Local NGOs in national development: The case of East Timor

Assistance Coordination (NDPEAC) in the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The first
joint study was of lessons learned from the World Bank’s Community Empowerment
and Local Governance Project, and was published in March 2004. The initial team
comprised three from the Government (two from NDPEAC, one from President’s
Office) and three Timorese NGOs, plus one INGO who provided a volunteer for two
months to work with the team (NDPEAC 2004).
Determining a clear focus and role
From a small legal aid office HAK had grown significantly in both the size and scope
of its activities over the five years. It responded flexibly to the rapidly changing
situation, and, because of its capacity and its broad interpretation of human rights, took
on a range of roles well beyond its original focus. But the challenge it faced was that,
with the likely resources at its disposal in the next few years, it could not be really
effective if it kept trying to do everything it was doing in 2003-04. Its staff and
volunteers were very overworked, meeting all the expectations which had been created
of HAK. It had built enormous trust at community level, and needed to maintain that,
but could not stretch its resources infinitely. It needed to refine its focus, especially in
light of the growing capacity of other organisations, (e.g. in monitoring, cases etc). 256
The Strategic Planning process started in August 2004 was intended to address this
challenge.
Developing staff and organisational capacities
HAK staff and volunteers had participated in a great deal of training in East Timor and
internationally, 257 but what staff said had been most important was the internal learning
which had been fostered within HAK, through monthly gatherings of staff and
volunteers. It was through these monthly meetings that staff who had undertaken
training or study tours had been able to share with others the results of their
experiences. These meetings also provided an opportunity for collective discussion of
how to solve problems facing individuals or the organisation as a whole. Some of the
256 Respondents 56, 58, 102.
257 Respondent 65.
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