DILI, 27 may 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will sign the Implementation Agreement of the US420 million project, financed by the Government of the United States through its bilateral foreign aid agency known as MCC.
The US$420 million made available by the MCC together with US$64 million made available by the Government of Timor-Leste is to finance a five-year project to improve access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and drainage in Dili, as well as install the Centre of Excellence for Teacher Training.
The signing of the agreement on the implementation of the five-year project is set to take place next month.
“I will represent the Government of Timor-Leste to sign the implementation agreement of this five-year project. It’s expected that the signing of the agreement would take place next month. I am yet to know where the signing of the agreement would take place. So, it could be either in Timor-Leste or U.S,” said Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, after meeting President Horta at Presidential Palace, in Dili, today.
He said the implementation of the project would be kicked off right after the signing of the implementation agreement by both parties.
Of the US$484 million, US$444 million would be allocated for the Water, Sanitation, and Drainage (WSD) project and US$40 million for the Education Project.
Water Sanitation and Drainage (WSD) project included the disinfection of national waters, sewage, and drainage systems, the strengthening of institutions and regulatory bodies, and the creation of a solid supply of water and sewage for domestic use that complies with the most advanced engineering and procedures at an international level.
Meanwhile, the US$40 million for the education project would be used for the installation of the Centre of Excellence for Teacher Training to train high school teachers across the country to ensure quality and leadership standards.
Earlier this week, MCC led by Alice P. Albright, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) approved the US$420 million project.
On april 7, the Minister of Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães led a high-level Government delegation to the US for negotiations on the multi-million-dollar compact under the US government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
On march 2019, Timor-Leste’s Ministry for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs and The United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) officially launched the Government of Timor-Leste Compact Development Team (CDT-TL), to lead the design and development of a program to address Timor-Leste’s development challenges.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
