R4D-SP Capacity Development Workshop: Building the capacity of rural roads sector of Timor-Leste

The Roads for Development (R4D) Program of Timor-Leste conducted a one-day workshop on 24 August in Dili to discuss the Capacity Development Framework for Phase 2 of the R4D program. More than 100 stakeholders involved in Timor-Leste’s rural roads sector attended to discuss the capacity development needs in the sector.

News | Dili, Timor-Leste | 25 August 2017
The Capacity Development Workshop of R4D-SP
The Roads for Development (R4D) Program of Timor-Leste conducted a one-day workshop on 24 August in Dili to discuss the Capacity Development Framework for Phase 2 of the R4D program. More than 100 stakeholders involved in Timor-Leste’s rural roads sector attended to discuss the capacity development needs in the sector.

The Roads for Development Program (R4D) began in 2012 and is the leading rural roads program in Timor-Leste. The program supports the rehabilitation and maintenance of the country’s core rural roads network and is implemented by the Government of Timor-Leste through the National Directorate of Roads, Bridges and Flood Control (DRBFC) in the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MPWTC). Technical assistance is provided by the ILO, through support from the Government of Australia.

The Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Communications, Sr. Gastão Francisco de Sousa, opened the workshop. Attendees included representatives of government agencies, donor groups, and international organizations, as well as private sector contractors most of whom were trained and have implemented R4D rehabilitation and maintenance projects.

The event was also attended by ILO tripartite partners in Timor-Leste, including representatives from Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Policies (SEPFOPE), Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL). The discussions provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between tripartite constituents in relation to the rural roads sector in Timor-Leste, including the capacity development of private sector contractors.

Discussions focused on four main thematic areas relating to capacity development 1. Enabling environment constraints; 2. Capacity development in the municipalities; 3. Working with contractors; and 4. Building DRBFC Capacity for Delivering Results. Findings of the discussion will be used to inform the finalization of the Capacity Development Framework.

The workshop was in line with the second phase of R4D, which started in 2017 and focuses on building the capacity of MPWTC/DRBFC and Municipal staff to manage rural road assets. The ILO’s technical assistance support for Phase 2 is called the “R4D - Support Program” (R4D-SP).

To develop a framework to guide capacity building activities, a consultancy team of two was contracted to assess the capacity needs of the DRBFC / MPWTC and 12 local municipalities and to establish the Capacity Development Framework. The consultants developed the framework in consultation with stakeholders and key personnel working at the national and municipal levels.