8/14/2019 Recommendations of the Infrastructure and National Systems Stream

1/4

Infrastructure and National SystemsThe ability of many people to improve their economic situation is limited by absence of good infrastructure systems. This includes not only hardware e.g. roads but softwarei.e. human systems for maintaining them. Electricity, telephone and informationcommunications technology (ICT) systems have become the subject of national debate,yet not much of this debate has led to improvement in the systems. Others, such as the

postal system (parcels, letters and Post Office bank and computer access) and publictransport need further debate and initiatives. Students at universities and civil society inaddition to political party members need to become more familiar with the details of debate in these areas in order to focus the nations financial and human resources onsolving these problems and setting up networks that will support the growth of theeconomy. Housing and Land are other issues which need more understanding to avoidmistakes made by other countries.

Recommendations

Recommendations to the Government on Making Information and Communication

Technology (ICT) Accessible in East Timor

The current ICT system is costing East Timor in many aspects. A proper assessment tomeasure both tangible and intangible loss of benefits is required.

A. At the Political Level:

1. Empowerment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Body (ARCOM) isrequired.

2. Competition (where market works in economically viable regions)

3. Universal Service Obligation (where market does not work ineconomically unviable regions)

B. Proper assessment of ICT4D (Information Communications Technology for Development) needs in TL (sector by sector health, education, agriculture,energy generation and distribution, etc.)

C. Development of an Integrated ICT for Development Policy and Plan:

1. ICT for Development (ICD4D) Deployments

2. 3C Connectivity, Content (especially Local content) and Capacity(Human Resource):

8/14/2019 Recommendations of the Infrastructure and National Systems Stream

2/4

i. Connectivity to the remote sites of Timor using appropriateTechnology (Wireless)

ii. Local Content Development to suit local needs in terms of languageand form

iii.Human resource development strategy in consultation witheducational institutions.

D. Localization of Internet content inside Timor-Leste (Intranet strategy):

1. Local servers: for emails, websites, news, e-commerce, wiki, etc.

2. Limit the use of expensive Internet International bandwidth to lower cost

3. Make anti-virus software easily available on local servers and train peopleto use it constantly, (for those not using Open Source software e.g. Linux,Ubuntu).

E. Localization of the forms of Content: Local languages and appropriate forms of content (Audio/video). For instance: use locally developed animation to teachTimors history, literacy campaign, health campaign, etc.

F. The use of proper technology: Wireless, Open Source Software and Openhardware - Low procurement and maintenance costs

G. Supporting infrastructure: Electricity generated by appropriate means includingsolar batteries for computers in rural areas.

H. The use of ICT to deal with factors hindering ICT access in Timor-Leste:

1. ICT Based/support for Income generation activities

2. ICT Based learning materials to combat Illiteracy

3. ICT Based/support for the Empowerment of women

8/14/2019 Recommendations of the Infrastructure and National Systems Stream

3/4

I. The establishment of ICT for Development (ICT4D) Task Force

Recommendations on Housing and Land Legislation of urban planning, urban design prior to housing. Legal certainty of ownership needed on land and property. Land reform (justice for all East Timorese to have a land for living). Prioritize local engineers and architects in designing and construction of

infrastructure

Recommendations on Electricity Generation Large infrastructure projects should be subject to international principles of

Transparency : contracts should be accessible to the public, i.e. a Publicdocument, Environmental impact assessment should be adequate, Should befinancially sustainable, Electricity generation and delivery systems should besubject to a Social impact assessment and human resource assessment (i.e.staff involved in installation of such systems should receive proper training andknowledge be transferred to Timorese).

Pass Environmental Impact Legislation in the Parliament and enforce it.

Support funding for continuation of research in the area of alternative energy andits delivery, including in rural areas.

Recommendations on financial inclusion (infrastructure aspects)

Establish a local banking network (such as through the Post Office) to encouragesavings and to enable money to be safely and cheaply sent around the country.

Recommendations on irrigation

There is need for a data-base of water systems.

Increased participation of women in the whole decision making process relatingto rural infrastructure rehabilitation & development, in civil society andgovernment projects is needed. This includes especially the participation of female heads of households and women of younger generations. Women shouldbe recognized as stakeholders in all aspects of rural development, since they areengaged in diverse tasks in the rural community.

In Timor-Leste more than half of the irrigated areas are covered by locallyconstructed schemes. So the government should pay more attention tosupporting the rehabilitation of these schemes.

Other recommendations to the Government

8/14/2019 Recommendations of the Infrastructure and National Systems Stream

4/4

Increased participation of women in devising new form of cooking technology(e.g. solar, gas) to make womens unpaid work in the household less time-consuming.

Newly established Local Government to establish recycling for different types of waste products to avoid so many of them going into landfill.

Recommendations to Civil Society

Establishment of a Consumers Association to advocate on issues of consumer protection, consumer rights etc. would facilitate the policy-making process andthe achievement of consumer protection legislation in the telecommunications,banking, retailing and other fields.

Civil society organizations working in the field of computer training should co-ordinate their activities and discuss the best use of available systems.

Recommendations to UNTL

Establish an Institute to carry out in-depth research on alternative energydevelopment in co-operation with Civil Society and other institutions.

Comparative study in Cities such as Curitiba in Brazil to see how other countrieshave addressed transport problems.