Democracy and Governance Program

Implementing Partners

USAID is funding eight U.S.-registered nongovernmental organizations, public international organizations or contractors for its democracy-strengthening work in Timor-Leste.

BELUN-ACDI/VOCA
http://www.beluntl.org
http://www.acdivoca.org
NGO Sector Strengthening Program:
BELUN, ACDI/VOCA, in partnership with CARE International and Columbia University's Center for International Conflict Resolution, is working to improve the skills and capabilities of community-based and nongovernmental organizations to reduce tensions in communities across the country.

BELUN’s five-year NGO Sector Strengthening Program builds on earlier efforts to increase local NGOs’ conflict-prevention capacity. BELUN assists communities in identifying their most urgent needs, connect with other communities and come up with solutions. Successful projects thus far have addressed a wide range of needs, including water and sanitation, agriculture, education, environment, health, media, and sport and recreation. BELUN counts as partners150 local groups in all 13 of Timor-Leste's districts. In addition, BELUN collaborates with academic institutions in Dili and abroad to facilitate institutional learning and information sharing.

International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)
http://www.icmc.net
Survivors of Torture Program:
ICMC is currently in the third phase of its Survivors of Torture Program, started in 2002, to assist victims of torture and their families who suffered during the 24-year occupation by Indonesia. After establishing partnerships with local organizations to reach out to survivors of torture and creating networks between NGOs and government agencies, ICMC is currently working to strengthen the capacity and increase the number of its partners. It has supported the construction of community memorials and non-clinical psychosocial services for more than 500 survivors of torture. ICMC has enabled partner organizations to provide direct services and advocacy for the protection and promotion of rights, and welfare of survivors of torture in Timor-Leste.

International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)
http://www.icfj.org or http://www.ijnet.org
Strengthening Independent Media Program:
ICFJ administers USAID’s Strengthening Independent Media Program in Timor-Leste supporting the development of a strong, professional and sustainable independent media sector in Timor-Leste. The program aims to help the local media deliver high-quality news and programming to as many people as possible in Timor-Leste. With elections tentatively scheduled for early 2007, the country’s media needs to strengthen its skills to provide balanced electoral news and information. The program’s activities include: training future journalism trainers; training of Timorese journalists; analyses of local media outputs; promotion of a journalism code of ethics; technical assistance to media management; advocacy training; training of media law specialists; and mobilizing legal support for journalists. ICFJ will work with a consortium of partners, including the International Research Exchanges Board, leading local media outlets, and journalism organizations to improve news distribution and upgrade journalism standards in the country.

International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES)
http://www.ifes.org
IFES provides technical assistance to build and improve the electoral process in Timor-Leste. Its work focuses on the independent National Election Commission (CNE) and the government's Technical Secretariat for Election Administration (STAE), both of which were involved in the country's first nationwide local elections, held in 2005 and 2006. IFES's current activities include providing electoral specialists in the key areas-- electoral laws, electoral management, voter education and voter registration--to advise the electoral bodies for the planned 2007 legislative and presidential national elections.

International Republican Institute (IRI)
http://www.iri.org
IRI's program aims to increase the local political parties' understanding of electoral systems so as to facilitate their participation in the debate on future national electoral policy. IRI is helping the parties assess their organizational needs with a view to strengthening their internal structures and communications skills. IRI is developing a train-the-trainers program covering electoral law, campaign management, fundraising, party image, and poll monitoring for district-based party activists in advance of the 2007 elections. IRI’s training has a special emphasis on women's participation in politics through political parties, as independent candidates, or as election observers. In addition, IRI supports the Women's Caucus, a local organization that promotes the political participation of women and trains potential women candidates.

Management Sciences for Development (MSD)
http://www.msdglobal.com
Justice Institutions Strengthening Program:
MSD is implementing USAID’s Justice Institutions Strengthening Program, which aims to help Timor-Leste's justice institutions improve their administrative capacity. Through courses such as the Financial Management Training and Support Program, MSD imparts financial, administrative and management skills to members of the justice system, which will ultimately lead to a more efficient and transparent administration of justice. Training participants include court administrators, finance officers, and administrative personnel from the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Public Defenders’ Office, and the judiciary.

MSD also supports the organizational development of the Provedor's Office, the principal oversight institution of Timor-Leste. The Provedor's Office has a constitutional mandate to promote human rights, address maladministration, and fight corruption.

National Democratic Institute (NDI)
http://www.ndi.org
Electoral Support and Local Governance Program:
Through its previous “Civic Advocacy and Monitoring” program, NDI mobilized its civil society networks for voter education and election monitoring, and provided observations and recommendations to STAE on each round of suco elections in 2004 and 2005. NDI also provided training and encouragement to women in the organizing committees to compete in the suco elections.

NDI currently runs the Electoral Support and Local Governance Program for elected suco (village) council members. In collaboration with the National Institute for Public Administration, NDI is supporting a common training program for the 442 suco councils throughout the country. In preparation for the 2007 elections, NDI is assisting local organizations and STAE to conduct civic and voter education and support the development of a local electoral observers’ network.

The Asia Foundation (TAF)
http://www.asiafoundation.org
Access to Justice Program:
The Asia Foundation implements USAID’s Access to Justice Program, which aims to improve women’s and disadvantaged citizens’ access to formal and informal dispute resolution, on the one hand; and promote legal reform and improve legal standards, on the other hand. Through the program, The Asia Foundation works with local institutions, including the Ministry of Justice, the Prime Minister's Office for the Promotion of Equality, legal aid groups, and other key organizations. The program also supports efforts to increase rural citizens’ access to legal information and legal aid, raise awareness of suco (village) councils about their new authorities to reduce violence against women, and improve the quality of informal dispute resolution or mediation. In addition, TAF supports two local organizations working on facilitating cross-border dialogue and increasing legal trade options to residents along the Timor-Leste and Indonesian land borders. The House Democracy Assistance Commission has also funded TAF to develop the parliamentary research center and library in collaboration with the US Library of Congress.

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