Program Data Sheet
472-003

USAID PROGRAM: East Timor
PROGRAM TITLE: Support to East Timor's Democratic Transition (Pillar: Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE AND NUMBER: Democratic Development Strengthened, 472-003
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $13,500,000 ESF
UNOBLIGATED PRIOR YEAR FUNDS AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,015,262 ESF
PROPOSED FY 2003 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $12,000,000 ESF
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2001      ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2003

Summary: USAID's program to support East Timor's post-conflict democratic development includes four components-

• strengthen the capacity of new East Timorese legislative and executive bodies at national and local levels to implement democratic processes and adopt effective legislation;
• create a judicial-sector development program through U.S. and local NGOs;
• strengthen local advocacy-oriented civil society organizations' ability to participate in national and local governance; and
• develop an independent media and production and dissemination of accurate and balanced information.

Inputs, Outputs, and Activities: FY 2002 Program: USAID will use FY 2002 ESF to continue activities through U.S. NGOs that have shown results in the pre- and immediate post-election period and to support democracy activities through USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). USAID's technical assistance to East Timor's new legislative and executive bodies will help ensure that the legislative drafting process is transparent, inclusive, and well-informed. East Timorese leaders will receive information on the benefits and risks of various legislative and executive options, as well as improved mechanisms for ensuring public input in decision-making processes. These options are likely to include the design and development of local-government structures.

USAID will help the East Timorese develop their judicial system through a mix of technical assistance and training in national and district courts for judges, prosecutors, and public defenders. USAID will support legal aid services, initiatives in alternative dispute resolution, the Serious Crimes Unit, the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation, and the development of a civilian-military relations program. It will continue to provide rapid, in-kind grants of highly needed materials and equipment to the formal justice sector.

USAID will assist local civil society organizations in both Dili and the districts to promote the flow of information on rights and responsibilities that lead to greater citizen engagement in national and community governance. OTI will support civil society organizations to strengthen the responsiveness of future state institutions, and to support the ability of citizens to articulate and solve their own problems through influencing public policy and/or through mobilizing nonstate resources. OTI will place a particular focus on the following: organizational and institutional capacity; a supportive legal environment for civic organizations; civic and voter education; and advocacy and public information/consultation on topical issues. Media activities in FY 2002 will include mentors and small subgrants to local radio and newspapers.

The United States will contribute funds in FY 2002 to the Consolidated Fund for East Timor (CFET), a UN-administered trust fund that serves as the new Timorese government's recurrent cost and capital spending budget.

Planned FY 2003 Program: USAID plans to use FY 2003 resources to further assist East Timor's transition to democratic governance. USAID will support the four components presented above into FY 2003, recognizing that significant results in the judicial, legislative, and civil society sectors will take a minimum of two years. OTI is expected to close its program in the first quarter of FY 2003; USAID plans to continue funding OTI-initiated programs in media and support to local organizations; and the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation. USAID also plans to continue a small grants mechanism (similar to OTI's mechanism) so that it will have the ability to provide grants to local groups through FY2003.

Performance and Results: USAID helped ensure citizen participation in successful Constituent Assembly elections on August 30, 2001. A USAID-funded survey helped focus voter education efforts and grantees' activities on aspects of the election least understood by the electorate. A subsequent publicity campaign reinforced important themes, including women's right to vote and peaceful competition among political parties. A website, easttimorelections.org, provided information on the elections and has continued to operate through the constitutional drafting process. USAID assistance also helped local reporting on the elections became more objective. USAID's primary media grantee produced weekly radio programs on election-related topics, and conducted workshops for journalists that combined election details with training in basic journalism skills. Working with a local women's organization, a USAID grantee supported efforts by woman candidates for the Constituent Assembly. Rural communities had increased opportunities to interact with candidates through forums. For the first time, domestic observer groups mobilized and trained for an election, with the support of USAID grantees, and set the stage for effective citizen oversight of future elections.

Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: Election support activities are carried out by the Asia Foundation, the Carter Center, the International Foundation for Election Systems, the International Republican Institute, Internews (also through OTI), and the National Democratic Institute, along with several local NGOs. Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) implements OTI's small-grants mechanism.

US Financing in Thousands of Dollars