Launch of the Strategic Development Plan at the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting opens up opportunities for world’s best partnerships
The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Díli, July 6, 2011
Launch of the Strategic Development Plan at the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting opens up opportunities for world’s best partnerships
The Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan 2011 – 2030 will be launched July 12 on the first day of the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting (TLDPM) at the Dili Convention Centre. The plan, which sets the course for Timor-Leste’s development trajectory over the next 20 years, is the product of wide ranging research, study, reflection and consultation by the Government of Timor-Leste, country stakeholders and the People.
In 2010 Prime Minister H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão crossed the country, personally visiting every one of Timor-Leste’s 65 subdistricts to discuss the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead for the nation, holding open meetings for inclusive consultation with the citizens of Timor-Leste. From the outset it was seen as critical that the SDP should be a Timorese plan for the Timorese people; a plan “country owned” and in its implementation “country led.”
The acceptance and emphasis on the country ownership of development is now supported by all major agreements on development partnerships including the Paris Declaration (2005), the Accra Agenda for Action (2008), the Dili Declaration (2010) and most recently, the Monrovia Roadmap (2011). Timor-Leste has played a lead role in advocating for more effective development partnerships as chair of the g7+ and co-chair of the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding. Now representing 17 countries and some 350 million people across the globe, the g7+ provides solidarity and support for all who are seeking the best possible partnerships as their countries say “Goodbye Conflict and Welcome Development.”
The upcoming Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting offers an opportunity for Timor-Leste and development partners to set new modalities and engagement efforts in the coordination and alignment of development assistance to the national plan. Moving from the short-term framework of annual National Priorities to this long term SDP now enables long term planning on the part of development partners which can lead to a more cohesive effort; avoiding the fragmentation, competition and parallel systems of the past, and accelerating progress towards the achievement of common goals articulated in the SDP, an improvement in the quality of life of the Timorese People and the delivery of a uniquely Timorese vision for Timor-Leste.
Ágio Pereira Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers noted “our pathway to development is one that is defined and owned by the Timorese people, so we can walk together in the direction we want to go. With our SDP to guide us, and as our citizens, the Government, Civil Society and Development Partners continue to share in Timor-Leste’s success story, we express our thanks for the many efforts made so far and look forward in these coming days to working together, looking for new and innovative ways to create world’s best practice in the coordination of development assistance; harmonized and aligned to this new national plan.”
