Locations"Empowering Rural Communities in Timor-Leste Through Climate-Resilient Roads, Irrigation, and Nature-Based Solutions"
From Isolation to Opportunity: How Climate-Resilient Infrastructure is Transforming Lives in Aileu
August 12, 2025
The rehabilitated 2.8 km Manufoni–Lisimori road in Suco Madabeno, providing safe and reliable access for students of Madabeno Basic Filial School, enabling them to attend classes regularly and participate in school activities, rain or shine.
Julio Guterres/ UNDP
In the mountainous heart of Timor-Leste, Aileu Municipality spans approximately 736 square kilometres and is home to more than 54,000 residents across 9,383 households. Predominantly rural, over 80% of Aileu’s population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, cultivating maize, rice, cassava, coffee, and high-value crops such as cabbage, carrots, and tropical fruits. Its fertile soils and cooler highland climate make it a key agricultural hub, while its central location - bordered by Dili, Ermera, Liquiçá, Manufahi, Ainaro, and Manatuto - gives it strategic importance for connecting rural communities to national markets.
Yet, the same steep terrain that nurtures its productivity also isolates many villages. Heavy rains trigger landslides that block roads, cutting families off from schools, health posts, and markets. In the dry season, water scarcity hampers crop irrigation and reduces yields. These challenges have made climate-resilient infrastructure a priority under Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030, which calls for improved rural connectivity, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation to unlock the country’s development potential.
Afternoon activities at Aileu Market, where local farmers sell fresh produce. In most parts of Aileu Municipality, vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, lettuce, and others are popular and serve as the main source of income for the community.
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working in partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Timor-Leste, is helping to turn this vision into reality. Through the project “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters in Timor-Leste”, small-scale, climate-proofed infrastructure - such as irrigation systems, rural roads, and slope stabilisation - is enabling Aileu’s communities to withstand extreme weather, boost productivity, and improve quality of life. The focus is not only on building physical assets, but also on strengthening local capacity, promoting nature-based solutions, and creating pathways for long-term resilience.
H.E. João Bosco dos Santos, President of the Aileu Municipal Authority, in his office sharing insights on how climate-resilient infrastructure is improving livelihoods and boosting agricultural productivity in the municipality
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
For H.E. João Bosco dos Santos, President of the Aileu Municipal Authority, the impact is tangible: “First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to UNDP and other partners who strongly support the Government. Even though the Government has its own plans and annual budgets, they are not always sufficient to meet the needs of all communities. But with partners like UNDP, we have received significant assistance for our communities in Aileu. This has brought real benefits. Before I took office, some projects had already been implemented, and during my mandate several more have been completed - such as roads and irrigation systems. Communities truly feel these benefits. For example, in the past, rice fields could only be cultivated during the rainy season, but now, with the irrigation system built by UNDP, farmers can plant two to three times a year and also raise fish for consumption and sale. Similarly, the improved roads now make it easier for communities to transport their agricultural products from Aileu to Dili. For me, this is very important, and I am truly happy that UNDP’s programmes have been able to support our communities. It may not cover 100% of our needs, but people genuinely feel that development is happening for them.”
"Mr. Lino Maufelu, Chief of Suco Aisirimou, speaking about the new 500-meter irrigation system in Berkate that now provides year-round water for farming, fish cultivation, and livestock, benefiting hundreds of households in the community."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-leste
One of the most significant transformations has taken place in Berkate, Suco Aisirimou, where a newly constructed 500-meter irrigation system is delivering water to 92 farming households and indirectly benefiting 3,582 residents across 723 households. Built with durable stone masonry, reinforced gates, and gabion-protected banks, the system ensures year-round water delivery with a conveyance efficiency of up to 85%. For Mr. Lino Maufelu, Chief of Suco Aisirimou, the project represents the fulfilment of a long-standing community need: “The UNDP programme arrived in Suco Aisirimou and has been in process for three years. The reason we requested UNDP to build this irrigation system was because of the need for water in our farming activities. The community uses it for rice cultivation, fish farming, growing vegetables, corn, beans, and raising livestock… Before, every year they worried about irrigation problems and low water supply affecting productivity. Now, things are much better.”
"Mr. Marcelino do Mau, Chief of Aldeia Berkate, describing how the new irrigation system has ended years of water scarcity, allowing farmers to cultivate crops and raise fish even during the dry season."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Mr. Marcelino do Mau, Chief of Aldeia Berkate, recalls the struggles before the project: “Before the irrigation system, we relied on manual methods using grass and soil to block water, but the volume was small and affected fish farming. The worst was during the dry season when all farming stopped due to the lack of water. Now, there are no more water challenges. The community is happy and no longer worried during the dry season.”
Farmers are already seeing results. Mr. Nicolao Carlos, father of two, now harvests between 500 and 1,000 kilograms of rice per season, enough to feed his family year-round and support the local seed association: “Previously, the irrigation was not good. The water supply was weak, and the volume was very low. Now, with the improved system, the flow is stronger and more stable. For this, we are grateful to UNDP for providing support to us in Aisirimou Village, particularly in Berkate Hamlet.”
