DILI, 2 november, 2021 (TATOLI)- United National International Development Agency (USAID) has already spent 8 million USD for three priority programs in the sector of Tourism and Agriculture since 2021.
“The 8 million dollars was set for the Tourism and Agriculture program, Climate-related program and good governance, “The mission director of USAID, Zema Semunegus told Tatoli on thursday interview at the office of USAID, Farol Dili.
Semunegus said that USAID has a goal and vision to work closely with the Timor-Leste government, stockholders, and even donors to bring Timor-Leste more success and prosperity in the future.
Following are the programs that have been implemented by USAID:
TOURISM SECTOR
The project focuses on two main objectives with the major achievement that was gained by USAID on improving conservation for future generations.
In the year 2021, USAID focus on the establishment of Tourism associations, This is a strategy on promoting eco-friendly tourism based on the country’s rich heritage such as promoting the potential and beautiful natures and attractive places, oceans with virginity ecosystem and marine biodiverse.
USAID has successfully registered three tourism-based associations, including The Tourism Partnership of Atauro in Atauro island, Atauro is one of the most marine biodiverse sites in the world, Mount Ramelau Tourism Partnership (AST-RABEKA) in Ainaro, Mt Ramelau is the highest mountain in Timor-Leste, and the Marine Tourism Association that serves to promote best practices for conservation of all Timor-Leste’s marine resources.
Soon, USIAD will also finalize the legal registration for the Timor-Leste Religious Tourism Association (RTATL) at the minister of justice.
The output of tourism sectors are achieved by USAID in 2020-2021 composed of:
Training the Next Generation of Tourism Actors: Addressing the limitations in human capital in the tourism sector, USAID delivered over 11,615 hours of training to more than 611 private and public sector participants in hospitality and tourism, food safety.
The majority of the project’s participants were female (52%) and under the age of 30 – helping to ensure a sustainable future and secured employment for diverse tourism industry actors.
COVID Pivot Keeps Tourism Alive: Due to USAID’s pivot to supporting domestic tourism during the global pandemic, many tourism-based businesses saw an uptick in tourism from Timorese travelers. The ”HauNiaTimorLeste” Domestic Tourism Campaign is a lifeline in otherwise extremely difficult times.
Connecting Timorese to Marine Resources: Working through two local SCUBA dive companies, USAID introduced 40 National University of Timor-Leste marine biology students to industry best practices in whale watching, snorkeling, discovery scuba dives, and marine conservation through multiple six-day trips to Atauro island.
AGRICULTURE SECTOR
USAID knows that 70% of Timorese people depend on agriculture. Therefore USAID also supports local farmers with a program is called ‘avansa’ and it helps the local farmer to gain experience to grow vegetables and fruits. The output brings a positive impact for helping the local farmer to make some change for their life. The local farmers in five municipalities can get the revenue to improve the family economy.
Most local farmers and young people can be benefited from a job opportunity. People can improve the family economy and send their children to school.
Through USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project, USAID continues to build on the development gains with farmers, buyers, and communities. A fundamental focus of Avansa Agrikultura is developing long-term sustainability by strengthening the private sector and local partners responsible for service delivery to rural farmers.
At the end of the project, USAID anticipates that over 33,000 people in 250 communities will be earning higher incomes, realizing improved nutrition, and managing their economic assets more effectively in the year 2020. However, the final result of data collection for the beneficiary is still ongoing, and expecting that USAID will collect.
In a single year, agricultural input suppliers saw over $600,000 in sales to project farmers. Also, 48 percent of project beneficiaries were women. It is very important to promote opportunities for women in the agriculture sector and other sectors across Timorese.
CLIMATE CHANGE
USAID has helped people to solve the main issue of Climate Change. As the world is threatened by climate change and caused many countries around the world are affected by the calamity including Timor-Leste.
“Tourism and Agriculture as the important program that can be helping to mitigate the climate change in Timor-Leste. Tourism required beautiful forests and nature to attract tourists/visitors. Thus, Agriculture is a key to reforestation the forests and growing the tree across the mountain and hills sides.
It is a linkages program that USAID considers to contribute to earth degree, not more than 0.5 Celsius. The main temperature in Timor-Leste is expected to increase by around 0.3-1.2 degrees Celsius by 2030 and around 0.8-3.6 Celsius by 2070 as a result of Climate Change. According to the USAID Rainfall in the wet season is expected to increase by 20 percent by 2070.
Timor-Leste’s emissions are amongst the smallest in the world contributing only 0.003% of the total global emissions.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
USAID focuses on increasing citizen participation in governance by mobilizing women and youth. It is the country’s largest and most vulnerable social group and improving civil society oversight for good governance and promoting responsive public institutions.
Under new procedures suggested by the USAID Customs Reform Project, USAID helped international traders save over 190,000 days that they would previously have wasted trying to import or export their goods. Based on the average loss for a trader of around $200 per day for every day their consignment is delayed, this works out to an overall savings of $38 million.
This is one of many outcomes of the USAID assistance, which started in June 2017 at the request of the Government of Timor-Leste and was completed in September 2021.
With USAID support, Timor-Leste’s Customs Authority has launched a National Custom Hotline, which enables citizens to report information freely and securely, and a modern Customs Trade Portal, which provides users with easy online access to trade-related information.
Following the launch of the new hotline in May 2021, the Customs Authority has received, reviewed, and processed over 150 calls. By the end of September 2021, the Customs Authorities generated 20 reports and investigated at least three different entities.
Overall, these are a few accomplishments under the agriculture, tourism, climate change, and good governance sectors that I can mention at this time. There are many others but simply don’t have the time.
The USAID agriculture program was implemented in six municipalities such as Aileu, Ainaro, Bobonaro, Dili, Liquica, and Ermera, and health programs focused in Covalima municipality and Dili. The good governance programs are active in all municipalities.
USAID generally spends up to $8 million per year in support of tourism, climate-related programs, and agriculture sector development.
Since Timor-Leste’s independence, the United States has contributed more than $250 million to support inclusive and peaceful development, leading to a more prosperous, healthy, and self-reliant in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B
