Climate-Smart Services Delivered for Children in Hera Community

Hera, 29 April 2026 — The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea, and in partnership with UNICEF, today handed over a solar-powered energy system and upgraded water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities to the Government of Timor-Leste in the Hera community.

The initiative strengthens climate-smart social services to ensure that children can continue to access health care, education, and safe water despite increasing climate-related challenges.

In Timor-Leste, floods, droughts, and extreme weather are disrupting essential services, affecting children’s well-being and development. The Hera upgrades are part of the KOICA-funded project “Climate Action for the Last Mile: Reaching the Most Vulnerable Children in Timor-Leste” (2024–2027).

The improvements include a solar mini-grid system powering the Hera Health Post, nearby school, and community centre, as well as upgraded water and sanitation facilities designed to withstand climate shocks.

KOICA Timor-Leste office places children at the heart of its development cooperation, ensuring every child has access to clean water, education, and a safe environment to grow and thrive. By introducing solar systems, we can ensure reliable power for water and sanitation facilities, even during unstable conditions caused by climate challenges. Simultaneously, the upgraded WASH systems will significantly improve water storage, pumping, and sanitation coverage.

“Climate change is no longer a distant concern—it is a present reality affecting communities worldwide, including here in Timor-Leste. This project demonstrates how climate-smart solutions can directly improve people’s daily lives. By integrating solar energy systems, we ensure a reliable power supply for water and sanitation services, even in the face of climate-related disruptions,” said Youn Hwa Kang, Director of KOICA Timor-Leste.

“Through KOICA’s generous support under the leadership of the Government of Timor-Leste, we are integrating solar power and WASH improvements in schools, health posts, and community centres.  Reliable electricity supports health services such as vaccine storage, while improved WASH facilities reduce disease risks and create safer learning environments—particularly for girls. Hera will serve as a model for climate-smart social services nationwide,” said UNICEF Timor-Leste Representative.

The Representative also expressed sincere appreciation to the community of Hera for their continued collaboration and leadership in promoting climate resilience and child-centred development.

Together, we call on all stakeholders to scale up climate-smart, child-focused services across Timor-Leste to protect children’s rights and build resilient communities.

KOICA, as the Republic of Korea’s official development cooperation agency, is committed to advancing sustainable development and improving the quality of life across partner countries. In Timor-Leste, its support is directed toward health, agriculture, education, climate resilience, and child-centred development, in partnership with the Government and international organizations including UNICEF.

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Tetun:

Servisu Klima Matenek sira ne'ebé fornese ba Labarik sira iha Komunidade Hera

Hera, 20 Abril 2026 - Governu Timor-Leste, ho apoiu hosi Ajénsia Kooperasaun Internasionál Koreia (KOICA sigla Inglés) hodi Governu Repúblika Koreia nia naran, no iha parseria ho UNICEF, ohin entrega ona sistema enerjétiku ho enerjia solar no instalasaun bee, saneamentu no ijiene (BESI sigla Tetun) ne’ebé hadi’a ona iha komunidade Hera.

Inisiativa ne'e hametin servisu sosiál klima matenek sira hodi asegura katak labarik sira bele kontinua asesu ba kuidadu saúde, edukasaun, no bee ne'ebé seguru maski iha dezafiu sira ne'ebé relasiona ho klima ne'ebé aumenta.

Iha Timor-Leste, inundasaun, rai-maran, no tempu ne’ebé estremu halo perturbasaun ba servisu esensiál sira, hodi afeta labarik sira-nia moris-di’ak no dezenvolvimentu. Atualizasaun sira Hera nian halo parte iha projetu ne’ebé finansia husi KOICA “Asaun Klimátika ba Milla Ikus: Kobre Labarik Vulnerável Liu iha Timor-Leste” (2024–2027).

Melloramentu sira inklui sistema mini-rede solar ida ne'ebé fó enerjia ba Postu Saúde Hera, eskola besik, no sentru komunitáriu, no mós fasilidade bee no saneamentu ne'ebé hadi'a ona ne'ebé dezeña atu tahan tahan mudansa klimátiku sira.

Eskritóriu KOICA Timor-Leste tau labarik sira iha sentru kooperasaun dezenvolvimentu, hodi garante labarik ida-idak iha asesu ba bee-moos, edukasaun, no ambiente seguru atu moris no buras. Liuhosi introduaun sistema solar sira, ita bele asegura enerjia ne'ebé konfiável ba instalasaun sira bee no saneamentu nian, maski durante kondisaun sira ne'ebé la estavel ne'ebé kauza hosi dezafiu klimátiku sira. Iha tempu hanesan, sistema BESI ne'ebé atualizadu sei hadi'a ho signifikativu armazenamentu bee, bombajen, no kobertura saneamentu.

"Mudansa klimátika la'ós ona preokupasaun ida ne'ebé dook—ida-ne'e maka realidade prezente ida ne'ebé afeta komunidade sira iha mundu tomak, inklui iha Timor-Leste. Projetu ida-ne'e hatudu oinsá solusaun sira ne'ebé matenek kona-ba klima bele hadi'a diretamente ema nia moris loroloron. Liuhosi integra sistema enerjia solar, ita garante fornesimentu enerjia ne'ebé konfiável ba servisu bee no saneamentu nian, maski hasoru perturbasaun sira ne'ebé relasiona ho klima," dehan Diretór Young KOICA Timor-Leste.

“Liuhosi apoiu jenerozu KOICA nian iha lideransa Governu Timor-Leste nian, ami integra enerjia solar no hadi’a BESI iha eskola sira, postu saúde, no sentru komunitáriu sira. Eletrisidade ne’ebé konfiável apoia servisu saúde nian hanesan armazenamentu vasina, enkuantu hadi’a fasilidade BESI hamenus risku moras no kria ambiente aprendizajen ne’ebé seguru liu—partikularmente ba labarik-feto sira sei serve nu’udar modelu klima matenek servisu sosiál ba nasaun tomak,” dehan Reprezentante UNICEF Timor-Leste.

Reprezentante UNICEF mós espresa apresiasaun sinseru ba komunidade Hera ba sira nia kolaborasaun no lideransa ne'ebé kontinua hodi promove reziliénsia klimátika no dezenvolvimentu ne'ebé sentradu iha labarik.

Hamutuk, ami husu ba parte interesada sira hotu atu habelar servisu sira ne’ebé matenek kona-ba klima, no foka ba labarik sira iha Timor-Leste tomak hodi proteje labarik sira-nia direitu no harii komunidade sira ne’ebé reziliente.

KOICA, hanesan ajénsia ofisiál kooperasaun dezenvolvimentu Repúblika Koreia nian, iha kompromisu atu avansa dezenvolvimentu sustentável no hadi'a kualidade moris iha nasaun parseiru sira. Iha Timor-Leste, nia apoiu dirije ba saúde, agrikultura, edukasaun, reziliénsia klimátika, no dezenvolvimentu sentradu iha labarik, iha parseria ho Governu no organizasaun internasionál sira inklui UNICEF.

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