Democracy and Governance

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.