1. Agriculture Program
The Agriculture Program has a high priority for Timor-Leste as infrastructure development is the central element with the goal to support food production, improve distribution and food security directly through enhancing accessibility and indirectly by increasing the number of jobs and income. More than 63% of the households in the country depend on the agriculture sector. The Irrigation schemes are considered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as a major component for resuscitation in order to achieve targets of self-sufficiency in staple food crops, rice, and maize.
3. Rural and Urban Development Program
The objective of this Program is to ensure that planning for economic activity based on maximizing regional and local resources and should reduce the gap in progress between urban and rural areas. Support of the rural Infrastructure development is a priority for the government because of the large portion of the population, living in the rural areas in Timor-Leste.
5. Ports Program
Development of ports is a strategic priority to support economic growth and local industry, export-import activities that require fast and reliable freight services. Currently, only Dili port is serving all shipments in Timor-Leste. And the port’s capacity is not sufficient for the future. Moreover, the regional ports are also in poor condition. The SDP target is to relocate the main port of Dili to Tibar Bay and rehabilitate regional ports.
7. Management of Oil and Minerals Resources Program
Timor-Leste and it’s South Coast area contain a wide variety of natural resources. The Tasi Mane development Program was initiated by the Government as an investment program to accelerate economic growth in the South coast zone of the country which is identified in SDP. The initial goal of the Program to support development, create new jobs, improve living conditions, generate various industries, and stimulate the economy as well as attract investment in Timor-Leste. This revenue will help to finance health care, education, security & defence and to build and maintain the infrastructure.
From 2022, the Tasi Mane Program under the IF Portfolio expanded and renamed into the Management of Oil and Minerals Resources Program.
9. Telecommunications Program
The information system and communications are very important as industry and commerce rely on rapid and stable with adequate capacity and coverage to meet users’ demand. Improving information technology to support service delivery is one of the priorities of SDP. The FreeBalance was removed to the Financial System Program in 2013.
11. Tourism Program
The tourism sector in Timor-Leste is at the early stage of development with limited, but growing, numbers of international tourists and emerging tourism infrastructure. The infrastructure planning, including the prioritization of projects, will consider the needs of the tourism industry to ensure that the industry is not held back by poor access or a lack of critical infrastructure.
13. Education and Training Program
The education policy is based on the National Education Strategic Plan which recognizes the current situation and challenges that affect the MoE’s ability to meet the country’s obligations towards education development, as well as its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and other national priority targets. It provides sector-wide support that will guide implementation at all levels in the country, involving development partners and key stakeholders.
15. National Defense Program
Defence has a high priority for Timor-Leste. Development of a professional, respected defence force that is under democratic control and that has the capability to defend our nation, while also contributing to efforts for regional and global peace and stability. Professional defence force throughout the whole country is necessary to protect sovereignty and support national order. From 2022, the Security and Defence Program for the new IF Portfolio divided into two separate programs, including the National Defence Program.
17. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Program
According to the Strategic Development Plan 2011 – 2030, the Youth and Sports sector will help to re-shape Timor-Leste and contribute to the transformation of our society and economy. The Youth And Sports Program was separated from the Public Buildings program in 2013. It focuses on the construction of the national stadia for outdoor and indoor events and construction of eight regional outdoor stadia as a pre-requisite for the creation of national football leagues. According to SDP, “Social capital”, the Youth and Sports sector has significant importance for Timor-Leste`s development. From 2022, the Youth and Sports Program merged with the Social Solidarity Program and transformed into the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion.
19. Protection and conversation of environment Program
There are some new Programs under the IF Portfolio in 2022, including Protection and conversation of environment Program. According to the SDP, people of Timor-Leste have a strong relationship with the natural environment. For sustainably it’s important to ensure environmental regulation enforced for comprehensive protection and conservation legislation necessary to meet constitutional and international obligations.
21. Culture and Heritage Program
The Culture and Heritage Program is under the IF Portfolio in 2022. According to the SDP, Timor-Leste has an incredibly rich and diverse cultural heritage. To support the two new national cultural institutions, and the development of the creative economy, it’s essential to encourage our cultural diversity and build respect for our cultural heritage and shared history.
23. Investment and economic diversification Program
The Investment and economic diversification Program is under the new IF Portfolio in 2022. Promotion of investment and economic development is one of the priorities of the government in Timor-Leste. Public and private investment in core and productive infrastructure, forming the foundation of a strong and growing market economy, attracting domestic and international investors and supporting successful local businesses. Growth in the economy has been a result of increased public sector expenditure and private sector investment.
25. Access to Justice Program
The Access to Justice Program is under the new IF Portfolio from 2022. According to SDP, the justice sector plays a crucial role in the consolidation of peace and stability, guaranteeing the rule of law and promoting accountability and transparency in our institutions.
2. Water and Sanitation Program
Access to clean water and sanitation is very critical to Timor-Leste as it should help to improve public health, create new jobs and encourage rural development, make it easier to maintain and sustain our valuable water resources, and spread limited water resources.
