Background:

One of the primary goals of the U.S. Government (USG) in Timor-Leste is to promote stability and to create conditions for this young country to emerge as a secure, democratic and prosperous state.  While the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste departed in 2012, the country continues to face challenges in bolstering stability, strengthening weak security sector institutions, maintaining the rule of law, and addressing gender-based violence.  USG assistance, through the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of State (DOS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and USAID, aims to support the Government of Timor-Leste (GOTL) and security forces to institutionalize Timor-Leste’s significant progress in maintaining the stability needed for its growing population to thrive in the coming years.

 

Summary:

Increasing PNTL’s capacity to deliver key services and establishing the credibility of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) among general population have been major priorities for the Government of Timor-Leste (GOTL) and the PNTL leadership. USAID partners with the GOTL and PNTL to support these priorities by providing assistance to two main security sector institutions in the Ministry of Defense and Security: the Office of the Secretary of State for Security and the PNTL.

Under the Accountability Strengthening in the Timor-Leste National Police project, funded through the Department of Defense's Security and Stabilization Assistance Program, USAID has deployed a Senior Legal Advisor at the Office of Inspection and Audit within the Office of the Secretary of State for Security. The Senior Legal Advisor, selected by an interagency, intergovernmental panel, helps build the capacity of the Office of Inspection and Audit in its disciplinary, audit, monitoring, and oversight systems for the PNTL.  

USAID’s Accountability Strengthening in the Timor-Leste National Police project also helps enhance the capacity of the Office of Inspection and Audit and the PNTL’s investigators through training and mentoring, to strengthen PNTL’s disciplinary, audit, monitoring and oversight systems and contribute to the quality and validity of PNTL’s performance.