DILI, 04 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Council of Ministers, approved today the creation of the Public Institute of the Millennium Challenge Account-Timor-Leste (MCA-TL).
The political-legislative option for the creation of MCA-TL was presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Magalhães.
He said MCA-TL would act as an implementation tool for the funding to be donated by the US government agency Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the compact agreement signed last july 19.
MCA-TL will be responsible for managing the funding and coordinating the implementation of the US$484 million worth of projects.
On july 19, the Government of Timor-Leste and the American government agency Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a cooperation pact for a program to be executed over five years, with a total amount of US$ 484 million, to reduce poverty through economic growth.
The compact agreement would strengthen water security by making safe, clean water available to residents in the capital city of Dili and the surrounding areas, while also improving secondary education at every secondary school in Timor-Leste.
The investment will focus on two main projects, one for the improvement of the water, sanitation, and drainage system and the other in the area of education and training. The first includes water treatment, sewage, drainage systems, the strengthening of institutions and regulatory bodies, and the creation of a solid supply of water and sewage for domestic use. The second will include a New Centre of Excellence for the training of new teachers that will ensure quality standards and leadership.
Of the US$ 484 million, US$ 420 million will be provided by the MCC and the Government of Timor-Leste will contribute US$ 64 million. The amount to be provided by Timor-Leste will be allocated only to the water, sewage, and drainage treatment project, of which US$ 34 million will be used to connect households and decommission the existing septic tanks. The remaining US$ 30 million will be used to support the installation of the conventional system and the installation of water pumps.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
