Democracy and Governance Program

Implementing Partners

USAID is funding eight U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations or public international organizations for its democracy-strengthening work in Timor-Leste in FY03.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS): CRS’s Engaging Civil Society Project (ECSP) works with a core group of four civil society organizations (CSOs) and 14 district-based groups. The project has three objectives: to develop the CSOs and their institutional capacities to promote advocacy; to build networks and coalitions among them while increasing the participation of marginalized groups within their constituencies; and to strengthen their capacities for advocacy and constructive engagement with the government at the national and local levels.

CRS’s four core CSOs are Fokupers (Women’s Communication Forum), Haburas, the Justice and Peace Commission of Dili Diocese, and the Justice and Peace Commission of Baucau Diocese. ECSP helps them to become more effective and politically engaged, and also to develop their own partnerships with CSOs in the districts. CRS provides its partner CSOs with organizational assessment tools, training in advocacy and organizational development, ongoing mentoring support, and grants to implement their project-related action plans.

Hirondelle Foundation: The Hirondelle Foundation provides technical assistance and material support to Timor-Leste's Public Broadcast Service (PBS). PBS is mandated by the government to supply unbiased, pertinent, and useful information to Timor-Leste's people through a nationwide network of radio stations and the country's only television station. Hirondelle's activities focus on establishing PBS as an independent and sustainable communications service by: facilitating the creation and development of an independent Board of Directors; enriching and extending the range of PBS programming for radio and television; enhancing cooperation with other media and appropriate organizations; and exploring and implementing sustainable business practices.

International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC): ICMC provides training, technical assistance, and small grants to local community groups that seek to address the needs of victims and survivors of torture in Timor-Leste. ICMC support includes professional counseling, clinical services, and the establishment of referral systems to the government mental health services. The ICMC program also builds networks between NGOs addressing the needs of victims and survivors of torture and strengthens the NGOs’ capacity to implement their community-based programs through its grants management project.

International Development Law Organization (IDLO): IDLO has conducted in-country training for Timorese judges, prosecutors, and public defenders since April 2000. In 2003, IDLO will initiate a new course aimed specifically at all of Timor-Leste’s public prosecutors.

International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES): IFES provides legal technical assistance to support the development of the electoral system, assisting the Timorese electoral office to establish a voter registration system and conduct the first local elections. In the rule of law area, IFES provides assistance to the public defenders’ central office by contracting an international mentor to help with legal advice and administrative organization.

International Republican Institute (IRI): IRI’s program to strengthen democratic institutions in Timor-Leste includes political party development, governance training, support for the Women’s Caucus, and electorate research and analysis. The political party development and governance training program provides technical and strategic assistance to political parties and coalitions in order to increase their internal democratic practices and create stronger, more sustainable parties. The training also focuses on increasing the political participation of women and youth and improving opposition parties’ effectiveness in influencing policy and legislation. The Women’s Caucus program supports the women members of Parliament by developing their skills and confidence in their role as legislators and representatives and by increasing women’s participation in politics at the grassroots level. IRI’s electorate research and analysis seeks to increase the awareness and responsiveness of political leaders to the needs of citizens through a series of polls identifying the electorate’s concerns.

Internews: Internews program activities address USAID’s two objectives for developing the media sector: to improve the journalism skills and professionalism of targeted media organizations to ensure that citizens of Timor-Leste have access to high-quality news and information, and to strengthen the financial viability and technical competency of targeted media institutions. The project builds the skills of local journalists and strengthens the capability of print and radio media outlets as they grow and adjust to a new government.

National Democratic Institute (NDI): NDI conducts a long-term civic education and grassroots advocacy program called Civic Forum in all 13 of Timor-Leste’s districts. Civic Forum works with community groups to provide information on the political transition, support democratic values, and develop skills necessary for community advocacy on community issues. Civic Forum focuses on increasing participation through direct interaction between ordinary citizens, local government institutions, and elected representatives.

NDI’s Security Sector Reform Program supports confidence-building, education, and capacity-building activities for civilians with security and defense responsibilities working in the government, parliament, uniformed services, media, and community at large. It also encourages the development of constructive channels of engagement between civilians and members of the armed forces and police services. The program supports public seminars, an interdepartmental working group, and a separate working group on relations between the military and police, and it assists the National Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and National Security in its scrutiny and oversight roles in the security sector.

The Asia Foundation (TAF): In late 2002, The Asia Foundation launched a major new program, Access to Justice, that has three primary objectives: to enhance an independent judicial system, to establish competent and accessible legal aid and dispute resolution mechanisms, and to further citizens' knowledge of justice. The Asia Foundation conducted its third nationwide survey on citizen understanding as a tool for designing appropriate projects in the justice sector and to provide a statistical baseline for program impact assessment. The program supports local efforts to provide assistance to the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and other key legal institutions. It supports efforts that raise public awareness and understanding of the law, legal rights, the legal system, and lawmaking processes. It also enhances the capacity of local legislative drafters and facilitates informed public participation in lawmaking and legal development efforts. The Asia Foundation continues to provide members of Parliament and local organizations with training in legislative analysis and drafting through an agreement with the University of San Francisco.