability, and participation
in government. The program has two primary focus areas: rule
of law and effective democratic governance.
Rule of Law
USAID's rule of law activities seek to improve stability and
respect for the rule of law. Through its partners' projects,
USAID works to: strengthen the formal justice sector's capacity
to deliver services; provide information to rural communities
on current laws; and assist in the development of a sound legal
framework for the nascent democracy. USAID provides technical
assistance and training to the Ministry of Justice, courts,
and prosecution services to improve financial management, administration,
and case management procedures and to facilitate access to justice
for women and other disadvantaged groups. Improving women's
access to the justice system is especially important because
rural women have lower literacy levels and suffer from a high
incidence of gender-based violence.
Effective Democratic
Governance
To help Timor-Leste develop the foundations of democratic government,
USAID supports efforts to strengthen local governance, plan
and hold free and fair elections, and increase oversight of
and transparency in government. USAID will play an important
role in the preparations for the first Timorese-managed national
elections in 2007, promoting a participatory process in developing
the policy and legal framework for national elections and the
capacity of the independent electoral commission and government
electoral agency to manage the process. This support includes
providing technical assistance and advisors to electoral management
bodies, political party training and guidelines for party poll
agents, civic education, and training for newly elected village
councils. All programs focus on increasing women's participation
at every stage.
Activities addressing oversight and transparency
in government include support to the recently established Ombudsman's
office (Provedor), technical assistance to the public broadcast
service, skills development for independent media, and training
for government officials to improve public access to information.
Public education and promotion of transparency in government
actively complement USAID's economic growth and health programs.
USAID's implementing partners for this
strategic objective are BELUN-ACDI/VOCA, the International Center
for Journalists, the International Catholic Migration Commission,
the International Foundation for Elections Systems, the International
Republican Institute, Management Sciences for Development, the
National Democratic Institute, and The Asia Foundation. For
its small grants component, USAID's implementing partner is
Development Alternatives, Inc.
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