Background
Land is an important component of human identity, culture, and dignity. The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste recognizes and protects these rights through Article 5 on land, Article 37 on the inviolability of residence and correspondence, and Article 58 on housing. In addition to the Constitution of the RDTL, Timor-Leste has established legal framework for governing land, such as law No. 13/2017 on the Special Regime for the Definition of Ownership of Immovable Property and law No. 8/2017 on Expropriation for Public Utility.
These legal frameworks are important for raising public awareness to facilitate citizens can understand their rights and obligations regarding access to, use of, and management of land in accordance with the laws in force in Timor-Leste. Public awareness of the legal framework governing land is essential for preventing conflicts, protecting citizens' rights, and promoting fair, responsible, and lawful land use. Secure and transparent access to information on land rights is also critical to social stability, economic development, investment, urban planning, infrastructure development, and the sustainable management of natural resources in Timor-Leste.
Effective land administration requires reliable, accurate, accessible, and up-to-date land information, including information on land parcels, landowners or rights holders, land boundaries, registration status, and relevant documentation. Public awareness and dissemination of land-related information should reach all citizens, from urban areas to remote communities, to ensure that accurate information about land rights is widely available. The Government and relevant institutions therefore have an important role in ensuring access to adequate and reliable information through digital systems that are transparent, publicly accessible, and easy to use, particularly about the legal status of land parcels and ownership rights.
Research Objectives
General Objective
The overall objective of this research is to assess the current situation regarding access to land rights data and to analyze the opportunities, challenges, and mechanisms for promoting the digitization and integration of land information systems within government institutions in Timor-Leste, with the aim of strengthening the transparency, accessibility, efficiency, and security of land data management.
Specific Objectives
- Identify and analyze the current situation regarding access to land rights data, including the availability, quality, timeliness, and accessibility of data for the public and relevant users
- Identify and analyze the government institutions and other relevant stakeholders that produce, store, manage, and use land-related data, including their respective roles and responsibilities in land information management
- Evaluate the existing systems, procedures, and digital platforms used to manage, store, and share land related information
- Identify the challenges and constraints associated with accessing and sharing land data, including legal, institutional, technical, human resource, infrastructure, interoperability, and data-security issues
- Analyze opportunities for developing a digital system that facilitates public access to information on land parcels, registration status, ownership or rights holders, and relevant documentation, subject to the limitations and protections established by law
- Propose practical recommendations for the digitization, interoperability, and integration of land information systems among relevant government institutions
- Identify measures to strengthen transparency, accountability, the efficiency of public services, and citizen participation in land information management
Expected Results
- A report on the current situation regarding access to data related to land rights in Timor-Leste, including a general mapping of data types, data sources, responsible institutions, and existing access mechanisms
- Identification of gaps and challenges in land data management systems, including issues related to data availability, quality, updating, accessibility, sharing, and interoperability
- An institutional mapping of the roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms among relevant institutions involved in the production, management, maintenance, and sharing of land information
- An assessment of digitalization readiness, including infrastructure, information systems, human resources, procedures, and institutional capacity
- Identification of opportunities and priorities for improving access to land information through digital platforms and secure and transparent data sharing mechanisms
- Policy recommendations and practical measures to promote land digitalization, increase transparency, reduce reliance on physical documents, and improve the efficiency of public services
- A proposal for the gradual implementation of digitalization and improved access to land information, considering institutional capacity, legal considerations, security, and data protection
Scope of the Research
Thematic Scope
- Access by citizens and the public to data related to land rights
- Availability, quality, currency, and storage of land data
- Documentation, registration, and information relating to land parcels
- Digital systems and platforms related to land administration
- Digitization of documents and existing land records
- Interoperability and data sharing among institutions
- Transparency and accessibility of land information for citizens
- Security, privacy, and data governance
- Legal frameworks and public policies related to land information management
- Institutional capacity and human resources for the management of digital systems
Sample and Research Target Areas
The research will be conducted in seven (7) municipalities: Lautem, Baucau, Manufahi, Aileu, Covalima, Bobonaro, and Dili, with a total sample size of 400 participants (150 women, 250 men), including 10% people with disability in each municipality.
Research Methodology
The research will adopt a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current situation regarding access to land data and readiness for digitalization.
Methods will include:
- Literature review of relevant documents, laws, regulations, and policies
- Semi-structured interviews with key informants from relevant institutions
- Surveys among community members, land information users, public officials, and other stakeholders
- Data analysis using qualitative and quantitative methods
- Verification and validation of preliminary findings with stakeholders
Deliverables
- Development of the research methodology
- Preparation and submission of the inception report
- Data collection
- Data analysis and report writing
- Presentation of the verification and validation findings
- Presentation of the final report
- Development of a policy brief
- Translation of reports from Tetun into English
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted no later than 9 October 2025.
For more information, please contact us by phone at +670 7845 9090 or +670 7606 9532, or by email at [email protected] or [email protected].
