Partnership to Strengthen Village Development and Municipal Administration
PARTISIPA · Funded by the Australian Government
A PARTISIPA branded blue and green frame encircles a picture of a man with his back to the camera wearing a high visibility vest with 'PARTISIPA' on the back as he watches men working to lay cement onto a road frame as it pours from a truck.

About PARTISIPA

Program Overview

The Partnership to Strengthen Village Development and Municipal Administration (PARTISIPA) is Australia’s flagship sub-national governance strengthening and community infrastructure program in Timor-Leste. It works with the Ministry of State Administration, the Ministry of Public Works, municipalities, communities and other partners to strengthen national systems, improve municipal governance, and deliver sustainable, accessible and climate-resilient infrastructure. By combining support for policy reform, local government systems, and infrastructure such as rural roads and water management, PARTISIPA helps the Government of Timor-Leste to deliver real benefits for citizens — more effective institutions, stronger local leadership, and better access to quality services.

Phase 2 (2026 – 2028) focuses on building sustainable, nationally owned systems that support decentralisation, improve service continuity and embed climate resilience and inclusion. The program brings together governance and infrastructure so that stronger systems lead to better services - and better services support community development and build trust.

Phase 1 (2021 – 2025) commenced with three components - support to the National Program for Suku Development (PNDS), municipal governance, and rural infrastructure operations and maintenance - with sub-national roads added in 2022. Collectively these investments comprised Australia’s largest and longest-running support to local governance and basic service delivery in Timor-Leste, anchored in strengthening the systems that connect planning, budgeting and public financial management across all levels of government.

PARTISIPA’s support across the program is driven by three connected approaches - advisory support, technical assistance, and evidence, learning, and innovation. These approaches reinforce each other: advisory support sets direction; technical assistance builds capacity; and evidence informs decisions.

PARTISIPA aims to improve village access to quality infrastructure and services

PARTISIPA has the following End of Investment Outcomes (EOIOs):

  • EOIO 1: Infrastructure and services needs of villages are better addressed by national government.
  • EOIO 2: Sub-national governments better deliver their mandated infrastructure and services to villages.
  • EOIO 3: National and Sub-National governments manage sub-national roads more effectively and efficiently, resulting in sustainable improved connectivity.
An icon representing stronger government, better services - a key pillar of the PARTISIPA program.

Stronger Government, Better Services

Working with national government partners to strengthen national policies, standards and coordination so municipalities can function effectively. This includes decentralisation reforms, financial systems, national service standards, and integrated management information systems and tools.

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An icon representing stronger government, better services - a key pillar of the PARTISIPA program.

Stronger Government, Better Services

Working with national government partners to strengthen national policies, standards and coordination so municipalities can function effectively. This includes decentralisation reforms, financial systems, national service standards, and integrated management information systems and tools.

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An icon representing municipalities leading inclusive local development - a key pillar of the PARTISIPA program.

Municipalities Leading Inclusive Local Development

Supporting municipalities to plan, budget and deliver services. This includes Annual Action Plans, municipal investment planning, performance-based support, and stronger participation and accountability mechanisms.

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An icon representing municipalities leading inclusive local development - a key pillar of the PARTISIPA program.

Municipalities Leading Inclusive Local Development

Supporting municipalities to plan, budget and deliver services. This includes Annual Action Plans, municipal investment planning, performance-based support, and stronger participation and accountability mechanisms.

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An icon representing resilient municipal infrastructure for the future - a key pillar of the PARTISIPA program.

Resilient Municipal Infrastructure for the Future

Improving rural water systems, rural roads and community infrastructure through stronger standards, long-term operations and maintenance, and climate-resilient design.

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An icon representing resilient municipal infrastructure for the future - a key pillar of the PARTISIPA program.

Resilient Municipal Infrastructure for the Future

Improving rural water systems, rural roads and community infrastructure through stronger standards, long-term operations and maintenance, and climate-resilient design.

