TIMOR-LESTE’S NATIONAL
ADAPTATION PLAN
Addressing climate risks and building
climate resilience

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMORLESTE
Secretariat of State for Environment, Coordinating Minister for Economic
Affairs

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Contents
List of Tablesvi

List of Figuresvi

List of Annex

vi

Annex 1. Full details to Table 3 of the body of the NAP with activities by type under each program 77 vi
Abbreviationsvii

Foreword

ix

Executive SummaryxChapter 1. Introduction

1

1.1. Overview of the process to formulate and implement the National Adaptation Plan

1

1.2. Guiding Principles of the National Adaptation Plan

2

1.3. Overview of NAP contents

3

Chapter 2. Legal Basis and Institutional/Administrative Arrangements for the National Adaptation Plan 6
2.1. Introduction

6

2.2. Legal Basis

6

2.3. Administrative Arrangements

92.4. Sectoral Considerations

10

Chapter 3. National Circumstances15

3.1. Introduction

15

3.2 Geographic Characteristics of Timor-Leste

15

3.3 Economic Context

16

3.4. Environmental Context

17

3.5. Social Context

19

3.6 Gender issues and context

21

3.7. Legacies of Colonization and Occupation

22

Chapter 4. Rationale for Conducting Adaptation in Timor-Leste

23

4.1. Introduction

23

4.2 Climate context: general climate characteristics

23

4.2 Climate Change Overview

25

4.3. A note on data availability

27

4.4. Sectoral baselines and current and future vulnerabilities

27

Chapter 5. National Adaptation Plan Alignment with Existing Strategic, Legal, and Regulatory
Frameworks

33

5.1. Introduction.

33

5.2. Existing progress on climate change and related environmental issues.

33

5.3 Climate Change Plans and Policies

34

5.4 Other relevant Documents and Policies

36
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5.5. Political Processes, Trends, Trajectories, and Considerations

39

5.6. Identified barriers, gaps, and obstacles within policy and institutional Landscape

39

Chapter 6. Summary of Results of Impact, Risk, and Vulnerability Assessments

40

6.1 Introduction

40

6.2 Summary of Vulnerability Assessment Results

42

Chapter 7. Priority Adaptation Programs for Timor-Leste44

7.1 Introduction

44

7.2 Priority Adaptation Programs

44

Chapter 8: NAP Implementation Considerations

52

8.1 NAP Interim Implementation Arrangements

52

8.1.1. High-Level Decision-Making Body

52

8.1.2. High-Level Operational Body

52

8.1.3. Technical Coordinating Body/Interim Secretariat

53

8.1.4. Other relevant information

53

8.2. NAP implementation plan55

8.2.1. Near-term (2020-2022)

56

8.2.2. Medium-term (2023-2025)

57

8.2.3. Long-term (2026-2030)

57

Chapter 9. Conclusion and Next Steps for Advancing Timor-Leste‘s National Adaptation Plan Process 64
9.1 Introduction

64

9.2 Next Steps

65

References

67v

List of Tables
Table 1. Indicative Climate Change vulnerabilities to Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 priorities .. 7
Table 2. Potential increase in hazard occurence and economic losses due to climate change (source: GCF
109) ............................................................................................................................................................. 31
Table 3.Priority adaptation programmes by sector showing the source and lead agencies (detailed
activities under each are given in the annex 1). .......................................................................................... 45
Table 4. Priority policies and concrete activities (physical investments) extracted from Table 3, andarranged by system to show a timeline for planned implementation. ......................................................... 47
Table 5. Summary of short, medium, and long-term NAP objectives ........................................................ 55
Table 6. Near-Term Programs of the NAP ................................................................................................. 59

List of Figures
Figure 1: Overview of Timor-Leste's NAP Process...................................................................................... 2
Figure 2: NAP entry points and alignment with sectoral planning and budgeting processes ..................... 11
Figure 3: Municipalities of Timor-Leste ..................................................................................................... 16
Figure 4: Tropical Rainforest in Timor-Leste in Nino Konis Santana National Park, Lautem Municipality.................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 5: Tara Bandu Ceremony in Timor-Leste........................................................................................ 20
Figure 6: Agro-climatic zones of Timor-Leste ........................................................................................... 24
Figure 7: Rural girls are collecting water far from their homes .................................................................. 29
Figure 8: Interim implementation arrangements for NAP .......................................................................... 54
Figure 9: Timor-Leste NAP Roadmap ........................................................................................................ 65

List of Annex
Annex 1. Full details to Table 3 of the body of the NAP with activities by type under each program 77viAbbreviations
ADB
AR4
AR5
CCWG
CCA
DRM
DRR
ENSO
FAO
FBO
GCF
GCM
GEF
GoDRTL
HDI
HNAP
HSO
IMCB
INC
INDC
IOD
IPCC
IVA
IWRM
IOD
LDC
LEG
MAF
MCIE
M&E
MERL
MJO
MoE
MoF
MoH
MoI
MoPW
MSME
MUPD
MSSI
MTC
NAP
NAPA
NBSAP
NCCP
NDA
NDCC

Asian Development Bank
Fourth Assessment Report (to the IPCC)
Fifth Assessment Report (to the IPCC)
Climate Change Working Group (CCWG)
Climate Change Adaptation
Disaster Risk Management
Disaster Risk Reduction
El Niño Southern Oscillation
Food and Agriculture Organization
Faith Based Organization
Green Climate Fund
Global Climate Model
Global Environmental Facility
Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Human Development Index
Health National Adaptation Plan
Human Security Objective
Inter-Ministerial Coordination Body
Initial National Communication (to the UNFCCC)
Intended Nationally Determined Contribution
Indian Ocean Dipole
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Integrated Vulnerability Assessment
Integrated Water Resource Management
Indian Ocean Dipole
Least Developed Country
Least Developed Countries Expert Group
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Environment
Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning
Madden-Julien Oscillation
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Public Works
Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises
Ministry of Urban Planning and Development
Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion
Ministry of Transport and Communication
National Adaptation Plan
National Adaptation Programme of Action
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2011-2020
National Climate Change Policy
National Designated Authority (for the GCF)
National Directorate for Climate Changevii

NDDRM
NDMG
NDRMP
NOAA
NSP
PDO
PWD
RCP
SCCF
SDG
SDP
SIDS
SNC
SLR
SSCP
SSE
SST
TFR
TWG
UNDP
UNEP
UNFCCC
UNTL
USAID
USGS
USP
VA
WFP
WHO
WMO

National Directorate for Disaster Risk Management
National Directorate of Meteorology and Geophysics
National Disaster Risk Management Policy
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US)NAP Support Programme
Pacific Decadal Oscillation
Persons with Disabilities
Representative Concentration Pathway
Special Committee for Climate Finance
Sustainable Development Goal
Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030
Small Island Developing State
Second National Communication (to the UNFCCC)
Sea Level Rise
Secretary of State for Civil Protection
Secretary of State for Environment
Sea Surface Temperature
Total Fertility Rate
Technical Working Group
United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Universidade Nacional Timor Loro Sa‘e
United States Agency for International Development
United States Geological Survey
University of the South Pacific
Vulnerability Assessment
World Food Program
World Health Organization
World Meteorological Organizationviii

Foreword
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is fully aware that climate change is oneof the world‘s main challenges today. It has been bringing various catastrophes toour socio- economic and environment and is expected to get much worse in thenear future. In fact, Timor-Leste has been experiencing massive floods, droughts,
landslides, fires and extreme wind events. In addition, sea level is rising about 5.5mm per year with coastal erosion damaging infrastructure and other assets in the
coastal areas. These climate change impacts lead to a decrease in agricultural
production, food insecurity, water shortage, destruction of infrastructure, loss ofhuman life and biodiversity as well as human displacement. The Government of Timor-Lesteconsiders a national climate change adaptation plan critically important for addressing climate changerisks and building climate resilience as well as reducing vulnerability in the future.
Being party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and theParis Agreement, Timor-Leste, as a Least Developed Country (LDC) as well as a member of Small
Island Developing States (SIDS), is well aware of the many decisions of the Conference of the Parties(COP) that facilitate technical and financial support to the LDCs for the production andimplementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAP). Timor-Leste is pleased to present its NAP to theglobal community under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. The NAP describes its
vulnerabilities to climate change and presents its priority adaptation needs for addressing climatechange risks and achieving climate-resilient sustainable development goals in the country. The NAP
is well aligned with our nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement and theGreen Climate Fund (GCF) country programme.
We are thankful to the NAP Global Support Program (NAP-GSP) and UNDP Timor-Leste for theirtechnical and financial assistance in formulating this NAP. We are also grateful to the technicalguidance and support that we received from the LDC Expert Group and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
As a member of the LDCs and SIDS, the successful implementation of our NAP will rely heavily oninternational financial, technological and capacity support. While we do our part by allocating what
we can from our national budget, international assistance will be necessary to help us fully achieve
our adaptation goals and objectives. We look forward to working with the GCF and other
Convention/Paris Agreement Funds, and all other partners for the successful implementation of thisNAP in a timely manner.

