Asian Journal of Environment and Disaster Management (AJEDM)

Volume 5 Number 4 (2013)

doi: 10.3850/S1793924013000084


Governance in Timor-Leste: Towards Improvement in Disaster and Environment Management


Mikiyasu Nakayama1 and Yosuke Yamashiki2
1Department of International Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Science, University of Tokyo,5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8563, Japan.
nakayama@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
2Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, 2F Konoe Building, 69, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
yamashiki.yosuke.3u@kyoto-u.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

Managing the environment and enhancing preparedness for disasters is always problematic in post-conflict nations since such areas often lack good governance.Moreover, international societies do not always carry out their aid operations in a streamlined fashion. This special issue focuses on the issue of governance as a means of improved environmental management and enhanced preparedness for disasters within Timor-Leste (East Timor). The findings of these case studies suggest that (a) a good practice of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) does not necessarily mean that ‘armed groups’ should be disbanded in haste, for such a mechanism may be used as a functioning institutional framework to implement projects shortly after the cessation of the conflict, (b) human resources development should be based on a conjunctive use of two major sources for employment, namely the government and NGOs, (c) the government should have a mechanism of employment open for the public, (d) quality assurance of Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects for ‘nominal’ developing nations may not be the best practice in post-conflict societies, (e) national revenue from the Petroleum Fund should be managed wisely to avoid ‘resource curse’ that may take place otherwise, and (f) the promotion of appropriate afforestation to prevent disaster and land erosion by establishing an adequate form of regulation for land users and owners and by promoting agroforestry through South-South collaboration.

Keywords: Disaster, Governance, ODA, Post-Conflict, Timor-Leste.



Back to TOC


FULL TEXT(PDF)