Better road access for improved local economic and social development in Timor-Leste

Agustino Branco, a kiosk owner in Betano-Loro of Manufahi Municipality, Timor-Leste, can now easily go to the market to buy products and necessities for his kiosk. He did not have to walk hours to be able to maintain his business.

Before the road was rehabilitated, the anguna (local public transport) could not pass due to bad road condition. We had to walk carrying our products, materials and goods."

Agustino Branco, a kiosk owner in Betano-Loro of Manufahi Municipality

The 3.6 km road rehabilitation in Betano – Loro road in Manufahi Municipality, conducted by a locally trained-contractor under the Roads for Development (R4D), has allowed a variety of public transportations and vehicles to pass the Betano area which was previously isolated. The improved road provide all-weather access to public services for one Suku and seven Aldeias with a rural population of 2,085 people from a total of 513 households.

The road rehabilitation was fully funded by the Government of Timor-Leste and is continuously maintained using community maintenance groups. The involvement of local communities aim to give a sense of ownership to the community while providing them with employment and incomes.

The road condition before the rehabilitation “Before the road was rehabilitated, the anguna (local public transport) could not pass due to bad road condition. We had to walk carrying our products, materials and goods. But now, with the rehabilitated road, the anguna can come and and go easily passing our local community,” told Agustino,

My Ministry is ensuring that R4D is adequately resourced and aligned with the Government’s on-going decentralization process."

H.E. Salvador Eugenio do Reis Pires, Minister of Public Works

During the road inauguration, held on 24 November, the Minister of Public Works, H.E. Salvador Eugenio do Reis Pires said that the Ministry of Public Works continue to strengthen the coordination with relevant stakeholders as well as to ensure adequate resources for the R4D programme.

“Whereas considerable achievements have already been made, there is still much work to be done in terms of further strengthening capacity, in streamlining procedures, standards and specifications to ensure that optimum returns to investments can be achieved. Furthermore, my Ministry is ensuring that R4D is adequately resourced and aligned with the Government’s on-going decentralization process,” he stated.

improved rural roads are vital for enhanced social and economic development and has consistently been the top priority for Timor-Leste’s rural communities."

Amanda Andonovski, the Australian Embassy representative to Timor-Leste

Meanwhile the Australian Embassy representative to Timor-Leste, Amanda Andonovski, who witnessed the inauguration, highlighted the importance of accessible infrastructure for local economy and social development. “With approximately 70 percent of population living in the rural areas, improved rural roads are vital for enhanced social and economic development and has consistently been the top priority for Timor-Leste’s rural communities.”

R4D supports to the development of the rural roads sector is aligned with the Government of Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2011-2030 and the Program of the 8th Constitutional Government. The National Directorate of Roads, Bridges and Flood Control (DRBFC) of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) implements R4D. Since 2012, the Australian Government has provided assistance through the ILO.

The overarching goal of R4D is that women and men in rural Timor-Leste are deriving social and economic benefits from improved rural road access by focusing on the rehabilitation and maintenance of Timor-Leste’s 1,975 km of core rural road network across all municipalities."

Augustus Asare, ILO’s Chief Engineering Advisor of R4D as the implementing agency

“The overarching goal of R4D is that women and men in rural Timor-Leste are deriving social and economic benefits from improved rural road access by focusing on the rehabilitation and maintenance of Timor-Leste’s 1,975 km of core rural road network across all municipalities and rehabilitating up to 600 km of rural roads,” said Augustus Asare, ILO’s Chief Engineering Advisor of R4D as the implementing agency.

R4D is currently in its second phase, from April 2017 to March 2021, focusing on developing the capacity of relevant staff of Government of Timor-Leste to manage Timor-Leste’s rural roads assets through a combination of institutional, organizational and individual capacity development.