KOICA and UNICEF partner with the Government of Timor-Leste to strengthen climate-resilient social services for children and communities

Hera, 23 October 2025 – The Government of Timor-Leste, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and UNICEF jointly held a groundbreaking ceremony in Hera, marking the start of construction of integrated climate-smart infrastructure that will expand access to clean water, safe sanitation, and renewable energy in targeted schools, health facilities, and community centres.

The event brought together representatives from the Government of Timor-Leste, KOICA, UNICEF, municipal authorities, and the community of Hera to celebrate a major milestone under the KOICA-funded USD 6.2 million programme “Climate Action for the Last Mile: Reaching the Most Vulnerable Children in Timor-Leste (2024-2027).

The Hera groundbreaking marks the official launch of on-site construction activities to install solar energy systems and upgrade climate-resilient WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities. In 2025, two mini-grid solar systems will be installed in Hera and Atauro respectively, linking at least two public schools, two healthcare facilities, and two community centres in each location. In addition, WASH facilities in the school in Hera and the Community Health Centre in Vila, Atauro will be upgraded.

“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.”

“For KOICA, this project is a true reflection of our core commitment — empowering communities, strengthening resilience, and investing in the next generation. It creates lasting change that protects children today while building a stronger, more sustainable future for all.” said Youn Hwa kang, Director of KOICA Timor-Leste office.

Children in Timor-Leste are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, especially when essential services are limited due to frequent droughts, floods, and landslides. These climate-related disruptions also heighten child protection risks, exposing children to displacement, neglect and other forms of violence as families and communities struggle to cope with environmental and economic stress. 

In response, this initiative aims to ensure that essential services — such as education, healthcare, and community engagement — remain operational even during climate shocks and disasters, while advancing renewable energy use, water security, and environmental sustainability.

Hera serves as the first pilot site under the KOICA-UNICEF partnership, designed as a demonstration model for integrated climate-smart social services that will later expand to Atauro and other municipalities, including Lautém and Viqueque. The model promotes synergy between sectors and local ownership to ensure long-term sustainability.

“Today’s ceremony is not only the start of construction but the beginning of a collective effort to build a more resilient and sustainable future for children and families in Timor-Leste,” said UNICEF Representative, Patrizia DiGiovanni.

“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 — ensuring that essential services remain reliable, inclusive, and sustainable even during climate emergencies. Hera will serve as a model for climate-smart social services nationwide.”

The Representative also expressed sincere appreciation to the Government of Timor-Leste, Government of Republic of Korea, KOICA, and the community of Hera for their continued collaboration and leadership in promoting climate resilience and child-centred development.

The “Climate Action for the Last Mile” programme, funded by KOICA and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste, focuses on strengthening community resilience and protecting children from the impacts of climate change. Over the next several years, the programme will support climate-smart social services across the sectors of education, health, nutrition, child protection, social policy, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). 

This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of the Government of Timor-Leste, KOICA, UNICEF, and the Government of Timor-Leste to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient social services, in alignment with the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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Tetum:

KOICA no UNICEF parseria ho Governu Timor-Leste atu hametin servisu sosiál ne'ebé reziliente ba klima ba labarik no komunidade sira.

Hera, 23 Outubru 2025 - Governu Timor-Leste, Ajensia Kooperasaun Internasional Koreia nian (KOICA), no UNICEF hamutuk hala'o serimónia ida kona-ba serimónia tau fatuk dahuluk iha Hera, hodi marka inísiu konstrusaun infraestrutura integradu sira ne'ebé sei habelar asesu ba bee moos, saneamentu seguru, no enerjia renovavel iha eskola alvu sira, fasilidade saúde no sentru komunidade sira.

Eventu ne'e halibur hamutuk reprezentante sira husi Governu Timor-Leste, KOICA, UNICEF, autoridade munisipál sira no komunidade Hera hodi selebra etapa boot ida iha programa KOICA nian, ne'ebé finansia millaun 6.2 dolar amerikanu "Asaun Klimátika ba Milla Ikus: Kobre Labarik-sira ne’ebé Vulneravel liu iha Timor-Leste (2024-2027).

Tau fatuk dahuluk iha Hera marka lansamentu ofisiál ba atividade konstrusaun iha fatin instalasaun sistema enerjia solar no hadi'a instalasaun Bee, Saneamentu no Íjiene (BESI) ne'ebé reziliente ba klima. Iha tinan 2025, sistema solar ki'ik rua sei instala iha Hera no Atauro, liga pelumenus eskola públiku rua, fasilidade saúde rua, no sentru komunitária rua iha fatin ida-idak. Aleinde ne'e, instalasaun BESI iha eskola Hera no Sentru Saúde Komunitária iha Vila, Atauro sei hadi'a.

