LocationsEmpowering over 16,000 people across Lautém Municipality, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and UNDP are building climate-resilient roads, sustainable water systems, and greener livelihoods in Timor-Leste’s eastern frontier.
Resilient Roads and Clean Water: GCF-UNDP Transforms Rural Infrastructure in Lautém
October 16, 2025
Team conducting final inspection of the water supply system in Suco Serelau, Lautém Municipality. All nine tap stands are functioning well with good water flow, and one pipeline is connected to the Health Post Center.
Domingos Sarmento/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Lautém Municipality, located at the far eastern tip of Timor-Leste, is a land of unique natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and ecological importance. Known for its rugged mountains, expansive coastal plains, and pristine marine ecosystems, Lautém is home to Nino Konis Santana National Park - he country’s first national park and a biodiversity hotspot. Its coastline along the Banda and Timor Seas not only defines its geographical significance but also sustains the livelihoods of local fishers and coastal communities.
Historically, Lautém played a vital role in the nation’s resistance struggle and continues to serve as a cultural stronghold, particularly in the city of Lospalos, where traditional music, ritual practices, and indigenous Fataluku language traditions remain deeply rooted. Despite its richness in natural and cultural resources, the municipality has long grappled with development challenges, especially in its remote villages where basic services and infrastructure are often lacking.
Geographic isolation, limited road connectivity, and a fragile rural water system have made Lautém particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The area is prone to intense rainfall during the wet season, prolonged dry periods, flooding, landslides, and soil erosion - all of which are projected to worsen in coming decades. These climate-induced hazards have a severe impact on agriculture, health, education, and livelihoods, especially for women and youth who often bear the brunt of service gaps in rural communities.
At the same time, Lautém’s potential remains strong. With fertile land suitable for diversified agriculture, vast forests ideal for ecosystem restoration, and rich cultural and natural assets that support sustainable tourism, Lautém stands poised for climate-smart development - if equipped with the right investments and infrastructure.
Recognizing these challenges and opportunities, the Government of Timor-Leste, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), is implementing a transformative initiative titled “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters in Timor-Leste.” This multi-year national project prioritizes climate-vulnerable municipalities, including Lautém, and aims to strengthen community resilience through the construction of sustainable infrastructure and integrated climate adaptation measures.
Engineers from PDIM Lautém and the UNDP team conduct a joint inspection of the rehabilitated rural road in Iliomar, improving connectivity between Suco Iliomar and Aleabere. The 1.9 km road enhances community access, supports farmers, and strengthens local livelihoods through better transportation links.
Domingos Sarmento/ UNDP Timor-Leste
From 2022 to 2025, thirteen infrastructure projects have been implemented or are underway in Lautém, including five road rehabilitation schemes and seven water supply system upgrades. These initiatives aim to enhance connectivity, increase access to clean water, improve agricultural productivity, and safeguard communities from climate shocks. As of 2024, three projects have been completed, five are in progress, and five are scheduled for implementation in 2025.
In Bauro and Wairoque, new climate-resilient roads - spanning 4.4 km and 2.3 km respectively - now connect remote aldeias to suku and municipal centers, directly benefiting over 4,000 residents. These roads allow farmers to transport cassava, candlenuts, livestock, and vegetables more easily to markets, while also facilitating access to schools, clinics, and places of worship. Ongoing road rehabilitation from Osoira to Alira (1.9 km) and from Cacavei to Ailarinu and Luro (4.5 km) are expected to improve mobility for an additional 6,000 residents by 2025.
In parallel, water access has significantly improved. A 5.97 km water supply system in Muapitine, completed in August 2024, now serves 2,866 people. Another 790-meter system in Fuiluru - 89% complete - will provide safe water for key government facilities in Lospalos, including public works, justice, and health offices. Projects in Souru and Serelau are on track to serve more than 2,200 people collectively by August 2025.
Beyond infrastructure, the project prioritizes sustainability and resilience. In partnership with local NGO Fraterna, agroforestry and reforestation have been integrated to stabilize slopes and protect roads from erosion. In Bauro and Wairoque, over 14,000 trees - including fruit trees - were planted on nearly 19.18 hectares of farmland, benefiting 16 households with both environmental protection and supplemental income opportunities.
UNDP Engineer Nerio Tilman, together with Lautém Municipality engineers and technicians, conducted a site inspection of the completed water supply system in Suco Souro, Lospalos Administrative Post. The project, now 100% finished, includes 14 tap stands and one reservoir tank, all functioning well. During the visit, the team observed community members already benefiting from the system, collecting clean water using buckets and jerry cans.
Domingos Sarmento/ UNDP Timor-Leste
These local efforts are part of a larger national framework. The GCF-UNDP project targets 175,840 direct beneficiaries across six municipalities: Lautém, Baucau, Aileu, Viqueque, Ermera, and Liquiçá. Through a combination of infrastructure development, policy reform, climate data integration, and technical training, the project aims to embed climate resilience in every stage of planning, design, and maintenance of small-scale rural infrastructure.
In Lautém, where remoteness and exposure to extreme climate events intersect, this work is already making a difference. Improved roads reduce isolation. Reliable water systems reduce the burden on women and girls. Restored landscapes help buffer communities from landslides and drought. And strengthened local institutions now have access to tools, training, and data to plan better for the future.
The Lautém interventions directly support Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011 - 2030 and its international commitments under the Paris Agreement. They also contribute to global Sustainable Development Goals - particularly SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 13 (Climate Action).
As the project moves into its final phase, Lautém stands as a living example of how rural infrastructure, when built with climate in mind, can be more than just roads and pipes - it can be the foundation for dignity, opportunity, and long-term sustainability for generations to come.
UNDP and Lautém Municipality engineers conducted a joint inspection at the La-RR-06 road site in September 2025, verifying 67.06% progress. The team provided on-site guidance on stone masonry and confirmed good concrete quality, demonstrating UNDP’s commitment to ensuring construction quality and transparency.
Domingos Sarmento/ UNDP Timor-Leste
About the GCF-UNDP Project
The project “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters in Timor-Leste” is a flagship climate resilience initiative funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), co-financed by the Government of Timor-Leste, and implemented with technical support from UNDP. With a total project value of USD 59.4 million - including USD 22.3 million from GCF and USD 36.6 million from national co-financing - the project aims to reduce vulnerability to climate-induced hazards by strengthening infrastructure, restoring ecosystems, and building institutional capacity.
Operating under the National Implementation Modality (NIM), the project focuses on six high-risk municipalities: Lautém, Baucau, Aileu, Viqueque, Ermera, and Liquiçá. It addresses barriers such as outdated infrastructure standards, weak climate data systems, limited municipal planning capacity, and under-resourced watershed management.
The project’s key outputs include the development and application of climate risk data and hazard mapping to guide infrastructure decisions across sectors. It promotes the integration of resilience standards into infrastructure-related policies and long-term planning processes, ensuring that small-scale rural infrastructure is designed, constructed, and maintained to withstand future climate risks. It supports the construction of climate-resilient rural roads, water systems, and flood defenses in the most vulnerable areas. In parallel, it implements agroforestry and catchment restoration measures to stabilize landscapes, reduce erosion, and enhance ecosystem services. Finally, the project invests in training and capacity building for local engineers, planners, and community leaders, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to sustain resilience efforts beyond the life of the project.
The project is fully aligned with Timor-Leste’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Strategic Development Plan 2011 - 2030. It builds on lessons learned from past rural infrastructure programs and represents a model of sustainable, inclusive, and climate-smart development.
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