Improving integrated planning and service delivery at municipal level

The involvement of the municipal governments in the process is key for building an effective governance for the provision of public services at local level since they are closer to the people

April 8, 2019

UNDP recognized the strong commitment of the Government of Timor-Leste to support the decentralization process

On 02 April 2019, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Timor-Leste and the Ministry of State Administration, together with KOICA and the Municipality of Baucau and Bobonaro, leaded the Project Board Meeting for the approval of the Project Annual Working Plan 2019. During the meeting the participants discussed the progress of the two pilot projects implemented to support the decentralization process in the Municipality of Baucau and Bobonaro.

The Vice Minister of State Administration Mr. Abílio José Caetano and the Deputy Country Director for KOICA in Timor-Leste Ms. Hanul Park welcomed the partnership with UNDP and recognized the added value the implementation of this pilot project has for the decentralization process in the country.

UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Claudio Providas recognized he strong commitment of the Government of Timor-Leste to support the decentralization process. Mr. Providas says “we welcome the opportunity to partner together with KOICA in strengthening the capacities of civil servants and other local actors to ensure that all citizens in Timor-Leste can enjoy equal access to quality public services. We believe the involvement of the municipal governments in the process is key for building an effective governance for the provision of public services at local level since they are closer to the people; understand better their needs and diversities in the territory;  promote better coordination among local actors; and encourage bottom-up approaches to decision-making; making the government more accountable to its citizens.”

As we progress during 2019, we expect the two municipal strategic plans will be completed by June while the municipal diagnostics will be published by May. The selection of the sites for the implementation of water infrastructure which aims to improve the access of rural population to water (3rd phase of the project) is expected to be finalized by May and the infrastructure to be ready by March 2020.