On 19 August 2011, the Ministry of Finance held an important meeting with the Development Partners with the topic “ Operationalizing the Strategic Development Plan (SDP): Moving from Aid Effectiveness to Development Effectiveness”.

In the long meeting that took place at the Knowledge Center, Minister of Finance, Emília Pires briefed on the need of the development partners assistance regarding  the operationalization of the SDP, focusing on how to move from Aid Effectiveness to Development Effectiveness. In the meantime, Minister advocated the development partners to take into consideration the global commitments in various forums where Timor Leste has taken part such as Paris Declaration, Accra Agenda for Action (AAA), Dili Declaration, a number of  g7+ Fragile States meetings and  the Dili Development Pact as recently agreed in Dili towards the upcoming High Level Forum  in Busan (South Korea).

Minister Pires presented that some progress have been made but appealed the development partners to assist in the regions where the poverty is still high and the areas that are still lacking of essential needs like water and sanitation and education.

Minister informed that an Aid Management Platform, a data base of development partners has been created to monitor development partner’s commitment and contribution to the implementation of Strategic Development Plan (SDP).

Minister Pires advised that the next steps are:  first, how to monitor the SDP implementation, for which a number of working groups have been initiated and the development partners will be updated on its progress. Second, the Technical Assistance Policy, which focus on the clarity of job description of any position to be undertaken by the development partners.

The important outcome of the meeting was the agreement of establishment of two small working teams to start looking at:

1. Review of Salary Level for both government and development partners. This review is important taking into consideration that many qualified government officials have been absorbed by development partners because they offer higher salary. It was agreed that World Bank, Australia, UN and Ministry of Finance will be part of this team.
2. Monitoring team for a possibility to have a high level monitoring body. It was agreed that US, UN and Ministry of Finance will be part of this team.