"Mr. Nicolao Carlos and his family harvesting rice in their field, made possible by the improved irrigation system that now provides a stable water supply throughout the year."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Mrs. Inês da Conceição Soares, whose fields were destroyed by floods last year, adds: “Before this system, we had to dig our own canals by hand. Now, water reaches all the fields, and we no longer face conflicts between farmers. Everyone has access.”
Beyond improving productivity, the scheme integrates catchment rehabilitation, planting willows, acacias, and vetiver grass to stabilize slopes and reduce erosion - nature-based solutions that safeguard the infrastructure and enhance soil health. Crop yields are expected to increase by 1.5 - 2 tons of rice per hectare annually, boosting incomes by up to 25% for farming households.
"Mrs. Inês da Conceição Soares cleaning freshly harvested paddy from the field, separating quality grains from those that are damaged."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
In Suco Lahae, the rehabilitation of the 2.025 km Lahae - Eralolo rural road has opened vital access for over 1,300 residents. Once vulnerable to washouts and slope collapses, the road now features improved drainage, stone masonry lining, and bioengineered slopes reinforced with over 4,400 trees and fruit trees. During construction, 80 local workers - including 20 women - were employed, injecting much-needed income into the community.
"The rehabilitated 2.025 km Lahae–Eralolo road, now providing smooth and reliable access for farmers to transport their produce, and connecting rural communities to markets, schools, and health services."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
The Chief of Suco Lahae, Mr. Felisberto M. da Gomes, explained: “The majority of our community members are farmers, cultivating crops such as maize, coffee, and vegetables like beans, carrots, lettuce, and others. Most of our farmland is located in the hills, far from the main roads. Before the road was constructed with concrete pavement, the condition was poor - unpaved and difficult to use. Cars and motorcycles could not pass, so we had to walk on foot and use horses to carry our products. Now, the road is in good condition. This means we can transport agricultural produce, like firewood, by vehicle, and those in the community who own motorcycles can also transport goods such as beans and vegetables to support our farming activities. I want to express my gratitude to the Government and its partner, UNDP, for this important work. As I said before, in the past we had to walk on foot because the road was bad, but now we use vehicles to transport our goods.”
"Mrs. Belinda Soares watering the vegetables she planted in her home garden, using improved access and resources made possible through the rehabilitated Lahae–Eralolo road."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
One of the road’s users, Mrs. Belinda Soares, 45, married with eight children, is a farmer who cultivates maize, lettuce, cassava, and raises livestock. She uses the road to transport her produce and for other needs such as cultural activities: “Before, without the road, we walked on foot. Now that the road is here, we can access it by motorcycle and even by car - especially for heavy goods.” Mrs. Belinda was also one of the women who worked as a laborer during the road construction: “We worked on tasks such as digging drainage channels and clearing the road for construction.”
Another beneficiary, Mr. Mateus Freitas, a young man who rides his motorbike along the rural road in Lahae, expressed: “I am grateful to UNDP. Here in our area, there are four or five aldeias that use this road. Before, it was very difficult, and there is a lot of coffee here. In the past, we had to carry coffee far to the main road, but now we can transport it more easily. Also, when there are wedding ceremonies, vehicles can now reach the houses directly.”
"Coffee is one of the most famous agricultural products in Aileu, where nearly all farmers own coffee plantations. The municipality is known for producing high-quality Arabica coffee, grown in its fertile highlands and valued both locally and internationally."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
In Suco Madabeno, the 2.8 km Manufoni - Lisimori road has been rehabilitated to withstand climate pressures. With 4,600 trees planted for slope stability and catchment protection, the road secures access for 596 direct beneficiaries and over 2,100 residents indirectly.
Agroforestry beneficiary Mr. Antonio Soares, a farmer from Aldeia Manuponi married with six children, planted over 400 seedlings - including tangerines, durian, gamal, breadfruit, and candlenut - helping protect the road from erosion while securing future harvests. “These seedlings are part of the effort to protect and safeguard the road. We received them from UNDP and Raíbia, and it is our responsibility to take care of them. Before this, we had wanted to plant trees but could not get enough seedlings. Now, thanks to God, UNDP and Raíbia have supported us, and we can plant in our own gardens. We are not using them now, but in the future, our children will benefit.”
"Mr. Antonio Soares cleaning and tending to a candlenut tree he planted as part of the agroforestry initiative, helping to protect the rehabilitated road while securing future harvests for his family."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Education has also benefited, with the improved road allowing the Madabeno Basic Filial School’s 63 students to attend classes more regularly and participate in extracurricular gardening activities. Mrs. Filomena Martins Pereira, the school’s Coordinator, shared: “Before the rehabilitation of this road, it was very difficult for cars or motorbikes to reach us. We faced challenges when the road was muddy, slippery, and steep - vehicles could not pass and often got stuck, which was especially hard for community members transporting heavy construction materials. Now, with the road complete, we feel we have much better access. Vehicles can pass easily, and the road conditions are excellent.”