ix

Executive Summary
This document serves as Timor-Leste‘s first National Adaptation Plan (NAP); and is being submitted
to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The process toformulate and implement the NAP (NAP process) was established under the UNFCCC in 2010. It is acontinuous, progressive, and iterative process that follows a country-driven, gender-sensitive,
participatory, and fully transparent approach that builds on past and on-going efforts. Thus, more
information becomes available, further and updated versions of the NAP will be produced.
The overall vision of the NAP for Timor-Leste is ―to build a climate resilient development
trajectory for the country and its people”. It is aligned with other policies and strategies relevant toTimor-Leste‘s adaptation response to climate change. The NAP also establishes clear linkages with
the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030.
The NAP process has two main objectives:
1. To reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity andresilience; and2. To facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant
new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development planning
processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate(UNFCCC decision 5/CP.17, paragraph 1).
The NAP for Timor-Leste builds on these objectives and is designed to fulfill the following functions:
1. The NAP will serve as the national policy instrument for coordinating and driving actions of allactors and stakeholders in pursuit of adaptation goals and outcomes.
2. The NAP will guide future assessment of progress and reporting on adaptation.
3. The NAP communicates the importance of addressing climate change, to all stakeholders
nationally and internationally, through adaptation by showing key impacts already being felt andwhat is likely to be felt under climate projections for the country in the future.
4. The long-term process that is in place and has supported the formulation and implementation of
the NAP will serve as the main national programme and coordinating mechanism of adaptation in
the country and will seek further support through the GCF for maintaining this process and for
implementation of the NAP, complemented by other sources of financing.
5. The NAP will serve as the umbrella plan of action for adaptation, embracing all other relevant
national plans, sectoral strategies and plans at various subnational levels.
6. The NAP contains several essential programmes and projects that have been identified based on
available assessments and past work through the GCF Country Programme and the NDC. An
updated NAP will be produced with revised priorities when new and additional vulnerability andrisk assessments are completed.
7. The NAP will serve as the umbrella plan of action for adaptation, embracing all other relevant
national plans, sectoral strategies and plans at various subnational levels, including a focus onvulnerable groups (women and youth), and links to traditional/indigenous systems through the
Tarabandu.
8. The NAP will serve as the Adaptation Communication to the Paris Agreement.
Timor-Leste has been working on adaptation for several years initially through the preparation andimplementation of National Adaptation Porgrammes of Action (NAPAs), the INDC in November
2016 and the GCF Country Programme in February 2019. A few assessments and projects have been
implemented with different partners, and more needs to be done. These adaptation efforts are beingbrought together under the NAP process, led by the National Directorate for Climate Change(NDCC). The NDCC has conducted a national stakeholder consultation workshop, a NAP validationx

workshop as well as several consultation meetings with key national agencies. The result is the first
National Adaptation Plan, which will be submitted to the UNFCCC prior to the end of 2021.
This NAP follows the general ―NAP Prototype‖ outline by the Least Developed Countries Expert
Group (LEG) during 2019 in response to requests from LDCs that had not yet submitted their first
NAPs. This NAP is being submitted in 2020 and responds to the vision of the LDC Group and the
LEG for the submission of the first NAPs by end 2020, or soon after. Submission of the first NAP in
2020 will facilitate implementation of adaptation actions, sooner rather than later, and will also help
inform revisions of NDCs in 2020 and submission of adaptation communications. As climate financeis scaled up in 2020, NAPs will facilitate the focus on implementation of adaptation priorities thathave been designed through the rigorous NAP process according to its guiding principles outlined
above. The GoDRTL established a goal for itself in completing its first NAP prior to the end of 2020,
and this document represents the realization of that goal.
This NAP aggregates adaptation activities for the country, encompassing recent past and ongoing
activities by different actors into a coherent national programme and identifies several priority
activities in main sectors for further action, including under: disaster risk management, agriculture(including livestock, crops, fisheries, and forestry), water and sanitation, health, coastal systems andmarine resources, infrastructure and tourism.
Over the last few years, several assessments have looked at specific sectors and systems, providing
the beginnings of a strong knowledge base and baseline for future adaptation work. These include anational coastal vulnerability assessment, ecosystem assessment and mapping along the coast
including of coral reefs, a national hazard risk assessment, assessment of groundwater; and various
regional arrangements for the Pacific that also included Timor-Leste. Much more remains to be done,
before a complete picture of vulnerability and climate risk for the country are well understood. As thecountry continues to build institutional and human capacity, capacity-building will remain a priority
activity as part of the NAP process going forward.
Key climate hazards
Main climate-related hazards include the following: Floods
 Erratic and extreme rainfall
 Landslides
 Cyclones
 Coastal erosion
 Strong winds
 Excessive heat (heat waves) Drought Forest fires
 Sea-level rise
 Ocean acidification
 Water-borne diseases.
Key impacts, vulnerabilities and risks
Key impacts, vulnerabilities and risks due to climate change are mainly related to the following (thislist is not exhaustive): Water security
 Environmental degradation
 Food security and agriculture Life and safety
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Human health and well-being, including income security
Livestock health
Coral reef ecosystem health and Impact on deep-water fishing
Destruction of infrastructure: roads and bridges, water supply systems, flood defenses,
irrigation systems, settlements

Priority Adaptation Activities
A number of concrete adaptation priorities have been identified through recent participatory
processes, including the NAPA, GCF Country Programme, INDC and other assessments. These canbe summarized into the following key priorities (these activities are extracted from broader
programmes as presented in Table 3 of the main document as well as adaptation priorities under the
GCF country programme):
I. Policies
1. Timor-Leste is in the final stages of preparing a National Climate Change Policy. This policy willdefine objectives and a vision for addressing climate change and will provide the necessary mandate
for the NAP.
2. Several issues will be integrated into Tarabandu (traditional costumary rules) including: water
conservation, water use management, and climate risk reduction
II. Projects and Programmes
Several priority projects and programmes have been identified from the GCF country programme, the
INDC and include those priorities identified in the NAPA that have yet to be implemented.
A. Strengthening the capacity of national, local institutions and communities in managing
climate risks (floods, drought, landslides)
1. Improve physical infrastructure and natural vegetation methods to prevent landslides in hill sites,
roads and river banks that are made vulnerable by climate change
2. Review existing laws, regulation and standards to enhance climate change resilience of criticalinfrastructure
3. Enhancing Early Warning Systems to build greater resilience to hydro and meteorologicalhazards in SIDS (taking a regional approach, in prep, part of the GCP Country Programme, with
UNEP and the Government of Timor-Leste)
B. Addressing the needs of vulnerable communities and groups
4. Reduce the vulnerability of farmers and pastoralists to increased drought and flood events
5. Improve institutional and community (including vulnerable groups such as women and children)capacity to prepare for and respond to climate change-induced natural disasters
6. Integrate climate risk information into traditional disaster risk reduction and management
7. Integrate water conservation, water use management, and climate risk reduction approaches into
Tarabandu (traditional costumary rules – also included under policies)
C. Using ecosystem-based DRR in coastal areas and coral reefs
8. Maintain mangrove plantations and promote awareness to protect coastal ecosystems from impactsof sea level rise
D. Improving water resources management under climate changexii

9. Build climate-proof and environmentally sustainable infrastructure to protect water resources,
including enhancing water harvesting storage tanks and irrigation farm ponds, distribution andmanagement systems, particularly in drought-prone areas
10. Create and enhance water harvesting, water distribution and management systems to avoid water
shortage due to climate change
11. Develop integrated agroforestry and watershed management to reflect impacts of climate change
on agriculture and forestry systems
12. Control volume/amount of water used by industry, and water pollution control standardization
including large facilities coffee bean processing waste management in climate change context
13. Design a water management system that includes assessment of demand projections andsustainable supply systems disaggregated by end use, and existing status of the water sources andsupply systems
14. Implement integrated water resource management approaches to protect and rehabilitate
watersheds critical for sustainable water supply along the river basin or agriculture and domestic
purposes
15. Enhance government and community strategies to respond to drought exacerbated by climatechange
16. Promote water conservation, protection of springs and recharge of the ground water sources
including strong linkages between up-stream and down-stream communities
E. Promoting sustainable land management under climate change
17. Implement integrated sustainable land management which promote climate resilient practices suchas fixed/permanent agriculture, reduced burning, reduced erosion, and improved soil fertility
18. Reduce climate vulnerability of forests through reforesting degraded lands and provide asustainable source of fuel wood
19. Adapt to climate change and enable sustainable land management through productive ruralcommunities in Timor-Leste
20. Reduce climate vulnerability in the agricultural sector through promotion of sustainable andconservation agriculture with minimal negative impact on the environment, and avoiding agriculturalactivities in climate-risk prone areas
F. Improving public health services to deal with climate related public health issues
21. Develop a health database and data management system which includes climate sensitive
health risk and vulnerability information to facilitate effective, targeted and efficient delivery ofhealth services
22. Establishing surveillance for health early warning systems and response mechanisms forclimate-related health risks
G. Building climate-resilient livelihoods
23. Develop alternative livelihood options to enhance community resilience through fisheries andmarine ecosystem-based bio-physical resourcesxiiiIII. A national support programme for the NAP process1
Support to the NAP process in Timor-Leste, proposal to the GCF NAP Readiness window
Support to the NAP process in Timor-Leste, proposal to the GCF NAP Readiness window
Building on the continuous, progressive, and iterative nature of the NAP process, support is being
mobilized from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness window for the formulation of NAPs tosupport the national ―NAP support programme (NSP)‖ under the NDCC. This version contains
several recommendations for strengthening the human and institutional capacities as well as for
improving Timor-Leste‘s knowledge management infrastructure to support climate change adaptation.
These recommendations should be incorporated into the funding proposal to the GCF to support theongoing activities of the NAP process in Timor-Leste under the NSP.
The adaptation cycle will be applied to each of the key sectors under the NSP upon receipt of the GCF
NAP readiness funding, hopefully between end 2020 and 2022 (the adaptation cycle includes (i)research and systematic observation; (ii) governance and institutional arrangements; (iii) analysis andassessment; (iv) plan development; (v) implementation strategy; (vi) implementation; (vii) monitoringand evaluation; (viii) reporting; (ix) update and revision of the plans.
Detailed vulnerability assessments will be synthesized along the following sectors (where necessary,
additional vulnerability and risk assessments will be conducted to fill knowledge gaps in key
geographic areas):
1. Infrastructure priority programs include (i) identification of infrastructure vulnerabilities, (ii)establishing institutional and human capacities, (iii) improving regulatory framework forclimate-smart and climate-proof infrastructure, and (iv) climate-proofed infrastructuredevelopment.
2. Biodiversity and ecosystem adaptation priorities programs include (i) building human andinstitutional capacities for ecosystem-based adaptation and (ii) incorporating ecosystem-based
adaptation into planning and regulatory frameworks.
3. Health sector adaptation priority programs include (i) integrating climate change considerations
into health sector planning and regulatory frameworks and (ii) Improving health sector
capacities for managing climate risks.
4. Agriculture sector adaptation priority programs include (i) improving research and knowledge
management capacities to support climate-smart agriculture and resilient land management, (ii)incorporating climate change into agriculture sector planning and management practices, (iii)
mainstreaming climate change considerations into agriculture sector regulatory frameworks,(iv) supporting private sector and Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME)
climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry and aqua/mariculture, (v) promote climate-smart
livestock practices, and (vi) implementing community-centric climate-smart agriculture andresilient land management programs.
5. Water sector adaptation priority programs includes (i) incorporating climate resilience into
water sector planning and regulatory frameworks, (ii) implementing climate-smart water
management among large-scale users, (iii) empowering communities to utilize climate-smart
water management techniques, and (iv) building new/retrofit existing water infrastructure forclimate resilience.
6. Disaster risk reduction adaptation priority programs include (i) enhancing community-level
integration of DRR and CCA and (ii) strengthening national capacities for climate change
responsive disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management.
1

