28 February 2023  
 
The United Nations Development Programme of Timor-Leste Country Office on Tuesday signed $4.8 million Exchange of Notes with the Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste to support the implementation of small-scale rural infrastructures in three municipalities (Liquiça, Ermera, and Bobonaro) and Special Autonomous Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA). The infrastructures to be built or rehabilitated will provide better access to community particularly in the rural areas who are often exposed to vulnerability including the impacts of climate change.  
 
The project titled Community Infrastructures for Resilience was signed in the UN Kofi Anan Conference Room in Caicoli, Dili, Timor-Leste.  
 
The event was attended by Mr. KIMURA Tetsuya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel, Resident Representative of UNDP Timor-Leste, as well as Ms. Funmi Balogun, UN Resident Coordinator, and Mr. Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, Minister of State Administration of the Government of Timor-Leste.  

In his statement, Mr. KIMURA Tetsuya said “This project is in line with the concept of "human security," to which Japan attaches much importance. We wish that the communities here will enhance the preparedness to address any type of disasters that may occur in the future.” 

UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Munkhtuya Altangerel thanked the Government of Japan for the fund. She said “This is a joint program between Government of Japan, Government of Timor-Leste and UNDP. Government of Japan will put $4.8 million while UNDP through its TRAC resources will put $0.3 million, so the total budget for the project is $5.1 million”. She also appreciated the Ministry of State Administration for the long-standing cooperation not only in this project but also many other projects that are being implemented. 

The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Funmi Balogun highlighted the importance of listening to the voice of community through building community infrastructures. She said “it will be very easy to achieve SDG if the focus is on the municipality level of infrastructures, health, and livelihood. No one will be left behind; Through infrastructures everyone will have access to opportunities such as education, health, and livelihoods”. 

From the government of Timor-Leste, Minister of State Administration, Mr. Miguel Pereira de Carvalho thanked both Government of Japan and UNDP that this project will help Government in completing the remaining infrastructures in the rural areas. “Based on the government assessment, a total of approximately 1,500 infrastructures to be built. To date, only some 2,500 have been built which means remaining 1,250 units are yet to be built. This project will contribute to reducing these numbers”. 

Timor-Leste is a lower middle-income (LMIC) Small Island Developing State (SIDs) which became an independent country only 20 years ago. As a young nation, it has many development challenges including significant poverty, limited employment opportunities, gender inequality, and lack of access to basic services because of difficult mountainous terrain but also due to lack of institutional capacities and infrastructure in place. 

This project will address some of the most pressing challenges, particularly those related to not having community level infrastructures that could enable better access to basic services and not having employment opportunities for generating additional income. The project will be implemented during 2023-2027. 

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