The project will support the implementation of 130 climate-resilient small-scale infrastructure across six municipalities that have been identified as most vulnerable to climate-related hazards.
Safeguarding rural communities and their physical assets from climate-induced disasters in Timor-Leste
Summary
Thee six-year project ‘Safeguarding Rural Communities and their Physical Assets from Climate Induced Disasters in Timor-Leste’ will support the implementation of 130 climate-resilient small-scale infrastructure across six municipalities that have been identified as most vulnerable to climate-related hazards. Approximately 175,840 people – around 15% of the population – will benefit from 38 new water supply systems, 25 irrigation schemes, 216 kilometres of rural roads, and 20 flood-protection infrastructure.
The project will also introduce transformative adaptation approaches to planning and implementation of the country’s rural infrastructure development programmes under village and municipality levels development planning frameworks.
Further, it will strengthen ecosystems services through catchment management approaches and reforestation, as well as bolster Timor-Leste’s policies, regulations and institutions related to climate change and disaster preparedness. This includes developing risk information services, vulnerability mapping and monitoring.
UNDP/Timor-Leste
Background
As Timor-Leste continues to experience unpredictable weather patterns and the impacts of more intense wet seasons and longer dry seasons, government representatives from the Secretary of State for Environment, Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries, Interior (Secretary of State for Civil Protection), Public Works, and State Administration opened a United Nations Development Program inception workshop for a new adaptation project, backed by the global Green Climate Fund, to help protect rural communities.
More than 70 percent of Timorese live in remote rural areas with little infrastructure. Their lives and livelihoods are significantly impacted by climate-related events such as floods, landslides, erosion, sea level rise and droughts, which have been increasing in intensity in Southeast Asia in recent years. In the most recent disasters to hit the country, an unexpected late wet season caused widespread flooding in Dili in March, while drought ruined crop production in other areas, dramatically increasing food insecurity among subsistence farmers who make up over 65 percent of the population.
Major
Achievements
- Comprehensive climate hazard mapping carried out and multi-hazard climate risk model developed for Timor-Leste and include floods, landslide, erosion and drought risks.
- National policies, regulations and standards revised, methodologies and guidelines for climate proofing of infrastructure developed and adopted
- 130 climate resilient rural infrastructure units implemented in 6 municipalities (including 38 water supply systems, 47 rural roads and bridges, 25 rural irrigation schemes, 20 river/flood protection infrastructure
- implementation of 1500 hectares of reforestation and agroforestry interventions providing co-benefits for resilient rural infrastructure and improved livelihoods among 23,412 households
- 200 staff in respective line ministries such as MSA, MI-SSCP and MAF (both at national and municipality levels) trained including the application of new tools and technologies for climate-resilient infrastructure.
Project Outcome
The project aims to:
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Related Materials
GCF Factsheet 2021 |
Project document |
Project Details
National
Levels of Intervention
Key Implementers
Country Office Local Governments National Governments Non-Governmental Organizations Private Sector Partners United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Green Climate Fund
Source of Fund
Funding Amounts
US$22.356 million via Green Climate Fund grant
US$36.687 million via the Government of Timor-Leste; $400,000 via UN Development Programme
Project Partners
National Directorate for Climate Change, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Project Dates
2020 to 2026