The NAP process in Timor-Leste facilitates the coordinated and structured identification of key adaptation issues, gaps,
priorities, and resource requirements for more effective adaptation planning, implementation, and monitoring ofadaptation in Timor-Leste. These gaps, and recommended measures to address them, are identified throughout thisdocument.

xiv

7. Tourism sector adaptation priority programs include (i) supporting climate-resilient tourism
resources in Timor-Leste and (ii) strengthening the market for climate-resilient nature-based
tourism.
In addition to this NSP to be funded by the GCF NAP support, the following will also be addressed:
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Formalized institutional arrangements will be established;
Finalization of administrative arrangements and the legal basis for the NAP including on
data;
Development of a centralized data archive system to support the work on NAPs, building ondata collected for specific sectoral assessments and projects (this will include a data policy);
A ―theory of change‖ that maps Timor-Leste‘s long-term adaptation goals at national andsubnational levels and identified clear pathways for reaching these goals will be developed
through a fully participatory process. This theory of change will also include mapping
behavior change pathways in priority sectors to encourage people, organizations, andinstitutions to adopt climate resilient development pathways;
Developing cost estimates of prioritized adaptation options;
Development of a comprehensive financing plan to support implementation of the NAP;
Formulation of a monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL) framework;

This NAP represents the first stage in developing a comprehensive and coordinated long-term
approach to reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience and adaptive capacity at all levels in
Timor-Leste.

xvChapter 1. Introduction
1.1. Overview of the process to formulate and implement the National Adaptation
Plan
The process to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAP process) was establishedunder the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010 as part of
the Cancun Adaptation Framework. The process enables Parties to the UNFCCC to formulate andimplement NAPs as a means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs and fordeveloping and implementing strategies and programs to address those needs. The NAP is acontinuous, progressive, and iterative process that follows a country-driven, gender-sensitive,
participatory, and fully transparent approach. The agreed objectives of the NAP process are2:●●

To reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity andresilience; andTo facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant
new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development planning
processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate.

In practical terms, these objectives cover not only specific projects and programs aimed at decreasing
vulnerability, but also a broader evolution of governance so that climate change considerations are
mainstreamed into day-to-day processes of governance. The Government of the Democratic Republicof Timor-Leste (GoDRTL) officially launched its NAP process on 27 September 2019, building on
ongoing work on adaptation under the NAPA, assessments under the national communications, andadaptation work in specific sectors. Timor-Leste continues to implement the NAPA and is actively
seeking funding from the GCF for implementation, in parallel to seeking funding to support the NAP
process.
The overall vision of the NAP for Timor-Leste is to build a climate resilient development
trajectory for the country and its people. It is aligned with other policies and strategies relevant toTimor-Leste‘s adaptation response to climate change. The NAP also establishes clear linkages with
the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030.
This first NAP builds on Timor-Leste‘s first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris
Agreement, the country‘s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), the Initial National
Communication to the UNFCCC (INC), the Second National Communication (SNC) to the
UNFCCC3, and the recently-developed Green Climate Fund Country Programme, as well as othernational and international efforts to enhance resilience to climate change and disasters. The NAP
process will continue to facilitate the coordinated and structured identification of key adaptation
issues, gaps, priorities and resource requirements for more effective planning, implementation andmonitoring of adaptation in Timor-Leste. It is anticipated that a revised NAP will be submitted a few
years from now after in-depth assessments under the GCF NAP Readiness Support (proposal being
prepared).
Timor-Leste recognizes that establishing synergies and linkages, where possible, between the
National Adaptation Plan and these other key processes is essential to:

2
3

UNFCCC decision 5/CP.17, paragraph 1.
The SNC is currently in preparation.

1

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Contributing to achieving the Global Goal on Adaptation under the Paris Agreement by
reducing vulnerability through integrating adaptation considerations into all relevant plans,
policies and strategies, and prioritizing and planning for adaptation;
Submitting the adaptation communication through multiple channels, including through the
NAP;
Working towards coherence with disaster risk reduction strategies under the Sendai
Framework;
Aligning long-term national development priorities with the Agenda 2030 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) framework.

Figure 1: Overview of Timor-Leste's NAP Process

Drafting of Timor-Leste’s NAP began in November 2019. This current version also incorporates
insights from an “Open NAP” workshop conducted with a number of stakeholders in Dili in March,
2020, as well as feedback from consultations with several key government ministries and the LDC
Expert Group. These stakeholders provided important inputs and insights with respect to the NAP’s
steering mechanism, its linkages to the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030, linkages to sectoralplanning and budgeting processes, as well as legal/administrative options that should be in place tofacilitate implementation of the NAP.

1.2. Guiding Principles of the National Adaptation Plan
The guiding principles of the NAP shall be:●●●

National Ownership. The NAP shall be consistent with the Strategic Development Plan
2011-2030 and will be integrated into sectoral policies and plans such that the entire
government is engaged and takes ownership towards climate resilient development.
Demography, Gender, and Social Inclusion Considerations. The NAP and its recommended
measures will incorporate the differential impacts of climate change on men, women,children, elderly people, and other potentially vulnerable groups.
Nationally Appropriate Climate Actions. The NAP will facilitate moving beyond urgent
climate adaptation needs, advancing medium- and long-term adaptation and resiliencebuilding measures in a way that is appropriate to the national needs and conditions.
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Development of Human Capital. The NAP will identify specific actions to build and utilize
human capital in Timor-Leste for building resilience, both within the government and among
non-government stakeholders. This will include empowering stakeholders to identify
pathways for autonomous adaptation.
Youth Engagement. The NAP will identify specific opportunities for youth to be mobilized
as climate change ambassadors for long-term climate-resilient development.
Whole-of-Government Approach. The NAP will identify sustainable financial packages andresources to ensure optimal implementation of identified priorities by relevant stakeholders.
Nexus between Nation Building Priorities and Low Carbon Growth Pathways. The NAP‘smedium- to long-term orientation, integrating the priorities from the SDP 2011-2030, willcontribute to a climate resilient and low carbon economic development trajectory.
Integration of Climate, Resilience, and Livelihood Approaches. The NAP will guide
implementation of climate change adaptation actions in an integrated way to promote
efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of the Plan. By embracing climate
resilience into livelihood options, the integrated interventions contribute towards economic
growth, environmental and socio-economic benefits.
Climate Responsive Planning and Budgeting. The NAP will identify entry points and will
guide integration of climate change adaptation considerations into sectoral planning andbudgeting processes as part of its focus on mainstreaming of climate change adaptation into
day-to-day processes of governance.
Community-Based Adaptation Approach. The NAP will identify and implement communitycentric and community-driven approaches in which communities are empowered to build
their adaptive capacity and enhance adaptation mechanisms for long term climate resilience,
including through traditional approaches.
Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Approach. The NAP will identify implementation pathways
that build the resilience of biodiversity and ecosystem resources and will adopt a systems
approach to adaptation with respect to natural capital.
Innovation. The NAP will provide innovative tools and techniques to enhance efficiency anddelivery for maximizing the impact of priority actions.
Conflict Sensitivity and Social Cohesion. The priority actions in the NAP will be designed insuch a way to bring people together, ensuring that all groups in targeted communities areincluded to maintain and further improve the existing efforts for improving social cohesion.
The selection of interventions and coordination at the planning, design, and implementationof policy interventions will be made in a way that embraces conflict sensitivity and promotes
long-term peace and prosperity.
Transfer and Adoption of the Best Appropriate Technology. The use of best technologies
appropriate for the conditions in which the adaptation measures are implemented will ensure ahigh return on investment as well as ensure the sustainability of the interventions.