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Flagship Activities

Phase 2 focuses on strengthening the systems that keep services running well - from decentralisation reforms and better coordination across government, to stronger planning, budgeting and infrastructure management. This work - organised under flagship activities - is helping us embed stronger systems, meet community needs, deliver longer lasting infrastructure and build the capability to maintain and sustain services for longer.

Municipal Governance Strengthening

Strengthening municipal administration by supporting improved policies, systems and feedback loops between sub-national and national levels.

PARTISIPA supports stronger municipal governance by helping to improve policy frameworks, systems and institutional coordination across national and sub-national levels. Through embedded technical assistance, capacity development and evidence-based reforms, the program works to clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen planning and public financial management processes, and support more effective implementation of legal and regulatory frameworks. These efforts aim to promote coordinated decision-making, more efficient resource allocation, and improved delivery of infrastructure and services over the long term.

A group of government workers are standing in a line with their right arm raised, holding green folders during a government meeting.
A group of government workers are standing in a line with their right arm raised, holding green folders during a government meeting.

Municipal Governance Strengthening

Strengthening municipal administration by supporting improved policies, systems and feedback loops between sub-national and national levels.

PARTISIPA supports stronger municipal governance by helping to improve policy frameworks, systems and institutional coordination across national and sub-national levels. Through embedded technical assistance, capacity development and evidence-based reforms, the program works to clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen planning and public financial management processes, and support more effective implementation of legal and regulatory frameworks. These efforts aim to promote coordinated decision-making, more efficient resource allocation, and improved delivery of infrastructure and services over the long term.

A smiling woman stands with crutches in the middle of a road in a Timorese village. There are buildings and people on the side of the road and trees in the background.

Inclusive Local Development

Strengthening inclusive, locally led development with women and persons with disabilities at the centre.

PARTISIPA supports inclusive, locally led development by strengthening participation, accountability and leadership in municipal governance. The program works to ensure that local priorities inform planning, service delivery and infrastructure investments, with particular attention to the meaningful engagement of women, persons with disabilities and their representative organisations. Through support for citizen consultation processes, local decision-making structures, Annual Action Planning, and networks of women public servants, PARTISIPA helps foster more inclusive, responsive and sustainable development outcomes.

A smiling woman stands with crutches in the middle of a road in a Timorese village. There are buildings and people on the side of the road and trees in the background.

Inclusive Local Development

Strengthening inclusive, locally led development with women and persons with disabilities at the centre.

PARTISIPA supports inclusive, locally led development by strengthening participation, accountability and leadership in municipal governance. The program works to ensure that local priorities inform planning, service delivery and infrastructure investments, with particular attention to the meaningful engagement of women, persons with disabilities and their representative organisations. Through support for citizen consultation processes, local decision-making structures, Annual Action Planning, and networks of women public servants, PARTISIPA helps foster more inclusive, responsive and sustainable development outcomes.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Strengthening evidence-based decision making through better data and integrated MIS systems.

PARTISIPA supports evidence-based decision-making by strengthening government-owned management information systems (MIS) that provide the data needed for inclusive, resilient and accountable planning, budgeting and service delivery. Through technical assistance and systems integration, including support to connect MIS platforms with the Municipal Portals, the program helps strengthen institutional capability and enables municipal governments to make more informed decisions based on reliable data and evidence.

A PARTISIPA staff member with an ornage hi visibility vest sits at a water source as she enters data from a sheet of a paper into a digital device during a water scarcity mapping exercise. Water is running from bamboo pipe in the background.
A PARTISIPA staff member with an ornage hi visibility vest sits at a water source as she enters data from a sheet of a paper into a digital device during a water scarcity mapping exercise. Water is running from bamboo pipe in the background.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Strengthening evidence-based decision making through better data and integrated MIS systems.

PARTISIPA supports evidence-based decision-making by strengthening government-owned management information systems (MIS) that provide the data needed for inclusive, resilient and accountable planning, budgeting and service delivery. Through technical assistance and systems integration, including support to connect MIS platforms with the Municipal Portals, the program helps strengthen institutional capability and enables municipal governments to make more informed decisions based on reliable data and evidence.

