• Institution building

Institution building

With the independence of Timor-Leste in May 2002, a large-scale state institution- building assistance was launched, by placing several hundreds of international advisors into key units and departments of the state institutions. This intervention is unique in its emphasis on capacity development, its joint nature with the peacekeeping operations, as well as the transitional phase of the country in which the assistance has been provided.

In this paper, the author provides a detailed description of achievements, challenges, and suggestions for the future in the areas of (i) capacity development intervention, (ii) capacity development measurement, (iii) collaboration with the peacekeeping mission, and (iv) resource mobilization in Timor. The paper also covers practical ‘tools’ that may be of use for development practitioners.

The author says that the assistance approach should be continuously assessed, challenged and improved to make the maximum impact. Further capacity development is a long-term process and goes beyond the resident expatriate model. A single development agency cannot provide comprehensive support, and therefore concerted efforts by the people, government and international community are crucial.

Some other important lessons emerging from Timor’s experience include:

• capacity development measurement cannot be scientifically perfect, but it can be continuously improved
• increasing recognition of the indivisibility of peace and security, and development has been a driver for strengthened coordination between the peacekeeping operations and UN agencies, including UNDP
• in Timor-Leste, a number of efforts were made to push integration further on the ground. The state institution-building support programme exemplifies a fairly integrated process for the entire process from needs assessment, programme formulation, programme implementation through to the exit strategy development
• development agencies have long been suffering from chronic lack of funds to respond to the complex development challenges, and this is also true in post- conflict settings. In Timor-Leste too, the same problem arose
• while the overall cost structure of the development assistance should be reviewed carefully and rationalized, it is also necessary to continue to mobilize sufficient resources in a timely manner to provide effective assistance in countries in transition

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