These guiding principles will be incorporated into each part of the NAP process and will inform therecommendations that stem from the NAP. This includes incorporation into the monitoring,evaluation, reporting, and learning (MERL) framework to be developed for the NAP process during
the period 2020-2022 under the GCF NAP Readiness Support.

1.3. Overview of NAP contents
The NAP consists of eight chapters. Chapter 2 focuses on the legal basis andinstitutional/administrative arrangements for the NAP process. The chapter contains important
information and recommended actions for ensuring the relevance of the NAP to sectoral agencies, andalso for linking the NAP to existing legal and administrative frameworks in Timor-Leste (with special
attention on the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030, and for ensuring that that there is a clear
mandate for NAP implementation that encourages ownership and buy-in from all relevant
stakeholders. This chapter also proposes institutional and administrative arrangements for NAP
implementation, including a high-level inter-ministerial steering mechanism and a technical working
3

group. The chapter also presents considerations for ensuring buy-in from sectoral stakeholders and amechanism for facilitating mainstreaming of the NAP into sectoral processes. The chapter alsopresents potential entry points for integrating guidance from the NAP into the annual planning andbudgeting cycle. Lastly, the chapter presents some challenges and barriers that representatives fromkey sectoral agencies articulate during consultations conducted in February, 2020, and how the NAP
process will address these.
Chapter 3 describes the national circumstances and context for adaptation planning in Timor-Leste.
This includes an overview of geographic, political, socio-economic, environmental, and culturalcharacteristics of the country. These details are important because they describe the conditions underwhich adaptation should take place in Timor-Leste, and also the societal characteristics that interact
with the physical changes of climate change to produce not only vulnerabilities, but also opportunities
to improve resilience in the country. Key elements here are ensuring that the NAP is integrated into
the Government‘s efforts to expand and diversify the agricultural sector to improve rural livelihoods
and food security, and also to rely on ecosystem-based adaptation to maximize co-benefits between
adaptation efforts and environmental protection. The chapter also describes the uniquely Timorese
cultural tradition of Tara Bandu and suggests this as an important mechanism for facilitating
community-led climate change adaptation. The chapter addresses gender considerations, notingthat as the NAP process evolves in the short term, it will be important to provide more clarity
concerning the differential impacts of climate change between men and women, as well as to develop
clear guidelines for mainstreaming gender into Timor-Leste‘s adaptation response. Lastly, the chapter
addresses nation building and conflict resolution as they relate to the NAP process.
Chapter 4 provides the climate rationale for conducting adaptation in Timor-Leste. The chapter
provides much of the evidence base to support climate-smart decision-making processes in TimorLeste, building on the assessments under the second national communication that is about to besubmitted to the UNFCCC. This includes a general overview of observed climate conditions in the
country followed by a description of expected and/or projected changes for the future. The chapter
summarizes baseline conditions and observed and possible future impacts from climate change on thepriority sectors. The chapter also provides recommendations for improving Timor-Leste‘s overall
capacity to generate and utilize climate data and information. Projections cover temperature,
precipitation, sea surface temperatures and ocean chemistry, tropical cyclones, sea level rise, andpatterns of interannual variability. The chapter also includes sectoral baselines for disaster risk
management, agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, health, coastal systems and marine
resources, infrastructure, and trans-boundary climate change issues.
Chapter 5: National Adaptation Plan Alignment with Existing Strategic, Legal, and Regulatory
Frameworks. Another critical element in successful implementation of adaptation priorities is
ensuring that the NAP process is aligned with existing legal and policy frameworks. This
demonstrates national ownership over the NAP process and also ensures that the NAP is consistent
with previously identified national goals and Timor-Leste‘s overall socio-economic development
trajectory. This is also important for securing external financing for adaptation measures. This
chapter describes existing strategy and policy documents related to climate change in Timor-Leste andhow these have and will continue to inform the NAP process. The chapter also describes how the
NAP process aligns with national development planning processes, Timor-Leste‘s efforts to meet the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and connections to other sectoral and cross-cutting issues(e.g. disaster risk reduction/disaster risk management). In addition, this chapter discusses the current
decentralizations reforms that are being implemented in Timor-Leste, and how the NAP process canbe aligned with the trajectory of decentralization. Lastly, this chapter compiles information aboutbarriers and gaps with respect to the policy and institutional landscape and suggests some short-term
measures to address these over the 2020-2022 timeframe.
Chapter 6 summarizes the results of existing vulnerability and risk assessments. Among the mostimportant components of the National Adaptation Plan is a rigorous assessment of risks andvulnerabilities at the national (sectoral) and subnational (generally geographic) levels. Vulnerability
4and risk assessments help to establish the evidence base to inform and prioritize adaptation measures.
As the NAP process in Timor-Leste evolves and expands over the near term (2020-2022), additional
vulnerability and risk assessments will be conducted. This chapter provides a baseline for future
vulnerability and risk assessments by compiling the results from previously conducted vulnerability
and risk assessments; and identifies additional gaps that should be covered by future assessments.
Chapter 7 describes the adaptation priorities for the NAP. The chapter synthesizes all of thepreviously identified priorities from climate change-relevant strategies, policies, and plans, andcompiles them into adaptation plans according to priority sector (infrastructure, biodiversity andecosystems, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, disaster risk reduction, and tourism). Eachpriority is assigned a lead agency, while recognizing that several ministries will need to be involved to
fully implement each activity, given the multi-sectoral nature of most adaptation activities. Thesepriorities will serve as the basis for immediate adaptation action in Timor-Leste.
Chapter 8 recommends several next-steps that should be undertaken over the immediate near-term(2020-2022) to facilitate implementation of the NAP priorities and to further expand activities support
the ongoing Timor-Leste‘s NAP process. It is recommended that most of the process steps be
included in one or more GCF NAP Readiness support proposals, while pursuing full-scale funding
under the different windows of the GCF, including the project preparation facility. .

5Chapter 2. Legal Basis and Institutional/Administrative
Arrangements for the National Adaptation Plan
2.1. Introduction
This chapter describes the legal basis for the National Adaptation Plan, including the mandate for the
NAP and its linkages to Timor-Leste‘s broader economic and social development strategies. There isclear evidence that an essential prerequisite for effective implementation of NAPs is a legal mandatethat empowers government stakeholders (e.g. line ministries and subnational governments) toincorporate guidance from the NAP into day-to-day processes of governance, such as planning,budgeting, personnel decisions, and regulatory frameworks. Therefore, this chapter proposes legal
arrangements to encourage buy-in from government stakeholders at the national and subnational
levels to ensure that the priorities described in the NAP are implemented. This chapter also designs
institutional and administrative arrangements for NAP implementation, including a high-level interministerial steering mechanism and a technical working group. The chapter also presents
considerations for ensuring buy-in from sectoral stakeholders and a mechanism for facilitating
mainstreaming of the NAP into sectoral processes, along with potential entry points for integrating
guidance from the NAP into the annual planning and budgeting cycle. Lastly, the chapter presents
some challenges and barriers that representatives from key sectoral agencies articulate duringconsultations conducted in February 2020, and how the NAP process will address these.

2.1.1. Key recommendations to improve the NAP process. Based on the information containedin this chapter, there are several priorities with respect to improving the NAP process that should be
addressed in the 2020-2022 timeframe. The overall short-term recommendation is to establish aformalized and clear legal basis for the formulation and implementation stages of the NAP. Thisshould include the following:
●

●

●
●
●

Establish a Government Decree Law (or Government Decree) to legally empower line
agencies to incorporate guidance and recommendations from the NAP into their planning andbudgeting processes, and to implement the priorities described in the NAP. This Government
Decree Law (or Government Decree) should be advanced by the Coordinating Minister for
Economic Affairs, and would need to be approved by the Council of Ministers.
Establish a high-level inter-agency coordinating mechanisms to steer the formulation of
successive NAPs and to guide implementation. Nominate and appoint members and alternate
members at the minister or deputy minister level from key government agencies. Appoint the
National Directorate for Climate Change to serve as secretariat for the coordinating
mechanism, and provide technical and capacity building support.
Establish a technical working group to manage the formulation and implementation of the
NAP and to ensure proper coordination at the technical level among relevant agencies.
Appoint and provide capacity building support to sectoral focal points and sectoral adaptation
teams, which will guide the process of mainstreaming climate change adaptation andimplementation of the NAP within sectors.
Complete the establishment of the Special Committee for Climate Finance (SCCF), appoints
its members, establish standard operating procedures, and provide technical and capacity
building support.

2.2. Legal Basis
An important part of establishing the legal basis for the NAP in Timor-Leste is to clearly define
linkages to the national development planning process as well as other legal pillars. This section
provides recommendations for establishing the legal basis for the NAP and aligning it to existingdevelopment planning and sectoral processes in Timor-Leste.

62.2.1. Linkage to Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030. The Strategic Development Plan
2011-2030 (SDP) is a twenty year vision that reflects the aspiration of the Timorese people to create aprosperous and strong nation, and forms the foundation for all government actions in Timor-Leste.
The SDP covers three key areas: social capital, infrastructure development, and economic
development. Within these three key areas, the SDP describes a range of strategies, actions and goals.
The ability of Timor-Leste to implement many of these strategies and to meet the goals of the SDP
will likely be impacted by climate change, and therefore the SDP creates an implicit mandate fortaking action to address climate impacts. Specific examples from the SDP 2011-2030 are included in
the table below.
Table 1. Indicative Climate Change vulnerabilities to Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030
priorities
Key Area

Goal

Indicative Climate Impacts

Social Capital:
HealthBy 2030, Timor-Leste will have ahealthier population as a result ofcomprehensive high quality healthservices accessible to all Timorese
people. In turn, this will have reduced
poverty, raised income levels, andimproved national productivity.

