Handover of the solar panel system from UNICEF to the government of Timor-Leste

Atauro, 14 July 2026, UNICEF handed over a solar power system and improved water and sanitation facilities in Vila Maumeta, Atauro, to the Government of Timor-Leste under a KOICA-funded project -'Climate Action for the Last Mile: Reaching the Most Vulnerable Children' programme.

The upgrades benefit the community health centre, school and community centre, helping to provide more reliable services for children and families. The project addresses long-standing challenges caused by unreliable electricity on Atauro Island. The new solar system provides continuous power for healthcare, education, and community services, while improved water and sanitation facilities support healthier, safer conditions.

“We are already seeing the excitement this project has brought to our community. Our people are proud to see these improvements become a reality and are hopeful about what this means for the future. Reliable electricity and water access and better public services give our children and families greater opportunities to thrive,” says Mateus Belo, President of the Administrative Authority of Atauro.

“These investments are especially important in Timor-Leste, where floods, droughts, and other climate-related hazards continue to disrupt essential services. By making schools, health facilities, and water systems more climate-resilient, we are helping children and families continue to access these services, even during emergencies,“ says Patrizia DiGiovanni, UNICEF Timor-Leste Country Representative.

“This project is more than the handover of infrastructure. It is an investment in healthier communities, stronger families, and brighter futures for the children of Timor-Leste. KOICA remains committed to working with the Government of Timor-Leste and UNICEF to build more resilient communities,” says Youn Hwa Kang, Director of KOICA Timor-Leste.

These investments will help communities cope with the effects of climate change, including floods and droughts, while ensuring continued access to essential services. Reliable electricity will support vaccine storage, healthcare delivery and learning, while reducing dependence on costly and unreliable power sources.

This project is implemented in four priority municipalities in the country: Dili (Hera), Atauro, Lautem and Viqueque. 
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Tetun

Komunikadu imprensa kona-ba entrega sistema painél solar husi UNICEF ba Governu Timor-Leste.

Atauro, 14 Jullu 2026, UNICEF entrega sistema enerjia solar ida no hadi'a instalasaun bee no saneamentu iha Vila Maumeta, Atauro, ba Governu Timor-Leste iha ámbitu projetu ida-ne'ebé finansia husi KOICA –  programa ‘ Asaun Klimátika ba Milla Ikus: Kobre labarik-sira ne’ebé mak vulnerável liu. 

Melloramentu hirak-ne'e fó benefísiu ba sentru saúde komunitária, eskola no sentru komunitáriu/sede suku, hodi tulun fornese servisu ne'ebé fiável liu ba labarik no família sira. Projetu ne'e responde ba dezafiu ne’ebé mak akontese ba tempu naruk, ne'ebé kauza husi falta enerjia eletrisidade iha illa Atauro. Sistema solar foun ne'e fornese enerjia kontinua ba kuidadu saúde, edukasaun no servisu komunitáriu-sira, enkuantu hadi'a instalasaun bee no saneamentu-sira suporta kondisaun ne'ebé saudavel no seguru liu.

"Ita haree ona katak projetu ne'e lori ksolok ba komunidade. Ita-nia povu sente orgullu atu haree mudansa hirak-ne'e sai realidade no iha esperansa kona-ba saida mak ida nee nia signifikadu ba futuru. Asesu ne’ebé fiável ba eletrisidade no bee no servisu públiku ne'ebé di'ak-liu, fó oportunidade boot-liu ba ita-nia oan no família-sira atu hetan susesu," dehan Mateus Belo, Prezidente Autoridade Administrativa Atauro.

"Investimentu hirak-ne'e importante liu-liu iha Timor-Leste, iha ne'ebé inundasaun, bai-loron naruk no perigu sira seluk ne'ebé relasiona ho klima kontinua estraga servisu esensiál sira. Ho halo eskola, fasilidade saúde no sistema bee-moos sira sai reziliente liu, ami ajuda labarik no família-sira atu kontinua asesu ba servisu hirak-ne'e, maske iha situasaun emerjénsia," dehan Patrizia DiGiovanni, Reprezentante País UNICEF iha Timor-Leste.

"Projetu ne'e la'ós de'it atu entrega infraestrutura. Ne'e hanesan investimentu ida iha komunidade-sira ne'ebé saudavel liu, família sira ne'ebé forte liu, no futuru ne'ebé naroman liu ba labarik-sira iha Timor-Leste. KOICA nafatin iha komitmentu atu servisu hamutuk ho Governu Timor-Leste no UNICEF hodi harii komunidade reziliente," dehan Youn Hwa Kang, Diretora KOICA Timor-Leste.

Investimentu hirak-ne'e sei ajuda komunidade-sira atu hasoru efeitu husi mudansa klimátika, inklui inundasaun no bai-loron naruk, no mós asegura asesu ba servisu esensiál-sira. Fornesimentu eletrisidade ne'ebé fiável sei suporta armazenamentu vasina, prestasaun saúde no aprendizajen, no mós hamenus dependénsia ba fonte eletrisidade ne'ebé karun liu no la fiável. 

Projetu ne'e implementa iha munisípiu prioridade haat iha nasaun ne'e: Dili (Hera), Atauro, Lautem no Viqueque.
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