A Transformative Partnership for Environmental Compliance & Community Resilience: GCF-UNDP and ANLA, I.P. in Timor-Leste

Strengthening Environmental Oversight and Community Ownership for a Sustainable, Climate-Resilient Timor-Leste

May 26, 2025

A group of people in safety vests standing on a pathway, surrounded by greenery. — GCF-UNDP and ANLA teams conduct joint field monitoring of road construction works in Ermera Municipality, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and reinforcing climate-resilient infrastructure development.

Ines Pereira/ UNDP Timor-Leste

Setting a New Standard for Climate-Resilient Development

As part of UNDP’s mission to empower local communities and promote sustainable, inclusive development, this initiative reflects our global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The Green Climate Fund (GCF)-UNDP project, “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters in Timor-Leste,” stands out as a global best practice in integrating environmental governance with community-driven infrastructure development. Through an unprecedented collaboration with Timor-Leste’s National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA, I.P.), the project has not only met - but exceeded - international standards for sustainability, compliance, and social inclusion.

ANLA’s Rigorous Oversight: Ensuring Every Project Meets the Highest Standards

From the outset, ANLA played a pivotal role in guaranteeing that all 66 infrastructure projects - spanning flood protection, rural roads, drinking water, and irrigation systems - complied with Timor-Leste’s strict environmental laws, including:

Decree-Law No. 26/2012 (Basic Environmental Law) – The cornerstone of environmental protection.
Decree-Law No. 39/2022 (Environmental Decree Law) refers to its first amendment of Decree Law No. 5/2011 (Environmental Licensing Law) – Project Categorization and ensuring mandatory environmental Screening and monitoring.
Ministerial Diploma No. 44 – 47/2017 – Standard of the environmental documents and assessment procedures.

ANLA’s dedicated technical team conducted 82 field environmental screening and monitoring across six priority municipalities (Aileu, Baucau, Ermera, Lautém, Liquiçá, and Viqueque), verifying that construction adhered to Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) before issuing Environmental Certificates.

Graphic summarizing community engagement with icons representing different groups involved.

This inclusive, community-led approach is also strongly aligned with Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030, which emphasizes rural development, inclusive governance, and improved access to basic services. By elevating community voices and prioritizing local ownership, the project contributes directly to the SDP’s pillars on Social Capital and Infrastructure Development, supporting the government’s long-term vision for a peaceful, resilient, and self-reliant nation.

“This project shows what’s possible when national systems and community voices work together. With ANLA’s leadership and UNDP’s support, we are building infrastructure that respects both people and the environment - setting a new standard for sustainable development in Timor-Leste.” Firuz Ibragimov, Project Manager, GCF-UNDP Timor-Leste

Key Outcomes of Community Engagement:

Design Adjustments – Projects were modified to protect farmland, sacred sites, and water sources in response to community feedback.
Short-Term Jobs Created – Prioritizing local labor for construction and monitoring roles.
Sustainable Practices Training – Communities learned techniques for erosion control, reforestation, and water conservation.

UNDP and ANLA teams conduct joint monitoring in Baucau Municipality to inspect and supervise the construction of retaining walls on slopes - a key intervention to prevent landslides and promote environmental safety in climate-resilient infrastructure development.

Ines Pereira/ UNDP Timor-Leste

ANLA’s Expert Guidance: Protecting Nature, People, and Livelihoods

During site visits, ANLA provided actionable recommendations to contractors and communities, covering:

Environmental Protection

Erosion Control – Mandated reinforced retaining walls on slopes to prevent landslides.
Zero Waste Burning Policy – Enforce proper disposal of construction debris.
Water Source Safeguards – Established 50-meter no-pollution zones around drinking water systems.

Legal Compliance

100% Permit Verification – Ensured all contractors complied with Labour Code (Lei No. 4/2012) for worker safety.
Fair Land Compensation – Verified that no infrastructure was built on private land without agreement.

Boosting Local Economies

Local Sourcing – Used river stones for flood barriers, cutting costs and supporting nearby businesses.
Skills Development – Trained 40+ local contractors in climate-resilient construction, creating long-term expertise.

Building ANLA’s Capacity for the Future

The GCF-UNDP project invested and will invest in ANLA’s long-term capacity, including:

GIS & Drone Operation – Improved disaster risk mapping for future projects (currently implementing).
Advanced ESIA Training – 25 ANLA staff certified in global best practices (future planned)
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) – Enhanced precision in infrastructure planning (future planned).

Infographic showing statistics on infrastructure projects, environmental compliance, and irrigation schemes.

A Blueprint for Sustainable Development Worldwide

The GCF-UNDP and ANLA partnership has proven that climate resilience, environmental protection, and community empowerment are not just ideals - they are achievable realities. By combining strict regulatory oversight with grassroots participation, Timor-Leste has created a model for vulnerable nations worldwide. This is more than infrastructure, and it’s a foundation for a safer, greener, and more equitable future.

Looking ahead, UNDP remains deeply committed to working alongside Timor-Leste’s institutions and communities to strengthen resilience and sustainability. Building on the success of this partnership with ANLA, the GCF-UNDP project will continue to support inclusive development and climate action - ensuring that community voices, environmental safeguards, and national ownership remain at the core of Timor-Leste’s sustainable future.