Increasing temperature will increase heatrelated illness and mortality, and could leadto the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Increased disaster frequency and intensity
has a range of implications for health.
Climate impacts on agricultural
productivity will indirectly impact healthby threatening food security.

Social Capital:
SocialInclusion

By 2030, Timor-Leste will be a strong,cohesive and progressive nation where
the rights of its most vulnerable
citizens are protected

Climate change impacts fall
disproportionately on already-vulnerable
and marginalized groups in society, further
exacerbating social imbalances andinequities.

Social Capital:
Environment

By 2030, in Timor-Leste the strong
bond between Timorese people and theenvironment will be restored and our
natural resources and our environment
will be managed sustainably for the
benefit of all.

Changes in climatic conditions may
adversely impact biodiversity andecosystem resources by aiding the spread ofinvasive species, reducing critical habitats,and reducing the provision of ecosystemservices. Pressures from changing climate
conditions will make existing humanpressures on the natural environment
worse.

Infrastructure
Development:
Roads andBridges

An extensive network of quality andwell-maintained roads will connect ourcommunities, promote ruraldevelopment, industry and tourism andprovide access to markets.

Long-term increases in temperature andrising sea levels threaten to erode theexpected benefit stream of infrastructure
investments and increase operations andmaintenance costs; an increase in frequency
and intensity of weather-related extreme
events will contribute to more infrastructure
failures

Infrastructure
Development:
Water and
Sanitation

By 2030, all citizens in Timor-Leste
will have access to clean water andimproved sanitation.

Changes in rainfall patterns and longer dry
periods will affect both surface andgroundwater resources; coastal aquifers
will be susceptible to salt-water intrusionfrom rising sea levels. Increased flooding7

is likely to have adverse impacts on
sanitation and hygiene.
Infrastructure
Development:
Seaports

New seaports are a national priority tosupport our growing economy andmeet future industry and freight
demands

Sea level rise may impact on port
infrastructure investments if notincorporated into design processes

Infrastructure
Development:
Airports

To meet the future demand for air
traffic and boost key industry sectors,
we will expand out international
airport and build a network of district
airports

Weather and climate hazards in the future(e.g. increased flooding; sea level rise) may
impact on airport investments if notincorporated into siting and building
processes.

Economic
Development:
Rural
Development

The creation of local jobs is the best
way to improve the lives andlivelihoods of people living in rural
areas

Long term changes in temperature andprecipitation regimes, as well as increased
extreme hydrometeorological disasters may
adversely impact investments in agriculture
and rural infrastructure, thereby negatively
impacting job creation and livelihood
improvements.

Economic
Development:
Agriculture

A thriving agriculture sector is needed
to reduce poverty, provide foodsecurity, and promote economic
growth in rural areas and our nation asa whole.

Long term changes in temperature andprecipitation regimes, as well as increased
extreme hydrometeorological disasters may
adversely impact on investments inagriculture and rural infrastructure, thereby
negatively impacting job creation andlivelihood improvements. In addition,
productive agricultural lands near the coast
will be increasingly susceptible to saltwater intrusion, affecting productivity

Economic
Development:
TourismWith much to offer international
visitors, we will position ourselves toprovide a range of tourism experiencesthat take advantage of our natural
beauty, culture, and heritage.

Medium- and long-term changes in thephysical environment driven by changing
climate conditions may negatively impact
on nature-based tourism resources (e.g.
coral reefs, biodiversity).

2.2.2. Linkages to sectoral planning and implementation.
Linking implementation of NAPs to sectoral planning and budgeting processes improves effectivenessof adaptation. A legal mandate would encourage government agencies and other stakeholders tofollow the guidance of the NAP. To this end, this document suggests a two-pronged approach toestablishing a legal mandate to ensure that government agencies are legally empowered to follow theguidance contained in the NAP through its successive iterations:
1. Create a Government Decree Law for the effective implementation of the NAP and
integrating climate change adaptation into respective relevant sectoral policies, plans andactivities. This Ministerial Decree Law would be advanced by the Minister responsible forenvironmental issues. This Government Decree Law would go into effect after being
approved by the Council of Ministers. The proposed Government Decree Law would containprovisions directing the relevant ministries to formally refer to the National Adaptation Plan
when developing sectoral strategy and action plans as well as in their budgetary requests The
Law would also direct the relevant agencies to take necessary steps to implement the8priorities contained within the NAP, including incorporating climate change considerations
into sectoral regulatory frameworks.
2. Using the implicit mandate of the SDP 2011-2020 to implement the NAP priorities toimprove the ability of government stakeholders to fulfill the priorities of the SDP in the midstof changing climatic conditions, and also to ensure the resilience of the social and economic
development progress achieved under the guidance of the SDP 2011-2020.

2.3. Administrative Arrangements
This section describes the current roles and responsibilities for the relevant stakeholders in the NAP
process. Many of these roles and responsibilities are outlined in the draft National Climate Change
Policy. The section also provides suggestions for establishing formalized steering and technicalworking mechanisms for the NAP process.
To effectively coordinate Timor-Leste‘s climate change adaptation response at national andsubnational levels, specific institutional arrangements will need to be clarified and formalized. In thepast Timor-Leste has utilized sectoral/thematic working groups when developing the NAPA and otherdocuments, however these arrangements have been ad-hoc, have had little legal mandate or authority
extending beyond planning, and have not been effective at preserving institutional knowledge. The
NAP process envisions a permanent mechanism that will be empowered to coordinate and guide not
only planning for climate change adaptation, but also implementation.
The institutional arrangements for the NAP process should consist of two primary levels. The first ofthese would be an interagency coordinating body consisting of high-level members (ministers anddirector generals) from priority sector ministries and agencies. This group would also consist ofmembership from national private sector organizations, academic institutions, and other relevant
stakeholders. Development partners should be granted observer status. This body should meet atleast quarterly and should be legally empowered to develop strategies, policies, workplans, and otherrelevant directional guidance related to climate change adaptation. The body would also steer theprocess for integrating NAP priorities into national development planning, sectoral policies, andplanning processes at the subnational level. This interagency coordinating body would also be
responsible for reviewing and evaluating the implementation of the NAP, and for establishingtimelines and roadmaps for subsequent NAPs.
The second tier would consist of a technical working group, most likely organized around sectoral
themes and other focal areas (e.g. subnational integration, scientific research, etc.). Like the interministerial body, the technical working groups would be permanent and established by statute,empowered with specific mandates and responsibilities. The technical working groups would serve
under the direction of the interagency coordinating mechanism. Specific responsibilities should bedetermined over the near-term (2020-2022). The membership of both the interagency working groupand the technical working groups should include:











Secretariat of State for the Environment (Chair, with NDCC serving as secretariat)
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ministry of Public Works
Ministry of Transport and Communication
Ministry of Interior/Secretariat of State for Civil Protection
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Education
Ministry of FinanceState Secretariat for Gender Equality
9






Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals
National Authority of Petroleum and Minerals
National University of Timor Lorosa‘ePrivate Universities Representative

In addition, the GoDRTL is in the process of establishing a Special Committee on Climate Finance(SCCF), which will be responsible for facilitating and coordinating access to international climate
finance to support adaptation and mitigation projects.

2.4. Sectoral Considerations
2.4.1. Relevance of the NAP to sectoral stakeholders. To encourage buy-in and ownership over
NAP formulation and implementation on the part of sectoral stakeholders, it is important to establish
the relevance of the NAP to the priority sectors. This subject was discussed thoroughly during the
NAP Stakeholder Consultation Conference conducted in Dili on 4-5 March, 2020. The assembled
stakeholders agreed that to establish its relevance to sectoral stakeholders, the NAP shall play thefollowing roles with respect to the priority sectors:● Encourage high-level political support and awareness for action on climate change adaptation
at the sectoral level. To this end, this NAP includes an analysis of current and potential
vulnerabilities to climate change for each of the priority sectors. These sectoral analyses
synthesize existing vulnerability and risk assessments and are based on the most recent, best
available science. Future work to expand the NAP process will focus on elaborating andupdating these sectoral vulnerability and risk assessments. Securing high-level buy-in andownership along with a solid legal foundation and mandate will help to ensure that the NAP is
implemented effectively.
● Raise awareness among sector stakeholders about the importance of understanding climate
risks and vulnerabilities. This includes enhancing awareness about sectorally-relevant
physical processes associated with climate change, their impacts, and potential adaptation
action, both on the part of government and non-government stakeholders.
● Provide guidance with respect to building institutional and human capacities within line
ministries with responsibilities related to the key sectors and also among non-government
stakeholders to adapt to observed and expected climate change impacts. To this end,
institutional and human capacity development actions have been identified within each of thepriority programs described in Chapter 7 of this NAP.
● Provide specific guidance, targets, and indicators for mainstreaming of climate change into
priority sector policy frameworks. This will include an analysis of legal and regulatory
frameworks for each of the priority sectors, and recommendations for moving forward withrespect to incorporating climate change and climate change adaptation considerations into
these frameworks.
● Improve the integration of climate information into sectoral decision-making processes. This
includes identifying and addressing data and information gaps, and improving capacities
within sector agencies, supporting agencies, non-governmental and academic institutions, andpotential the private sector to provide relevant decision-support information, tools, andmethodologies to sectoral stakeholders.
● Identify pathways to build resilience and adaptive capacity among the most vulnerable groups(e.g. women, persons with disabilities, youth, elderly, rural and urban poor).
● Align climate change planning processes with the appropriate financial resources to support
implementation. To facilitate this function the NAP provides a financing plan that identifies
the appropriate sources of support for the different elements of each priority adaptation
program.
● Provide mechanisms to mobilize external financing to support the identified priorities. The
financing plan mentioned above also identifies priorities for external financing that are linked
to the country‘s NDC and its GCF Country Programme, and thus will serve as a guide to10

coordinate planning and implementation of donor-funded activities, ensuring these areharmonized with the overall objectives of the NAP.

