Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 

 Díli, February 5, 2015

Timor-Leste promotes coordination to maximize results in its Quarterly Development Partners Meeting

 

This morning, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Prime Minister H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão welcomed development partners to their first quarterly meeting for 2015. He noted the agreement between partners and Government to “work together, in friendship and with an attitude of tolerance and understanding, to bring progress to our country” and emphasized the goal shared by all present “to improve the lives of the Timorese people.”

The meeting was attended by Ministers of Government, Development Partners, Director Generals and members of the Civil Service. H.E. Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under Secretary of the United Nations and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Timor-Leste attended as a special guest.

Timor-Leste is recognized as an innovator in the area of development coordination and has contributed to reshaping the development paradigm globally through its input to the New Deal and emphasis on country owned and country led pathways to resilience. This year there will be regular QDPMs and as usual an annual Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting [TLDPM] scheduled for June this year.

In today’s meeting the Minister of Finance, H.E. Emilia Pires and other key Ministry of Finance staff updated participants on the Budget Execution Decree, the Decree Law on Public Financial Management Competency Standards, the proposed Decree Law on Fixed-Term Contracts in Public Administration and discussed a Calendar of Events for 2015. A presentation, “From the Strategic Development Plan to an Integrated System of Indicators”, explored methods to measure progress in achieving Timor-Leste’s development goals.

Development partners interacted with members of Government and Ministry of Finance officials to ask questions, share achievements and raise issues of concern. The Prime Minister responded in this dialogue emphasizing the importance of planning and strategic investment, the necessity of improving quality service delivery and the vital role of job creation for youth.

Partners are able to interact with Ministry of Finance officials on a day–to-day basis through the Development Partner Management Unit, led by Mr. Câncio de Jesus Olivera.

Spokesperson for the Fifth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “the Government appreciates the efforts of development partners to align their assistance with the priorities of the Government. Ongoing commitment by partners and Government to work together is producing results that are benefiting the people of Timor-Leste. The importance of coordination can never be overestimated.”