Dili, 28/07/2024: The UNDP’s ACCESS Project in Timor-Leste, funded by KOICA, launched the first stage of Solar Water Pump Construction for 257 Households in Laclo, Manatutu municipality through the realization of a cultural ceremony.

Four (4) villages in Manatuto municipality namely, Tahagamu, Hatuermera 1, Hatuermera 2, and Hatuanahun, with a total of 257 households, will directly benefit from the clean water which will be supplied by the solar water pump.  

The ceremony was attended by the Vice-Minister of State Administration (MSA), H.E. Mr. Jacinto Rigoberto Gomes expressed his gratitude for the development partners saying “Thank you very much for the commitment of our partners, UNDP and KOICA, who have helped to put government priorities into their programmes. As a community, as Timorese, and as representatives of the people in the government, we are grateful for the help and support they have provided.”

To support the Government of Timor-Leste in accelerating and widening the coverage of services to address climate change impacts and inequality, UNDP Indonesia in conjunction with UNDP Timor-Leste has forged collaboration with and mobilized funding support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Indonesia. KOICA Timor-Leste's Deputy Country Director, Mr. Sunghwan Jan, who also took part in the event expressed his appreciation to both Government of Timor-Leste and UNDP, “I am very happy to be present at this important cultural ceremony that marks the beginning of the construction of the solar water panel system. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the government of Timor-Leste, especially the Ministry of State Administration, and the work being done by UNDP as our implementing partner, for their full support and dedication to the project”, he stated 

Through this South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), Solar-PV Water Pumps (SWP) and Highly Efficient Solar Lamp Systems (HESLS/ LTSHE) are being implemented in remote villages of Timor-Leste and Indonesia providing sustainable access to clean water and lighting.

The project aims for the poor and most vulnerable communities to have equitable and sustainable access to basic services required for improving livelihoods. In Indonesia, the ACCESS project locations are 23 villages in East Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and Central Kalimantan Provinces, while in Timor-Leste are 25 villages in Ataúro, Bobonaro, and Manatuto municipalities. 

UNDP Timor-Leste through its ACCESS Project has implemented a Highly Efficient Solar Lamp System in 3 targeted municipalities: Manatuto, Bobonaro, and Atauro, which was completed in 2022. Whereas for SWP, following the completion of the detailed feasibility study in 2022, the construction and installation only started in 2023. To initiate the SWP program, a cultural ceremony was held in Tahagamu, Laclo, Manatuto municipality to request permission from ancestors. The system utilizes energy from the sun by taking the sun’s rays (photos) using solar panels and converted into electricity which will drive the pump in piping the water to the source/spring and distribute to the community as the end users. This same program will be also implemented in other 2 municipalities: Bobonaro and Atauro. On behalf of UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Domingos Lequi Siga, highlighted the importance of this project stating that “in addition to the installation of highly efficient solar lamps in 2022, this solar water pump systems will help the community, particularly women and children, who would otherwise walk a long distance to collect water every day. Since the village is not yet connected to the national grid, the pump will be powered by harnessing electricity from the sun, which is abundantly available, and pump the water from the spring situated in a lower elevation to the community”. 

The installation and construction of the SWP system in twelve sites/ sub-villages, from 3 municipalities, will benefit the total number of 2609 beneficiaries (51% women and 49% men) (630 households). 

This project contributes to SGDs no. 1, 6, 7, and 10, to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerate structural transformation for sustainable development (addressing inequalities & exclusions, transitioning to zero-carbon development & building a more inclusive accountable governance system), and build resilience to shocks and crises.    

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