2.4.2. Sectoral engagement plan. To involve the priority sector agencies in the NAP process, thisNAP recommends that the Secretary of State for Environment steer a high-level mechanism for
iterative NAP formulation and implementation based on given mandate under the Government Decree
Law no-15/2019. The NDCC under the State Secretariat for Environment should lead and coordinate
a formalized coordination mechanism at technical level, to include the following elements:●●

Technical coordination mechanism (described above).
Sectoral focal points. Sectoral focal points will serve as contact-person for each relevant
agency. These focal points will be members of the technical working group, and they will
also serve as the primary coordination lead within the agency to guide mainstreaming
processes, including integrating NAP priorities into sectoral planning and budgeting and to
identify resource needs.
● Sectoral adaptation teams. Sectoral adaptation teams shall be assembled from existing
personnel within each relevant agency and shall include representatives from each directorate
within the agency. Sectoral adaptation teams will receive technical training and capacity
building support through Readiness programs and other development partner-supported
initiatives.

2.4.3. Specific linkages to sectoral processes. This subsection describes entry points for linking
the NAP to day-to-day processes of governance in the priority sectors. Sectoral agencies in TimorLeste follow four steps when formulating annual plans and budgets: (1) planning and preparing for thebudget, (2) considering budget submissions, (3) approving the proposed budget, and (4)implementation or spending the approved budget. This section describes these steps and how
activities of the NAP process especially implementation of adaptation can be linked to them.

Figure 2: NAP entry points and alignment with sectoral planning and budgeting processes

1. Planning and Preparing for the Budget

11Sectoral ministries begin the cycle by identifying and preparing their Annual Action Plans which
capture their key sectoral objectives and activities for the coming budget year. Then, the sectoral
ministries develop their budget strategy and priorities as well as the total amount of budget for theprioritized programs. This identification of annual priorities and budget preparation should serve as anentry point for the alignment of NAP priorities into the sectoral plans and programs. At this point in
the process, sectoral ministries may:
● Screen identified sectoral priorities against climate vulnerabilities described in the NAP;
● Formulate a brief description on how climate risks and vulnerabilities are being addressed;● Incorporate short- and medium-term adaptation priorities described in the NAP that are
relevant to the sector, including institutional and human capacity building priorities;● Reference the sector-specific indicators and targets included in the NAP monitoring
framework.
Once the Government has decided the broad budget strategy, the Budget Office from the Ministry of
Finance prepares a budget call circular that comprises a summary of the strategy of the Government
for the coming budget, outlining the budget process and timetable for the implementation. This budget
call circular is distributed to all ministries together with supporting templates and spreadsheets thatare necessary for completing the budget documents from each ministry. This is the formal invitation
to start preparing budget submissions from sectoral ministries. Once the ministries complete theirrespective sectoral budget submissions, these documents can be put into Performance Budgeting,which is part of the integrated financial system of the Government. This means that the ministries
submit their budget plans to the Ministry of Finance, then the budget Directorate from the Ministry of
Finance analyzes each budget submission and submit it to the Budget Review Committee. The Budget
Review Committee consists of the Prime Minister, the Ministry Finance and other key ministers
invited by the Prime Minister. The process creates several additional entry points and opportunities
for NAP alignment:● MoF may refer to the NAP priorities (including climate financing that would be mobilized toaddress the adaptation needs) and monitoring plan and incorporate these into the budget callcircular.
● MoF may adapt templates and spreadsheets to include provisions and guidance to highlightincome and expenditures on climate change adaptation-related items. This would help totrack total government expenditures on climate change adaptation and would also help tohighlight climate change additionality with respect to budgets.
● MoF may issue guidance for incorporating climate change expenditures in budget
submissions.
● MoF may establish procedures and develop human capacities to review climate-change
adaptation considerations in budgetary review processes.
2. Considering Budget Submissions by the Council of Ministers
After the budget submissions are prepared by the ministries, the Budget Review Committee assesses
and revises each budget submission and invites sectoral ministries to defend and explain reasons foreach submission. The Committee once again prioritizes and chooses the most worthy initiatives fromthe sectoral ministries by considering the budget limitation. The Budget Review Committee forms a
proposed budget and presents it to the Council of Ministers for their consideration. Then the councilof Ministers provide their consideration to the budget submission and submit it to the National
Parliament for the approval. There are entry points to align the NAP with this process as well:● The NAP should provide a coordination mechanism so that the NAP‘s high-level steering
mechanism4 can liaise with the Budget Review Committee with respect to climate change
priorities.

4

The specific nature of the high-level steering mechanism is to-be-determined and will be established duringlate 2020 or 2021.

12

●The NAP process should provide awareness raising opportunities to members of the Budget
Review Committee with respect to climate change including opportunities for climate
financing, as well as technical tools and support to the Committee and the Council of
Ministers for evaluating budget requests for climate change adaptation funding requests. This
may include support to identify potential climate risks to proposed investment projects.

3. Approving the Proposed Budget by the Parliament
Once the proposed budget is submitted to the Parliament, then the Parliament Commissions discussand review the proposed budget by inviting ministers to explain their proposed budget and receiving
the comments from parliaments and civil society organizations. The NAP priority elements for eachsector to be funded from national sources can be defended by related ministers in this discussion.
Then the proposed budget is presented to the Plenary of the Parliament by the Prime Minister. The
Parliament debates the proposed budget, including asking questions for all ministries about clarity ofbudget from each ministry and requesting the Ministry of Finance for clarifying some key issues
related to budget in general. After hearing the rationalities and clarities around the proposed budget,
the Parliament approves the budget, and then the proposed budget is sent to the President of the
Republic to consider and sign the budget. The President of the Republic promulgates the proposed
budget and publishes it in the Journal of the Republic, then the budget will be ready to be
implemented. Entry points for the NAP process may include:● Providing a baseline of adaptation priorities which are aligned with existing development
priorities for Parliament to refer to in approving budgets;● Providing socialization, awareness raising, and user-friendly guidance on climate change
physical processes and impacts for Members of Parliament;● Providing a mechanism to facilitate input from non-government stakeholders with respect toincorporating climate change adaptation into sectoral planning and budgeting priorities.
4. Spending and implementation of the budget
After the proposed budget is approved by the Parliament and promulgated by the President of the
Republic, the ministries start spending the approved budget and implementing their sectoral programs.
The ministries are requested to provide quarterly reports on physical and financial progress of thebudget to the Parliament in order to ensure transparency and accountability. This reporting system
will also cover the implementation of the state-funded NAP priorities under the different programs
implemented by each sector. Entry points for alignment the NAP may include:● Aligning the NAP monitoring plan with existing sectoral priorities to ensure that these
existing priorities are climate-proofed or otherwise made resilient to climate change.
● Harmonizing the quarterly reporting program with NAP formulation processes so that sectoral
agency progress can be tracked in the NAP process and can form the basis for articulation ofpriorities in subsequent updates of the NAP.
● Providing a mechanism to synthesize sectoral reports to be included in periodic reporting on
NAP progress to the UNFCCC including through the adaptation communication.

2.4.4. Sectoral gaps and needs. During the open-NAP workshop and subsequent consultations
with key stakeholders, a number of gaps and needs were identified. These gaps and needs will be
addressed through the NAP process to enhance the ability of priority sector agencies to address
climate change adaptation, including integrating NAP priorities into sectoral plans and subsequent
implementation of the NAP.
Gaps that were identified, as well as recommended measures to address them include:● Lack of coordination between national and local authorities. To address this, clear
arrangements for coordination between national and municipal authorities that is consistent
with Timor-Leste‘s decentralization trajectory (see section 5.5) will be developed as part ofthe ongoing work under the NAP process. The process will also identify institutional and

13

●

●

●

●
●

●

human capacity strengthening measures so that subnational authorities are competent toimplement the NAP.
Lack of sharing data and information between government and international agencies. To
address this issue, the NAP will prioritize the establishment of data and information
management protocols to facilitate harmonization and sharing of data and information
between different stakeholders, and where necessary, will consider developing a data policy.
The data protocols will include arrangements for all data collected under different projects to
be archived in a central government data center and made available to all stakeholders and foruse in future assessments.
Lack of up to date data and information. To address this gap, the NAP process will include
an analysis of data and information gaps, and will prescribe steps to address these gaps andimprove the capability of relevant stakeholders in Timor-Leste to gather data and produce anddisseminate relevant, useful, and accessible information products, as well as through funded
adaptation projects.
Limited access to funding for adaptation. To address this gap, the NAP process will develop afinancial mobilization plan that identifies appropriate and diversified sources of financing tosupport sectoral adaptation priorities and how to access such sources. This mobilization plan
will identify agencies and partners that will be responsible for taking action to prepare
proposals to access financing.
Limited awareness among sectoral officials with respect to climate change. To address thisgap, the NAP process will embark on comprehensive awareness raising and capacity
development programs for relevant sectoral agencies.
Inadequacy of sectoral regulations and enforcement with respect to climate change issues. To
address this gap, the NAP process will provide technical support to identify regulatory gaps
and will also support the relevant sectoral agencies in formulating regulatory programs which
incorporate climate change.
Lack of coherence between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR)
activities. To address this issue, the NAP process will support improved coordination between
the National Directorate of Climate Change and agencies responsible for DRR. To support
improved coordination and data sharing with respect to climate change and disaster reduction
interventions and to reduce overlaps and redundancies among all stakeholders, the NAP
process will promote activities that promote and achieve coherence with disastermanagement. Common and shared databases will be established where possible, to service
different sectoral agencies, municipal and local authorities, development partners, andnational and international NGOs. Other recommendations from the LEG on coherence with
DRR efforts under the Sendai Framework will also be considered.

