USAID Program Assists Lumber Importers
A roundtable discussion conducted by USAID’s Private Sector Development Program (DSP) recently brought together Timor-Leste lumber importers to consider how they can expand their businesses and how DSP can assist them to overcome business and market constraints. The companies identified priority areas in which they need help, including business management skills, access to markets, technical skills, and access to finance. DSP is conducting a baseline survey of the firms to gauge their strengths within this niche sector. Using that information, DSP will design an assistance program, looking at the industry as a whole and firms on an individual level. (March 15, 2006)

Legal Aid Groups Plan Ways to Broaden Access to Justice
USAID’s partner in rule of law programs, The Asia Foundation, hosted its monthly roundtable meeting with legal aid partners last week. The meeting focused on how to overcome challenges that the groups face and how to better define case referral guidelines and indicators. Participants also considered ways to minimize regional divisions in the country to ensure a wider access to legal services and discussed referral methods for some cases to specialized legal aid services, such as those focused on juveniles and gender-based violence. (March 15, 2006)