EU and Government Partnership Brings Development to Lautem Rural Agroforestry Communities
The Souro and Leuro communities together with surrounding business enterprises have lauded the ILO implemented and EU funded ERA Agroforestry project for building a road that has provided linkages of the community to the market. The road has provided all-weather access and reliable supply of coconuts from the coconut farms to the nearby virgin oil coconut processing factory. This was not possible before the road was built, as it was difficult accessing farms during the rainy season, and people had to carry coconuts on their heads and on donkeys, says the owner of the virgin oil coconut factory, Mr. Arsenio da Costa Pinto Cabral at the recent inauguration of the Souro – Nairete – Leuro road inaugurated by the Minister of Public Works, H.E. Abel Pires Da Silva, H. E. Ambassador of the European Union to Timor-Leste, Andrew Jacobs, and Municipal Administrator, Mr. Domingos Savio on Tuesday 26 April 2022 in Lospalos, Lautem.
The Minister of Works. H. E. Abel Pires Da Silva reiterated governments commitment to improve the livelihoods of the rural communities and appreciated the long-standing and fruitful partnership between government and the EU. European Union Ambassador to Timor-Leste, H.E. Andrew Jacobs also lauded the partnership between the EU with the Government of Timor-Leste and also expressed pleasure at the EU being a part of the change and called for the government to maintain the roads to enable continued change for the people of Timor-Leste.
The ILO Country Office Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Ms. Michiko outlined that 100.42 kms of roads had been improved by 34 contractors trained by the project and which have provided access, market linkages, and decent jobs to 4,977 beneficiaries, of which 1,261 are women through use of labour-based methods. Ms. Michiko also handed over a White Paper for consideration of government to Ministry of Public Works with proposed policy directions, recommendations and action strategies to enable growth and development of contractors.
Enhancing Rural Access (ERA) Agro-Forestry Project is a component of the Partnership for Sustainable Agro-Forestry (PSAF) between Timor-Leste, the European Union (EU), Germany (GIZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The main objective is to contribute to a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development in Timor-Leste through improved rural access, creation of employment, economic and domestic revenue opportunities through agro-forestry development, and a durable reduction in food insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas.