14

Chapter 3. National Circumstances
3.1. Introduction
This chapter provides general background information about socio-economic, political,
environmental, and cultural conditions in Timor-Leste. The chapter describes some of the challenges
that Timor-Leste faces as a post-conflict least developed country (LDC) with the understanding that
the NAP process should be consistent with the specific national and local conditions in Timor-Lesteand should be consistent with the aspirations of the Timorese people. The chapter also describes theunique cultural tradition of Tara Bandu as an entry point for community-led climate change
adaptation. The chapter provides a general overview of gender considerations that should bemainstreamed into the NAP process, as well as nation building and conflict resolution efforts which
the NAP should be consistent with.

3.1.1. Key considerations to enhance the NAP process. Several short-term actions should beprioritized with respect to the subject matter in this chapter. The following recommendations should
be incorporated into requests for financial and technical support over the 2020-2022 timeframe:● Ensure proper coordination between the NAP process and the implementation of the National
Food and Nutrition Security Policy to ensure that efforts to improve food security andagricultural productivity are designed to be resilient to potential future climatic conditions;● Build capacities and knowledge for embracing ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches
to maximize synergies between environmental conservation and rehabilitation efforts and the
NAP process;● Increase awareness among government and non-government stakeholders about the potential
impacts of climate change on particularly vulnerable groups and the potential for climatechange to exacerbate rural poverty;● Ensure from an early stage when implementing the NAP to engage with efforts to expand theagricultural, tourism, and industrial sectors for economic diversification to ensure that plans
and investments are climate-proofed to the extent possible;● Establish a research partnership to identify entry points for community-led climate change
adaptation into local Tara Bandu cultural practices and formulate an action plan for
integration;● Establish and capacitate a focal point on gender and climate change at the National
Directorate of Climate Change, and implement a research program in coordination with the
National University of Timor-Lorosae to track observed and potential future impact ofclimate change on women. Formulate principles for ensuring the gender responsiveness of
the NAP process as well as sectoral and subnational policies, projects, and programs foradvancing climate change adaptation; and● Commission research to inform a white paper with policy recommendations addressing thenexus of climate change adaptation, peace building, and conflict resolution.

3.2 Geographic Characteristics of Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is located in Southeast Asia at the eastern end of the Lesser Sunda Islands of theIndonesian archipelago, approximately 400 kilometers north of Australia. It occupies the eastern halfof the island of Timor and includes the small islands of Atauro and Jaco, and the exclave of Oecusse,
which is located in West Timor. Timor-Leste lies between latitudes 8‘15 and 10‘30 south andlongitudes 124‘50 and 127‘30 east and has an area of approximately 14,954km2. This includes themain land area at 13,989 km2, Oecusse exclave at 817 km2, Atauro Island at 140 km2 and Jaco Island
at 8km2. Administratively, Timor-Leste consists of 13 municipalities.

15

Figure 3: Municipalities of Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste has complex topography. Most of the country‘s land area has a slope of between 8-25%,
and approximately 44% of the country has a slope of greater than 40%. There is significant altitudinalvariation in the country, ranging from the coasts to the mountainous interior, which is dissected bysteep-sided river valleys. The interior of the country is dominated by a mountain range which has
several peaks rising to over 2000 meters, the highest of which is Mount Ramelau (2986m). On thenorthern side, the mountains extend almost to the coast, but on the southern part the mountains taper
off some distance from the coast, which provides areas of coastal plain. Timor-Leste has more than
100 rivers, but the longest is only 80 kilometers in length, and very few streams flow year-round; only
8 river courses have consistently perennial flows. Timor-Leste‘s is geologically different from theother islands of the Lesser Sunda Arc. The country‘s soils are generally shallow, rocky, alkaline, do
not store water well and are easily eroded (Molyneux et al 2012). However some small areas with
better alluvial soils exist in the river valleys and the flat land along the coasts.

3.3 Economic Context
Economically Timor-Leste is classified by the United Nations as a least developed country (LDC). In
2014 the country‘s gross domestic product (GDP) was US$4.18 billion, with the oil industry
accounting for US$2.8 billion (66%). Timor-Leste is among the most oil-dependent economies in theworld, but the country has been able to leverage its hydrocarbon wealth to finance impressive
development gains over the last decade as investments in public services and infrastructure have
driven economic growth (USAID 2017). However, the overall contribution of the petrochemicals
sector to the national economy has declined in recent years both in absolute terms and in relation toother sectors. In addition, expansion of the oil and gas sector has done little to create jobs in part
because there are no processing facilities in Timor-Leste, and so all production is processed abroad.
Despite this, moving forward the GoDRTL expects the oil and gas sector to play a significant role inits economic development and is actively courting investment aimed at expanding production,
establishing processing facilities, and providing the requisite infrastructure to increase exports. A
recent agreement with Australia to settle competing claims over offshore oil and gas resources is
expected to provide stability and thus improve the investment climate in this sector.
Besides petrochemicals, the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 identified agriculture,
manufacturing, and tourism industries as three strategic and priority sectors to diversify the economy
and reducing, in medium term reliance on petrochemical industry. Therefore, NAP is an imperative
purpose and guidance for designing and to ensure that planning for investment in those three strategic
sectors contemplate resilience mechanisms and procedures to anticipate and reduce potential impact
of climate changes..
16

The economic growth has been to some extent relatively steady, though with some variations caused
the contractions in regional and world economy, since the restoration of independence of the country
in 2002. Per capita GDP in 2014 was US$3,566. However, according to the World Bank, in 2018
economic activity declined for the second consecutive year. The Bank predicted that Timor-Leste‘seconomy would begin to expand again in 2019, with stable inflation (World Bank 2019). Overall,though, the country‘s economy still struggles with job creation, as labor force participation rate is low
at 30.6%, which reflects the continued prominence of subsistence agriculture (MoH 2019). In
addition, the cost of doing business in Timor-Leste is still very high, due to inadequate economic
infrastructure and lack of appropriate enabling environments (GoDRTL 2010). As an LDC thecountry benefits from significant aid and development assistance flows, which account for
approximately 6% of gross national income.
The agriculture sector is extremely important as more than 66% of the rural population depends on
agriculture as the main source of income (FAO 2019), but at the same time agriculture contributes
only 30% of the non-oil GDP of the country (GoDRTL 2010). In addition, while the majority of the
population depends on subsistence agriculture, food production is not sufficient to meet the
population‘s needs, and it is estimated that 30-40% of food is imported (GoDRTL 2010). Historically
agriculture has been in the form of rain-fed shifting cultivation with some sedentary agriculture where
soil and water conditions are more favorable (e.g. river and coastal plains). During the violent
withdrawal of the Indonesian army and supporters in 1999, widespread intentional damages weredone to Timor-Leste‘s agriculture related infrastructures.
To address this issue, the Government of Timor-Leste is working to achieve its national food securityby using local and imported nutritive food for its citizens. The National Food and Nutrition Security
Policy was approved in 2017 with the vision that by 2030 Timor-Leste will be free from hunger andmalnutrition and Timorese people will enjoy healthy and productive lives, and that people in TimorLeste will be well-fed principally from an increased variety of locally-produced and imported
nutritious food and in the meantime, carefully manage the country agro-ecosystem to significantly
improve and increase food production in Timor-Leste. This prioritization of expanded and diversified
agriculture creates an essential entry point for consideration of climate change impacts and adaptive
measures with respect to the country‘s development trajectory. As the NAP process in Timor-Leste
evolves, it will clearly highlight the potential climatic changes as they relate to the agricultural sector,
and will describe potential vulnerabilities associated with these changes, along with prioritized
adaptation measures that will help to ensure that government- and non-government-led efforts todiversify and expand agricultural output will continue to provide the expected benefits regardless ofchanging climatic conditions.

3.4. Environmental Context
3.4.1. Terrestrial ecosystems. Timor-Leste is situated in a high biodiversity hotspot (the Coral
Triangle) comprising a number of globally significant ecosystems and endemic species. The country
is recognized as a region with some degree of plant biodiversity and endemism, with approximately
41,000 plant species, 70% of which are endemic to the region. Timor-Leste has 30 declared protectedareas, which includes the majority of the country‘s remaining primary forest cover. Approximately
35% of the land area has some type of forest cover, but deforestation is a significant problem (seebelow). The country also contains globally significant ecosystems, including tropical rainforests,
mangroves, wetlands, and important marine ecosystems. These ecosystems play a critical part inclimate regulation, sequestration of carbon, and in building adaptive capacity to climate change.
Timor-Leste has established 24 protected areas to conserve and protect important ecosystems and is
working to develop ecotourism in these areas,. However, it is important in long distantant future toconsider the likely impacts of climate change on both the management of the protected area systemand the development of ecotourism as a viable economic sector.
17

Figure 4: Tropical Rainforest in Timor-Leste in Nino Konis Santana National Park, Lautem Municipality

Timor-Leste consists of five generalized ecological zones (GoDRTL 2010), each of which should beconsidered in ecosystem-based adaptation approaches:● Marine and coastal zone
● Arid lowland zone
● Mountainous zone
● Highland plains zones● Wetlands and lakes.

