ERA Agro-Forestry Project Launches its Second Training

The training is part of the European Union funded programme “Enhancing Rural Access Agro-Forestry Project ERA”.

News | Comoro, Dili, Timor-Leste | 11 February 2019
On 11th February 2019, the Enhancing Rural Access (ERA) Agro-Forestry Project launched its second batch of contractors’ training programme at Don Bosco Training Centre in Comoro, Dili. This follows the ERA-AF project expanding its capacity building and rural road rehabilitation and maintenance operations to Viqueque and Manatuto municipalities after initially focusing in Baucau.

Ten (10) contractors from Baucau were trained in 2018 and they are currently implementing 20.635 kms of trial contracts in Baguia, Baucau municipality as part of their training. It is expected that Contractors will also be trained from Lautem municipality in 2020.

Enhancing Rural Access (ERA) Agro-Forestry Project is a component of the Partnership for Sustainable Agro-Forestry (PSAF) between Timor-Leste, the European Union (EU), Germany (GIZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The main objective is to contribute to a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development in Timor-Leste through improved rural access, creation of employment, economic and domestic revenue opportunities through agro-forestry development, and a durable reduction in food insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas.

We are glad to note that following the training provided to 10 Contractors in Baucau, ERA Agro-Forestry has embarked on training of 10 Contractors for Viqueque and 5 Contractors in Manatuto municipalities."

Simon Le Grand, Head of Cooperation of the European Union lauded the ERA Agro-Forestry Project
Contractors being trained were challenged by Fr. Gui of Don Bosco to participate effectively in the quality training being offered by Don Bosco to ensure they are competent and competitive.

Sr. Joao Alves, the Vice-President for Infrastructure from Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) outlined the important role of the contractors in spearheading rural development and thus encouraged contractors to seek a good understanding of contractual procedures and specifications while adhering to quality workmanship. Participants to the launch were thrilled to learn that 7 of the 15 Contractors being trained are owned and led by women.

The ERA Agro-Forestry Project Manager, Albert Uriyo in-turn acknowledged and appreciated the immense support and involvement of project partners, without which the project would not have realized the milestone.

During the opening ceremony, Simon Le Grand, Head of Cooperation of the European Union lauded the ERA Agro-Forestry Project for expanding its activities to cover Viqueque and Manatuto municipalities. “We are glad to note that following the training provided to 10 Contractors in Baucau, ERA Agro-Forestry has embarked on training of 10 Contractors for Viqueque and 5 Contractors in Manatuto municipalities”, said Simon Le Grand.

The EU who are funding the project anticipate that the trained contractors who will rehabilitate rural roads, will be instrumental in contributing to poverty reduction through employment generation in the built roads, which will provide market linkages and targeted employment of youth and women in agro-forestry areas.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) which implements the project was also commended for implementing projects which have been able to demonstrate how infrastructure can be created, rehabilitated and maintained cost-effectively with labour-based methods thus creating employment using environmentally safe practices.

Messages of support were also expressed from both the Viqueque Municipality Administrator Sr. Gregorio Henrique and Baucau Municipality Administrator Sr. Fernando D. de A. Sousa Junior, who pledged to offer their full support to the programme. A Documentary Video screened during the launch, highlighted various phases of training and project implementation.

Participants to the course comprising Directors, Engineers and Supervisors are undertaking 10 weeks comprehensive training in Dili from 28th January to 5th April 2019. Don Bosco Training Centre and Institute for Business Development Support (IADE) which are accredited training institutions, are providing the training.

Training has been designed to accommodate contractors and clients’ challenges and modules to be taught include Construction of Rural Roads using Labour Based Methods, Pavement Construction, Maintenance, Site Training, Contracts and Business Management.

The ERA Agro-Forestry Project seeks at capacitating 40 contractors, together with central government and municipal officials to construct and supervise rural roads within agro-forestry areas. Besides training, it is expected that about 90 kms of roads will be built within agro-forestry locations in Baucau, Viqueque, Manatuto and Lautem during the 4 years of the project.

This will facilitate market access, provide about 450,000 worker-days of employment and benefit about 6,000 households within the targeted agro-forestry areas. ERA Agro-Forestry is expected to be a catalyst for bringing development and impact within agro-forestry areas by creating sustainable infrastructure and associated employment opportunities by using locally available resources in a balanced and responsible way.