International support for government labor scheme boosts economic and physical recovery from Easter cyclone

Over 5,000 people will receive food and cash for their labour removing debris and repairing of basic community infrastructure in over 50 flood affected Aldeias.

April 16, 2021

©Maria Silvia Dos Reis Lopes/UNDP Timor-Leste

Ministry of Finance Director-General for Management and Mobilization of External Resources Mr. Antonio Freitas and of UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel today signed a Government Financing Agreement for the Supporting Flood Response and Recovery Project. The project is co-funded by the Government of Timor-Leste (US$ 1 million through ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund financed by the Government of Japan), the Government of the Republic of Korea (US$ 100,000) and UNDP (US$ 300,000).

The April 4 cyclone, extreme rainfall and subsequent flooding that affected all of Timor-Leste left over 10,000 people displaced with damaged or precarious housing, while also close to 100,000 people lost their livelihoods and assets, with limited coping strategies. In addition, destroyed and damaged houses and community infrastructure has produced significant amount of debris and waste across the country.

In response, the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Timor-Leste and UNDP are partnering in the Supporting Flood Response and Recovery Project of which ‘Cash and Food for Work’ will be used to support community recovery efforts and replenish losses caused by the natural disaster.


The initiative will provide flood affected populations in Dili Municipality with food and immediate employment opportunities that will stimulate local economies and improve sanitation in Aldeias (neighbourhoods). Over 5,000 people will receive food and cash for their labour removing debris and repairing of basic community infrastructure in over 50 flood affected Aldeias.

Given the country’s worsening COVID situation, the initiative will also ensure compliance with local COVID-19 response regulations and best practices. UNDP will provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and handwashing stations preventions at all associated locations for the initiative.

In addition, through this initiative, UNDP will also assist the Government of Timor-Leste in assessing the degree of damage caused by the flood to inform and coordinate crisis response and early recovery.

UNDP Resident Representative Tuya Altangerel said that “UNDP is grateful to the Government of Timor-Leste for the trust and partnership for this joint effort. We will also ensure that the initiative will closely coordinate with the respective Government agencies, particularly to be linked to the national social security scheme for sustainability”