After a two year period of transitional authority under the United Nations, East Timor formally became Timor Leste, an independent nation in 2002 holding its first national elections. The institutional division of Timor Leste consists of a three-tiered system under the central government which has its seat in the capital, Dili. A total of 13 administrative districts exist with an appointed government official, below the districts, a further subdivision of 65 sub -districts exist. One of the districts Oecussi-Ambeno is an exclave of East Timor within the borders of West Timor. The final tier are the villages or sucos governed by an elected council with a chefe de suco at the head. Local elections were held in 2009 and are valid for a period of six years. The comprehensive development of the local government system in Timor Leste will in time change the status of sub districts to municipalities improving public participation and service delivery to rate payers.
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Local government is provided for in the Timor Leste Constitution of 2002 and is supervised by the Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Management (MSTATM). Article 72 puts citizens at the forefront of local development and solving local problems. Further legislation aims at strengthening local government institutions firstly through the creation of new municipalities. In the future these new municipalities are planned to be divided into municipal assembly to be managed under a municipal administration. This division is intended to further streamline the devolvement of financial powers to municipalities to strengthen accountability. The draft laws on Administrative and Territorial Division, Local Government and Municipal Elections will form the future basis of sustainable local government in Timor Leste.
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Development on the national and local scale in Timor Leste is highly influenced and supported by the international community who have been playing a crucial role in the country since statehood was achieved in 2002. The new local government framework for example is connected to so called Decentralized Development Programs I and II providing funds for private companies in the set up of locally oriented projects. These development schemes thus aim at assisting local communities to gain more experience and knowledge in the run up to the creation of the new municipalities and a further elaboration of local government in Timor Leste.
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