Workshop Aims to Improve Access to Finance
With the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, USAID’s Private Sector Development Program (DSP) co-sponsored an “Access to Finance” workshop recently to focus on opportunities and priorities to improve access to sustainable finance in Timor-Leste. The workshop attracted representatives from Timor-Leste’s banking community, financial sector donors, and selected enterprise managers. The session concluded with managers from 16 private enterprises signing up for DSP-sponsored assessments of their accounting and financial management needs and assistance in developing their businesses’ capacity to manage their money. DSP will continue to play a lead role in coordinating the donor response to private enterprise priorities and facilitate access to appropriate and affordable finance services. (March 14, 2006)

USAID Funds Restoration of Historic Building for New Health Programs
US Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees this week officially handed over an historic building in downtown Dili to the Ministry of Health for three maternal and child health programs. Two of those programs are managed by USAID partners. The Delegacia de Saúde building has housed health offices since it was built by the Portuguese. It was burned in 1999 when Indonesia withdrew from Timor-Leste. A USAID grant funded the renovation, and the focus of the building's occupants now is to help Timor-Leste reduce its maternal and infant mortality rates, which are among the highest in the world. (March 14, 2006)

Office of the Provedor Publicizes March 20 Opening
Timor-Leste’s new Office of the Provedor (ombudsman) conducted a public information campaign recently to inform local officials and the public about the official opening of the office on March 20. Provedor Sebastião Dias Ximenes led an information team to the eastern region of the country while his two deputies led teams to the south and west. The campaign’s visit to two final districts was delayed by bad weather and will take place soon. From March 20, the Office of the Provedor will receive and act on complaints from citizens in the three areas of its mandate: corruption, maladministration, and violations of human rights. USAID provides the Office of Provedor with technical assistance, training, and operational support during this initial set-up period. (March 14, 2006)

USAID Supports Anti-Corruption Course for Government Officials
Civil servants from 15 different government offices recently completed a week-long anti-corruption course. USAID partner Management Sciences for Development organized the course with additional support from the World Bank. The course was conducted by Tony Kwok, the former deputy commissioner and head of operations of the Independent Commission Against Corruption for Hong Kong. The 37 course participants prepared model plans for their agencies that were critiqued by an expert panel that included Minister of Justice Domingos Sarmento, Minister of Public Works Odete Vitor, and Provedor (ombudsman for human rights and justice) Sebastiao Dias Ximenes. In the closing ceremony, US Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees presented certificates to all participants. Registration for the course was over subscribed and a second intake is planned for May. (March 14, 2006)

 

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