The Vice-Prime Minister at the Sector Strengthening National Workshop themed “Strengthen the inclusive WASH sector and Climate Change

The Vice-Prime Minister at the Sector Strengthening National Workshop themed “Strengthen the inclusive WASH sector and Climate Change organized by WaterAid Timor-Leste

On 8-10 October, WaterAid Timor-Leste team organized a three-day sector strengthening national workshop that was opened by the Vice-Prime Minister and Prime Minister interim of Timor-Leste at HAK Association Hall, Dili.

The national workshop aims to identify the WASH sector’s status including the challenges and priority action in strengthening the WASH sector and integrating the aspects of GEDSI and climate change.

The Vice-Prime Minister on his opening remarks stated water is highly important and through this workshop, there will be discussion and identifying the factors hindering the development of the water sector that could be due to policies, government budget, lack of coordination, and the inputs from this workshop to Government to consider.

“As long as I’m still as the Vice-Prime Minister together with Maun Boot Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, we will go together, and I will assist you speaking to the Council of Ministers to address the issues that cold be about the policy, Government budget, and therefore, count on me when you’re fighting for the development of our country through the water sector”

He added that water is essential to human beings, trees, and animals, and therefore, conserving springs is highly needed through planting trees in hills to revive more water sources. The Vice-Prime Minister, Mr. Sabino Asanami also call the civil society organisations to work collaboratively with the Government in awareness raising to the population in rural to urban areas in combating the climate change.

The representative of the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, the First Secretary Mrs. Fiona Meehan on her opening speech appreciate in participating in this workshop that help to identify the priorities in developing the well-being of Timor-Leste.

“It is vital to also discuss about the GEDSI aspects in climate change issue. The Government of Australia is supporting the WASH sector through WaterAid Timor-Leste to implement water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in Manufahi and Liquiçá. The program includes awareness raising, accountability, and coordination starting from the national, international levels in implementing the program in the mentioned municipalities”, stated the First Secretary.

Mr. Justino da Silva, the Country Director of WaterAid Timor-Leste, said that the three-days’ workshop will discuss WASH policies, planning, and Government strategies related to WASH in Government budget specially investment to the WASH sector.

“Today, we’ll discuss the coordination and integration line iha WASH sector including the institutional arrangements relates to the sectors’ capacity responding to the demands, data monitoring, accountability, populations’ participation” said the Country Director of Timor-Leste. 

The participants of this national workshop witnessed the important of this type of National Workshop in bringing all the related WASH, Climate Change, and GEDSI actors from the municipalities of Liquiçá and Manufahi, and the actors in National level to collectively discuss and identifying the common challenges hindering the WASH sector development and common high priorities in developing the WASH sector in Timor-Leste.

The three days workshop from 8-10 of October 2024, sucessfully gathered the principal stakeholders of WASH sector, the Vice-Prime Minister, First Secretary of the Embassy of Australia in Timor-Leste, the President of BTL,EP., representative of Government from the Liquiçá no Manufahi municipalities, international agencies, and NGOs with the total of 98 participants.

This national workshop is supported by the Government of Australia through Water for Women Fund. 

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