European Union and Mercy Corps Celebrate Successful Conclusion of Maloa Urban Resilience Initiative Program

Dili, 13th June 2024 - Mercy Corps and the European Union marked today the successful completion of the Maloa Urban Resilience Initiative Program. During the last three years, this program, supported by the European Union, contributed to develop climate resilience and economic development strategies, and plans for the Maloa watershed community, local government, and private sector actors, by providing them with training opportunities and access to financial and technical resources.

This program was implemented in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and forestry, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, and Dili Municipality Authority.

Through the Maloa urban Resilience initiative program, 537 households have improved resilience capacities to prepare, cope and recover from shocks and stresses, assisted 27 institutions and businesses to have more resilient livelihoods, over 1,284 People have improved knowledge on climate change adaptation and climate resilience practices. The project has successfully supported 30 businesses in enhancing their capacity for risk management and recovery planning, established, and trained 6 Suco Management Disaster Committee (SDMC) at suku level on disaster risk reduction. Additionally, the project completed 68 mitigation and adaptation projects, these are construction of 5 gabions retaining wall for flood and landslide control, 19 gully plug, 9 gabion mini check dam, 1 water drilling, 3 drainage and 4 box culvert, 1 clean water canalization, 2 public toilet, 6 steel garbage container, 4 green park marking, 17 sloping agriculture and land terraces; these initiatives were to prepare the watershed communities to withstand disasters such as flood.

To enhance the living conditions of communities in the Maloa River watershed and promote economic development, the project provided financial grants to 20 local based businesses. Furthermore, 6 local NGOs (ASERD-TL, FIAR, F-RYA, CBRN-TL, CVTL, and PERMATIL) received sub grants to support communities in areas of youth and women empowerment, awareness raising, decision-making, capacity building on business creation, climate resilience initiatives and water resources conservation.

During the close-out event, twenty small businesses engaged in product demonstrations, presenting their products, and interacting with potential clients.

“As a concrete example of impact, the heavy rain and subsequent flood in February 2024 had a significantly lesser impact compared to similar events in the past. This is a clear testament to the effectiveness of the Maloa Urban Resilience Initiative Program and the strength of your community,” said the Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Timor-Leste, Iotam Lerer.

About Maloa Urban Resilience Initiative

Mercy Corps’ Maloa Urban Resilience Initiative is a European Union funded project implemented in six target villages within the Maloa watershed in Dili Municipality, Timor Leste. The program aims to improve the climate resilience of communities in the Maloa watershed by managing and restoring the environment and supporting the social, economic, and environmental development of Dili Municipality. It seeks to support local governments, civil society organizations, businesses, and disaster-affected communities in improving knowledge, skills, capacity, and access to resources for developing plans and implementing strategies to improve climate resilience, economic development, and business recovery.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Since establishing operations in Timor-Leste in 2007, we have earned a reputation for innovative and high-quality programming. We support communities in Timor-Leste and the most vulnerable within them to become more resilient and food secure for a prosperous and inclusive future.

Juñu 13, 2024

Média Laloran Tasi Mane