"KOICA Timor-Leste nia eskritóriu tau labarik-sira iha nia kooperasaun dezenvolvimentu nia laran, hodi asegura labarik ida-idak iha asesu ba bee moos, edukasaun, no ambiente ida-ne'ebé seguru atu bele krese no moris. Liu husi introdusaun sistema solar, ita bele asegura enerjia ne'ebé fiável ba instalasaun bee no saneamentu, maske iha kondisaun ne'ebé la estavel tanba dezafiu klimátiku. Iha tempu hanesan, sistema BESI ne'ebé hadi'a ona sei hadi'a bee, bombeamentu no saneamentu."

"Ba KOICA, projetu ida-ne'e hanesan reflesaun loloos ba ita-nia kompromisu prinsipál - haforsa komunidade sira, hametin reziliensia, no investe iha jerasaun tuir mai. Ida-ne'e kria mudansa ba nafatin ne'ebé proteje labarik sira ohin loron no mós harii futuru ida-ne'ebé forte no sustentavel ba ema hotu." dehan Youn Hwa kang, Diretor KOICA iha Timor-Leste.

Labarik-sira iha Timor-Leste hetan impaktu ne'ebé la proporsional husi impaktu mudansa klimátika, liuliu bainhira servisu esensiál sira limitadu tanba bailoron naruk, inundasaun no rai-monu. Disrupsaun hirak-ne'e mós hasa'e risku protesaun labarik, bele lori labarik-sira ba deslokasaun, neglijensia no forma violénsia sira seluk tanba família no komunidade sira luta hasoru estrese ambientál no ekonómiku.

Hatán ba ida-ne'e, inisiativa ida-ne'e ninia objetivu mak atu asegura katak servisu esensiál sira - hanesan edukasaun, kuidadu saúde no envolvimentu komunidade - sei nafatin funsiona, maske durante xoke klimátiku no dezastre sira, no mós atu promove utilizasaun enerjia renovavel, seguransa bee, no sustentabilidade ambientál sira.

Hera serve nu’udar fatin pilotu dahuluk iha parseria KOICA-UNICEF nian, ne'ebé dezeña hanesan modelu demonstrasaun ida ba servisu sosiál integradu sira ne'ebé sei habelar ba Atauro no munisípiu sira seluk, inklui Lautem no Viqueque. Modelu ne'e promove sinerjia entre setór no na'in lokál-sira hodi asegura sustentabilidade ba tempu naruk.

"Ohin loron, serimónia ne'e la'ós de'it hahú konstrusaun maibé hahú esforsu koletivu ida atu harii futuru ida-ne'ebé reziliente no sustentavel liu ba labarik no família sira iha Timor-Leste," dehan Reprezentante País UNICEF, Patrizia DiGiovanni.

"Liuhusi apoiu jenerozu KOICA nian ne'ebé Governu Timor-Leste lidera, ami integra ona enerjia solar no hadi'a BESI iha eskola, postu saúde no sentru komunitária sira - asegura katak servisu esensiál sira nafatin fiável, inkluzivu no sustentavel maske iha situasaun emerjénsia klimátika sira. Hera sei sai hanesan modelu ida ba servisu sosiál ne'ebé matenek liu iha nasaun laran tomak."

Reprezentante ne'e mós apresia tebes Governu Timor-Leste, Governu Republika Koreia, KOICA no komunidade Hera tanba sira-nia kolaborasaun no lideransa kontinua hodi promove reziliensia klimátika no dezenvolvimentu ne'ebé sentru ba labarik.

Programa "Asaun Klimátika ba Milla Ikus," ne'ebé finansia husi KOICA no implementa husi UNICEF iha parseria ho Governu Timor-Leste, foka liu ba reforsu reziliensia komunidade no proteje labarik-sira husi impaktu mudansa klimátika. Iha tinan hirak oin mai, programa ne'e sei fó apoiu ba servisu sosiál sira iha setór edukasaun, saúde, nutrisaun, protesaun labarik, polítika sosiál no bee, saneamentu no ijiene (BESI).

Kolaborasaun ida-ne'e reflete kompromisu konjunta husi Governu Timor-Leste, KOICA, UNICEF no Governu Timor-Leste, atu alkansa servisu sosiál sustentavel, inkluzivu no reziliente ba klima, tuir Planu Nasional Adaptasaun (PNA), Kontribuisaun Determinada Nasional (KDN), no Objetivu Dezenvolvimentu Sustentavel (ODS)
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