A Programme aimed at supporting the development of an accountable and effective local government system in Timor-Leste will be strengthened with a US$ 1.2 million grant from the Government of Norway.
The UNDP-UNCDF Local Governance Support Programme (LGSP) has received the funds from Norway, a country which has been supporting local governance systems in Timor-Leste since 2006. The funds will support the fifth Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste in it’s commitment to transfer authority and responsibility to local levels through decentralization in the next five years.
The agreement, signed this week between the Government of Norway and UNDP will channel Norwegian support through the UNDP-UNCDF Local Governance Support Programme (LGSP), which aims to strengthen the ability of the Ministry of State Administration to deliver an accountable and effective local governance system for a better service delivery to the people of Timor-Leste.
“Norway is proud to cooperate with the Government of Timor-Leste and UNDP to continue support the Local Governance Support Program”, said Ambassador Stig Traavik.
“Timor-Leste has progressed fast the last ten years, and we want to see the progress in democratic governance and poverty reduction.”
“We are grateful for Norway’s cooperation in strengthening the decentralisation and local governance system in Timor-Leste as part of the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030.”
“Decentralization will be an important step towards citizens’ engagement in decision making and in accessing a better quality of public services at local levels,” said Finn Reske-Nielsen, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary General.
UNDP and UNCDF have been supporting Timor-Leste’s Local Governance System since 2006, assisting with the development of policies, legislation and capacities for local governance systems.
With support from LGSP the Government has been able to use public funds to implement local development projects based on priority needs identified by the community through a participatory planning, implementation and monitoring system with the engagement of local communities, suco leadership and district officials.
