JICA in Timor-Leste

The government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency has been conducting its Official Development Assistance in Timor-Leste from 2000.The Official Assistance were covered grant aid, technical cooperation and equipment provision to the recipient government (Timor-Leste).

The priorities areas in Timor-Leste are aligned with the national strategic development plan such as:

 Infrastructure



Mola Bridge constructed by JICA







The major part of supporting has been allocated to Infrastructure areas. The construction of bridges, roads, dispatched consultants, experts, advisors and technical capacity to the engineering in the country also outside of country. The main counterpart of the projects implementation is National Directorate of Roads, Bridges and Flood Control, Institute of Equipment Management and Directorate of Research Development, under Ministry of Public Works. The projects with ministry of public works have terminated and currently there is just a policy advisor is working at the directorate of roads, bridges and flood control.



The Project for Water Supply System in Dili



The road project includes Dili-Baucau road which under the first loan to Timor-Leste, Japan Yen Loan.

JICA also considers the clean water as a most priority as a basic need of human being through the coordination of the line ministry, the project for improvement of water supply in Dili and some other districts were also improved by dispatching the experts and advisors to the directorate of water and sanitations. There are four water treatment plants in Dili, which were granted by JICA. WTP also constructed in Ainaro, Manufahi and Covalima Districts. 



Dili Port



To efficiently in area of sea transportation, JICA also supports to construct Dili Port and rehabilitated Mahata Port in Oecusse. The advisors were also dispatched by JICA to the Timor-Leste Port Authority (APORTIL) to accompany the technician and engineering for the maintenance and controlling. Dili Port is the main gate for export and import goods. After the rehabilitation of Oecusse Port, the operating is expanded; the containers will be delivered directly to Oecusse (but in small volume). The construction of Dili Port and the rehabilitation of Oecusse port have been completed and to assist on port facility maintenance and security there is an advisor is working at APORTIL, Dili.

The environmental impact assessment is also considered to be assisted in order to promote a clean environmental. The advisor has been dispatched twice to the national directorate of environment under ministry of commerce, industry and environment. Under the local activity of the advisor, there was a training conducted in Indonesia to 39 staff of environment directorate. The project has terminated in 2013.

In considering to the development of education and technology, since 2005 JICA has implemented a capacity development project to the National University of Timor-Leste which was named Capacity Development of Teaching staff at Faculty of Engineering (CADETES). Under this project, the lecturers were dispatched to enhance the technology and engineering science based on their specialist at the supported university designated by JICA. This project was successfully implemented and had a fruitful output. With this output the government of Japan has approved for the second phase called the Project for Capacity Development of Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology (CADEFEST) which was commenced on 2011 and will be ended in 2015. Some of lecturers completed their master degree in Japan through these project and others lecturers improve their knowledge by attending short term training at universities cooperated with JICA. The project purpose is to prepare the capacity of the faculty to upgrade the level of degree from three years to four years bachelor degree.