4. Electricity Program
The objective of the Electricity Program is to provide reliable electricity generation, transmission, and distribution throughout Timor-Leste. The program aim is to build two power plants at Hera, and Betano; and to install 150KV nationwide power line grid plus 20KV distribution lines, 9 substations, medium and low voltage of house connection. The importance of reliable electricity supply is essential for the progress of the nation and economic development. All transmission line networks completed. Among the works that remain to complete the central control systems, improvement of the street lighting, operation and maintenance for the existing power supply system.
6. Airports Program
The airports and international air travel to and from Timor-Leste are essential for the development of business and tourism. However, the country has a lack of airports suitable for international standards accepted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Domestic aviation services are limited to chartered fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter services and the airfields served are inadequate to handle larger aircraft and more intensive services. The Government has a vision to improve and develop existing airports in Dili, Suai, Baucau, Maliana, and Viqueque as stated in SDP.
8. Public Financial Management Program
The Financial systems and supporting infrastructure Program was newly defined for the Infrastructure Fund in 2013 in responding to the increasing number of projects implemented by the Ministry of Finance that was originally listed under the Public Buildings Program of the Infrastructure Fund. Under this Portfolio one ongoing project “Free Balance System”. Since the establishment of the Program in 2013, 10 projects have already been completed. From 2022 the name of the Program is changed to the Public Financial Management.
10. Health Program
The Health Program focuses on the infrastructure support and development of the health sector in Timor-Leste, including extensions and improvements at the National Hospital, the referral hospitals, and the district and sub-district clinics and health centers. According to the Strategic Development Plan of Timor-Leste by 2030 the goal is to have a healthier population as a result of comprehensive, high-quality health services accessible to all Timorese people.
12. Good governance and institutional management Program
The Good governance and institutional management Program is the new Program under IF Portfolio for public buildings, technical support to CAFI and other activities. Public Buildings are important because many existing government offices were constructed during the Indonesian administration and few buildings were constructed during the Portuguese time. Many of these buildings were damaged prior to the restoration of independence and some do not fit anymore to the government’s needs.
14. National Security Program
The Infrastructure Fund supports the National security program that mainly related to construction of the facilities that contribute to the efficiency of the national security institutions to carry out tasks in order to accomplish the mission.
From 2022, the Security and Defence Program for the new IF Portfolio divided into two separate: National Security Program, and National Defence Program. The Programs covers Border surveillance points, Police Headquarter (National and Municipal); Police stations; Bairros PNTL.
16. Roads and Bridges Program
1. Roads
Well-constructed and maintained road system should be resilient to the climate and weather conditions and it`s essential for economic growth, social cohesion, and national security. According to the Strategic Development Plan 2011 – 2030, the development of roads in Timor-Leste has one of the highest priorities. The aim of the Program under the Infrastructure Fund is to support movement of goods and services as well as improve connectivity for transportation between municipalities to various centers. Roads have a strong economic and social impact because provide access to isolated areas, reduce time and cost of transportation. In 2022, the Roads Program merged with the Bridges Program into one the Roads and Bridges Program.
2. Bridges
Good and well-maintained bridges are crucial for ensuring reliable access to markets, education, and health services and for security and social stability. These are fundamental requirements for economic and social development that are recognized by the Government and stated in the Strategic Development Plan 2011 – 2030. Therefore, construction of new bridges, rehabilitation of deteriorated bridges and widening of narrow bridges was justified by high traffic that ranked it as a high priority.
18. Maintenance, rehabilitation and response to damaged structures by disaster Program
The Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program was proposed under IF by the Government during the budget review committee in 2016 in order to keep infrastructure facilities, such as road and water supply, in proper condition. Maintenance of the water supply is important for the country because it provides safe water supply services, reliable and adequate treatment, transmission, and distribution of water resources to benefit people in urban and rural areas, which considers as a high priority for the country’s development. From 2022, the Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program transformed into the Maintenance, rehabilitation and response to damaged structures by disaster Program with new sub-programs under the new IF Portfolio.
20. Guarantee of freedom of expression and access to information Program
The Guarantee of freedom of expression and access to information Program is among the new Programs under the IF Portfolio in 2022. The Government developing a framework and supporting independent and diverse media as the essential sources of information.
22. Court services support for population Program
The Court services support for population Program is under the new IF Portfolio in 2022. The justice system in Timor-Leste incorporates an integrated set of institutions and functions, including courts.
24. Transport Program
Since the establishment of the Infrastructure Fund in 2011, Transport Program was in the IF Portfolio in 2011 – 2012 and then divided into Roads, Bridges, Ports, and Airports. From 2022 the Transport Program recreated. Integrated transport framework of systems, services and facilities that facilitates and underpins inclusive economic and social development. Access to sustainable and safe transport system for reasons of commerce, employment, and social services is very important for Timor-Leste. The program aim is to help build and maintain transport infrastructure across the whole country.
26. Territorial Planning Program
The Territorial Planning Program is under the new IF Portfolio from 2022. According to SDP, National Planning Framework to guide the acceleration of sustainable economic growth and equitable development from national level to sucos level.