English Home > Decentralization > Public Documents

Public Documents

Briefing Note on the Decentralization Process in Timor-Leste

Download the Briefing Note in English: (PDF: English Only).

Fact Sheet on the Establishment of the Municipalities

Read the fact sheet: (PDF: Tetun Only).

Fact Sheet on the Government's Plan to Establish Municipalities

In 2009, the Government is planning to prepare districts to become municipalities. This process is decentralization, or moving some work from the central level to the local level. The process will begin after the National Parliament approves laws that will regulate how to establish a local government system. The government has been working since 2003, however to prepare the nation for the decentralization process, and will continue to work to ensure that the municipalities, in the future, are a strong mechanism for development in Timor-Leste. Read the fact sheet: (PDF: Tetun Only).

February 2009: Law Proposals on Local Governance

The Council of Ministers agreed on February 18, 2009, to submit law proposals on the establishment of local government to the National Parliament. These law proposals are not approved legislation. Only National Parliament can approve the final laws on local governance.

Download the law proposals submitted to National Parliament  (Portuguese Only):

March 2008 Policy Guidelines on Decentralization and Local Government

The 2008, the Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Management has been working to draft laws on local government for submission to the Council of Ministers and the Parliament. The basis for this work is the Policy Guidelines for Decentralization and Local Government which were approved in March 2008.

Policy Documents Available:

  • 2008 Policy Guidelines and Strategic Framework (PDF:( English | Portuguese)
  • 2008 Policy Summary Sheet (MS Word Document: (Tetun)
  • Technical Working Groups Terms of Reference (TOR):
    • General TOR for Line Ministries (PDF: English | Tetun)
    • Ministry of Planning and FInance (PDF: English | Tetun)
    • Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Management (PDF:English | Tetun)

Local Development Programme

Since 2005, the Ministry has been running a pilot of local governance systems in various districts across the country. Experiences from the Local Development Programme (LDP) work has ben incorportated into the Government's debates about how the establish local government nationwide.

Documents Available:

Previous Policy: Decentralization and Local Government Policy Guidelines from 2006

Policy guidelines (PDF: English | Tetun)
Decentralization Strategic Framework (PDF: English)