DILI, 31 january 2022 (TATOLI) – The Officer-in-Charge of the Head of Mission of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Timor-Leste, Albert Uriyo informed that the construction of the 95 kilometers roads of the ILO’s Enhancing Rural Access Agro-Forestry Project (ERA Agro-Forestry) in the eastern municipalities, namely Lautem, Viqueque, Baucau, and Manatuto to be concluded in march this year.
The construction of the project of the ERA Agro-Forestry Program was started in 2017, funded by the European Union (EU), with a total budget of €12.2 million.
Uriyo said the first phase of the construction project of the 140 kilometers roads in Timor-Leste was started in 2012 and terminated in 2016.
The government of Timor-Leste, the European Union (EU), and ILO signed a partnership agreement of € 12.2 million in Dili, Timor-Leste, on 5 may 2017 for a rural development program in the country.
“The Enhancing Rural Access Agro-Forestry Project (ERA Agro-Forestry) provides a market link to Agroforestry Communities in the four municipalities, namely Baucau, Lautem, Manatuto, and Viqueque. The ERA Agro-Forestry program is funded by the European Union, totaling €12.2 million euros. Right now, they have been able to construct about 95 kilometers of roads within those areas,” he said.
He said the program would also train the contractors to be able to build roads in the rural areas as well as create job opportunities for local laborers to be able to build the roads.
“The ERA Agro-Forestry project is going to be concluded in march of this year and we continue seeking how we can be able to sustain the various interventions because it has been able to capacitate contractors. So, we are trying to see how best we can be able to go, possibly in green works and other things,” he said.
The main objectives of the ERA Agro-Forestry program is to improve market access, including the rehabilitation and maintenance of at least 60km of rural roads servicing targeted agroforestry areas, providing economic opportunities for private businesses, and communities, by fostering market linkages, as well as work opportunities for communities.
It also aimed to improve the skills of at least 40 construction companies and municipality management of rural roads where the program is active, including capacity building of local training institutions, construction companies, and government, central and local authorities responsible for public work in rural areas.
On the other hand, regarding the Road for Development (R4D) program, Uriyo said: “About 500 kilometers of roads had been placed under rehabilitation and maintained since the start of the program, covering 12 municipalities, except for OeCusse.”
He said ILO provided technical support through the Development Support Program (R4D-SP) Bridging Phase towards capacity building: “This is an Australia Fund Program to which they provide support to the rural road development in the country.”
He said the R4D project would be concluded in december this year.
The Roads for Development (R4D) program is a Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) program which the Government of Australia (GoA) supports with technical assistance.
R4D seeks to support the development and management of the rural roads network in Timor-Leste. The International Labor Organization (ILO), as the delivery organization, provides technical and managerial expertise to implement the program in partnership with GoTL. The program combines physical works, including the rehabilitation and maintenance of rural roads, institutional support and development, and associated capacity-building initiatives both within GoTL and at the local contractor level.
R4D was designed with the intention not only to provide rural road infrastructure but also to strengthen the institutional arrangements around which rural roads are prioritized, planned, and supported.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