"Mrs. Filomena Martins Pereira, Coordinator of Madabeno Basic Filial School, sharing how the rehabilitated road has improved students’ access to education and allowed the school to engage in more community activities."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
From a technical perspective, close collaboration has been essential to ensuring lasting quality. Mr. Alexandre Tilman, PDIM Engineer, explains: “In the GCF - UNDP project, coordination with the Municipal Service for Integrated Planning and Development in Timor-Leste (PDIM) has been ongoing since 2022 until now, with four joint projects implemented so far. Before implementation, engineers also received one month of training in rural road construction, which brought together engineers from the Ministry of Public Works and from municipalities. Engineers came from six municipalities, and the training included a practical session directly at the rural road construction site in Suco Lahae. Working together with UNDP, our focus has been to ensure that road construction follows the proper alignment and design standards, with particular attention to the quality of the project. The goal is to guarantee durability and long-term benefits for these rural infrastructure projects.”
"Mr. Alexandre Tilman in his office, sharing insights about the GCF–UNDP project’s impact on improving rural roads and strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure in Aileu."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
This focus on capacity building was reinforced on 12 August 2022, when UNDP, together with the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of State Administration, and the Don Bosco Training Center, commenced a comprehensive practical training programme for municipal and national engineers in Suco Lahae, Aileu. Over the course of 23 days, 27 participants (22 men and 5 women), including 24 municipal engineers and 3 national engineers, developed their skills in rural construction methods and techniques. The training featured nature-based engineering practices such as soil bioengineering and agroforestry to reduce climate-induced hazards and risks, and was delivered by experts from the Don Bosco Training Center’s Labor Based Technology Unit in Dili under the GCF–UNDP project.
"Mr. Alexandre Tilman with fellow engineers during a group photo session at the rural road engineering training in Suco Lahae, Aileu, in 2022, strengthening technical skills for climate-resilient infrastructure construction."
Ayumi Kimura/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Alexandre added: “The training we received from our partner, GCF - UNDP, was directly applied in UNDP projects. At the beginning, we only had experience working on national roads, but our experience with rural roads was limited - especially in working with concrete pavements and reinforced concrete, which are needed for other PDIM projects to be implemented. During the training, we learned about setting out for rural roads - how to set out according to the road’s gradient, and how to set out for leveling. We also gained direct practical experience applying these skills during the construction of the rural road in Suco Lahae.”
"Ongoing construction of the 5.1 km Fatubosa–Hoholete road, which will connect the community to the Oelete Basic Filial School, improving access for students and supporting the transport of agricultural products to markets."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
In addition to completed works, an ongoing rural road construction in Suco - currently 18% complete - is set to transform connectivity for one of Aileu’s most agriculturally productive areas. The 5.1 km Fatubosa–Hoholete road will directly benefit 181 households and indirectly serve the entire population of Suco Fatubosa, home to over 2,200 residents. Known for producing much of Aileu’s cabbage, as well as carrots, broccoli, and lettuce, Fatubosa will see improved market access and reduced transport times once the road is complete.
"Mr. Mateus Ximenes Mendonça, Chief of Suco Fatubosa, explaining how the new Fatubosa–Hoholete road will benefit 181 households by improving access to markets, schools, and cultural sites, and supporting the transport of local agricultural produce."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Chief of Suco Fatubosa, Mr. Mateus Ximenes Mendonça, highlighted: “When completed, this rural road will benefit 181 households. It will allow them to transport their products and improve access for other needs, such as bringing in construction materials for houses. The benefits are not only for the agricultural sector, but also for cultural connections - the road will provide access to traditional ceremonial houses - and for the education sector, linking to the Oelete Basic Filial School. This school has classes from Grade 1 to Grade 6, and in the future, the road will facilitate transportation for the construction of improved school facilities, helping to create conditions to develop human resources from this school. Perhaps one day, some of these students will become ministers or take on other important leadership roles in the future.”
"A scenic view of fields planted with carrots, lettuce, mustard greens, and other vegetables. Most of these crops in Aileu are supplied from Fatubosa, which is not only rich in vegetable production but also has potential in coffee, fruits such as tangerines, rambutan, strawberries, and others."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
As crops flourish, roads remain open through storms, and communities gain new opportunities, Aileu’s residents - together with their local leaders - are proving that with the right investments, even the most climate-vulnerable areas can build a more resilient and prosperous future.
About the GCF–UNDP Project
The “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters in Timor-Leste” project is a flagship partnership between the Government of Timor-Leste, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). It aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities by constructing climate-resilient infrastructure, promoting nature-based solutions, and building local capacity to adapt to climate change. Interventions include rural road rehabilitation, irrigation systems, slope stabilization, and agroforestry initiatives, ensuring that communities can maintain access to markets, schools, and health services while protecting their livelihoods from climate impacts. By integrating engineering standards with sustainable land management, the project is contributing directly to Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 and the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
"Madabeno Basic Filial School student Frangelina Castro Soares and her classmate watering vegetables in the school garden. The produce is used for the school’s lunch programme, made more sustainable with improved access provided by the rehabilitated road."
Julio Guterres/ UNDP Timor-Leste
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