A group of road workers in high visibility clothing and hard hats are smoothing wet cement as they build a road in a rural setting in Timor-Leste.

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

Building inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure for all.

PARTISIPA supports the development of inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure that improves access to services and opportunities for all communities. Working through government systems, the program promotes more durable, accessible and cost-effective infrastructure through initiatives such as fibre-reinforced concrete pilots and government-led expansion, the development of Universal Design standards, infrastructure quality audits, and support for Timor-Leste’s Rural Roads Master Plan. These efforts help strengthen resilience to climate impacts while advancing inclusive development outcomes.

A group of road workers in high visibility clothing and hard hats are smoothing wet cement as they build a road in a rural setting in Timor-Leste.

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

Building inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure for all.

PARTISIPA supports the development of inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure that improves access to services and opportunities for all communities. Working through government systems, the program promotes more durable, accessible and cost-effective infrastructure through initiatives such as fibre-reinforced concrete pilots and government-led expansion, the development of Universal Design standards, infrastructure quality audits, and support for Timor-Leste’s Rural Roads Master Plan. These efforts help strengthen resilience to climate impacts while advancing inclusive development outcomes.

Climate-Resilient Water Management

Developing climate-informed solutions for lasting water security.

PARTISIPA supports climate-resilient water management by strengthening the evidence, systems and partnerships needed for sustainable and equitable water resource management. Through initiatives such as water scarcity mapping, water resources management research, strengthened rural water sector governance, and the continuation and expansion of the Atabae pilot, the program helps government and communities make informed decisions, improve resilience to climate-related risks, and protect critical water resources. Gender equality, disability and social inclusion considerations are integrated across these efforts to support inclusive and locally relevant solutions.

A group of villagers stand on top of a large concrete water tank painted blue and set amongst a lush tropical environment, they are conducting repairs.
A group of villagers stand on top of a large concrete water tank painted blue and set amongst a lush tropical environment, they are conducting repairs.

Climate-Resilient Water Management

Developing climate-informed solutions for lasting water security.

PARTISIPA supports climate-resilient water management by strengthening the evidence, systems and partnerships needed for sustainable and equitable water resource management. Through initiatives such as water scarcity mapping, water resources management research, strengthened rural water sector governance, and the continuation and expansion of the Atabae pilot, the program helps government and communities make informed decisions, improve resilience to climate-related risks, and protect critical water resources. Gender equality, disability and social inclusion considerations are integrated across these efforts to support inclusive and locally relevant solutions.

Cross-sector Collaboration

PARTISIPA works alongside other Government of Australia investments and development partners to ensure alignment, reduce duplication and strengthen national systems.

On PFM and civil service reform. See PROSIVU

On gender transformative practices embedded in women's leadership and accessiblity of GBV services. See Nabilan

On strengthening climate adaptation, water security and community resilience.

Our Partners

PARTISIPA works closely with national and municipal institutions across Timor-Leste as well as multiple civil society organisations on frontline delivery of services and local community development.

Autoridade Munisipál Aileu | Autoridade Munisipál Ainaro | Autoridade Munisipál Baucau | Autoridade Munisipál Bobonaro | Autoridade Munisipál Covalima | Autoridade Munisipál Dili | Autoridade Munisipál Ermera | Autoridade Munisipál Liquiçá | Autoridade Munisipál Lautem | Autoridade Munisipál Manufahi | Autoridade Munisipál Manatuto | Autoridade Munisipál Viqueque | Autoridade Rejionál Oe-Cusse

Our Team

PARTISIPA brings together Timorese and international specialists in governance, public financial management, infrastructure, climate resilience, community engagement and GEDSI. The team works closely with government counterparts, providing advisory support, technical assistance and evidence to strengthen systems and drive sustainable change.

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Explore PARTISIPA's latest news, stories and achievements

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