3.4.2. Marine Ecosystems. As noted above, Timor-Leste is part of the Coral Triangle, of highbiodiversity. The coastal waters around Timor-Leste contain remarkable seascapes and species
assemblages, but there is little to no existing comprehensive data on coastal habitats. This makes
effective, evidence-based marine resources planning and management difficult, but it also means thatthe waters of Timor-Leste represent tremendous opportunities for exploration and discovery. For
example, a 2012 marine survey found seven potentially new marine species and extremely highconcentrations of biodiversity, with 734 fish species and 360 species of corals in one area alone.
The marine and coastal zone around Timor-Leste consists primarily of shallow seas with coral reefs
and other valuable marine resources, including fish, sea-grasses, and seaweed. This area also includes
the most extensive mangrove forests in the world as well as juvenile growth areas for tuna and othercommercial fish species of global importance. Approximately 42% of all sucos (villages) in TimorLeste have a coastal border, and so coastal resources are an important part of the livelihoods of many
communities (UNDP 2018), while Timor-Leste‘s coastal waters comprise a rich variety of species andseascapes but there is no existing comprehensive data on coastal habitats. Therefore, as the NAP
process evolves in Timor-Leste, it should be a priority to ensure that climate change considerations
and potential vulnerabilities be factored into near-shore and marine resource management planning.

3.4.3. Environmental problems. The most pressing environmental problems in Timor-Leste
include deforestation, land degradation, natural disaster vulnerability due to climate variability, poor
18

water quality and water scarcity, waste management, and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Among the most pressing issues are:
● Climate variability frequently causes droughts and floods which are likely to increase infrequency and intensity due to climate change;● Land degradation associated with unsustainable agriculture practices and overgrazing,
especially from goats, leads to groundcover change and soil erosion and degradation;● Water scarcity is high in many parts , especially in northern parts of country where the dry
season is longer;● Water quality is an issue in many urban areas. Pollution is evident and caused by domestic
sewage and waste, none-compliance domesticated animals husbandry rules,and as well as
sedimentation due to soil erosion. In addition, nonexistent sewage systems and inadequate
systems for collection and disposal of wastewater have resulted to some extent pollution ofnear surface groundwater level● Waste management. Similarly to lack of wastewater management, in most of the country
there are no effective systems for the management of solid waste in place, and sanitation
infrastructure is severely inadequate as only about one-third of Timor-Leste‘s population has
access to improved sanitation.
● Deforestation is deemed to be a critical issue in Timor-Leste affecting all 13 municipalities
in the country. The current rate of deforestation is thought to be around 1.3% per year.
● Mangrove degradation. Related to the deforestation problem, the degradation of mangrove
ecosystems is an issue of extreme importance as well. Direct human stressors have been andcontinue to be a significant threat to the country‘s remaining mangrove forests, but
increasingly sedimentation resulting from erosion due to haphazard and unregulated
development in both the upland and coastal zones is degrading mangrove habitats andconverting them into dry, sandy flats (UNDP 2018).
● Overfishing is seen to be a significant problem as well. This was exacerbated during theperiod of occupation by Indonesia, as transmigration of settlers brought with it unsustainablefishing practices, including the use of dynamite, cyanide, and the unsustainable anddestructive harvesting of sea cucumbers. A 2014 study by the Asian Development Bank
estimates that illegal fishing results in an annual loss of US$40 million to the country‘s
economy (UNDP 2018)
As evidenced by the adaptation priorities identified in this NAP, there is potential for significant
environmental co-benefits from investments in adaptation, as well as opportunities to exploit
synergies between building resilience to climate change and addressing environmental and resource
management challenges. Therefore, wherever possible, Timor-Leste‘s adaptation response should
include ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and other nature-based approaches.

3.5. Social Context
Timor-Leste is a diverse country, with 16 languages and between 34 and 36 dialects (UNDP 2018).
According to the 2015 Population and Housing Census, the population of Timor-Leste was estimatedat 1,183,643 people with a population density of approximately 79 people per square kilometer, which
is one of the lowest population densities in the Southeast Asian region. The largest city is the capital,
Dili, with an estimated population of 252,884, according to the 2015 census. Other centers of
population concentration include Ermera and Baucau.
In 2015 the country‘s population growth rate stood at 1.8% per annum, one of the highest rates inSoutheast Asia. However, the population growth rate and the total fertility rate (TFR) decreased
significantly between 2005 and 2015, and so earlier, more dire projections of population growth andassociated strain on natural resources and economic considerations are, in retrospect, overstated.
However, the high birthrate means that Timor-Leste has one of the youngest populations in the world,with a dependency ratio of 82% (UNCDP 2018). The country‘s population is 30% urban based, andthe rate of urbanization was 2.09% per year from 2010-2015. This has significant implications for19

economic development in Timor-Leste, as the government faces the perennial challenge of improving
the enabling conditions for job creation in the country. It also has significance in terms of future
vulnerabilities to climate change, as economic well-being is directly related to adaptive capacity.
Poverty has historically been and continues to be a major challenge for Timor-Leste. Followinginternational extreme poverty standards, about 30.3% of the population was estimated to live below
the poverty line in 2014, but it should be noted that this compares favorably with the 47.2% estimatedto be below the poverty line of US$1.90 in 2007. However, it should be noted that the UN Committee
for Development Policy has observed that ―the Government is aware of the problems associated withpoverty and has been implementing several measures to mitigate its consequences, especially onchildren and pregnant women. For example, feeding programs are implemented all over the country,
especially through health centers and primary schools. Social security programs are being
implemented for some vulnerable categories of the population such as elderly citizens as well as
veterans of the independence war. Inequality in education, health and transport is being addressed
through heavy and steady investment in schools, hospitals, and roads construction, especially in ruraland remote areas‖ (UNCPD 2018:8). In 2014 Timor-Leste‘s Human Development Index (HDI) was.595, positioning the country at 133 of 188 countries. Between 2000 and 2014 it increased from .468
to .595, an overall increase of 27.1% or annual increase of 1.73%
With respect to economic indicators, human development indicators, and access to essential goods
and services, there is a clear rural-urban divide, with sucos near Dili having significantly higher living
standards than those in less populated and remote areas (UNDP 2018a). Overall studies indicate that
14% of the urban population is affected by severe poverty, whereas 46% of the rural population isaffected by severe poverty (UNDP 2018b). With respect to the NAP process, this means that TimorLeste should identify adaptation options that 1) protect existing and future investments in improving
rural livelihoods; and 2) seek to make investments in adaptation that have economic and social
development co-benefits for rural communities.
Tara Bandu is a ―Timorese customary rules that enforces peace and reconciliation through the powerof public agreement‖‖ (Asia Foundation 2013) and generally involves some aspect of reducing or
preventing community conflict, protecting the environment, managing natural resources, andimproving community welfare. The use of Tara Bandu in the context of regulating natural resource
extraction can be traced back to pre-colonial times when local chiefs held authority in Timor.
However,
shortly
after invading TimorLeste in 1975, theIndonesian occupiers
outlawed
Tara
Bandu systems andasserted control overforest and marine
resources.
Since
independencein
2002, Tara Banduhasexperienced
resurgence, as it isprotected in TimorLeste‘s Constitution
and is widely seen by
the Timorese people
Figure 5: Tara Bandu Ceremony in Timor-Lesteas an important andlegitimate way toenhance traditional culture and mutual respect within society (Asia Foundation 2013). Communities
across Timor-Leste have established new Tara Bandu resource management regimes that include
20forest conservation areas, fishery no-take zones, bans on certain types of destructive fishing methods,
and prohibitions on harvesting of certain species.
Tara Bandu has been incorporated into legal frameworks pertaining to natural resource management
and in the management of marine protected areas. According to the Environmental Basic Law ofTimor-Leste, Tara Bandu is defined as an integral custom of Timor-Leste‘s culture, which regulatesman‘s relationship with his surrounding environment (Decree Law no. 26/2012). According to thislaw it is seen as a local custom that regulates the relationship between humans and the environment
surrounding them. Article 8 of the Environmental Basic Law states that ―Tara Bandu may be appliedin accordance with the rituals instituted by local common law which are intended to conserve andpromote the environment and the sustainable preservation and use of natural resources. This
Traditional Law has been recognized by the Government of Timor-Leste as a local customary law forprotecting and conserving the environment and use of natural resources in a sustainable manner. It is acommon practice that local communities in Timor-Leste apply this traditional law to control the
exploitation of the forests and oceans.
Tara Bandu represents an important entry point for strengthening engagement with and involvementof local communities in resilience building efforts. As the NAP process evolves, it will work throughTara Bandu mechanisms that currently exist and will emerge in the future across Timor-Leste toencourage communities to plan and implement locally-appropriate climate change adaptation
measures. This includes ecosystem-based adaptation measures that provide co-benefits in terms ofsustainability of harvests and the provision of ecosystem services. In addition, Tara Bandu creates
opportunities for the NAP process to contribute to peace building and reconciliation efforts at the
local level by building community resilience.

3.6 Gender issues and context
An understanding of the gender context in Timor-Leste is an important building block for establishingan effective and inclusive NAP process. Gender equity and inclusion is one of the key principles of
the country‘s NAP process, and through planning and implementation for the NAP the GoDRTL will
work to advance gender equity goals that have been articulated in other strategies and policies. Since
independence, gender equality has been emphasized as an important goal in national development.
Timor-Leste‘s Constitution grants equal rights to both men and women, but disparities are evident,
especially with respect to land ownership (UNDP 2018b). There is a relatively high proportion of
women in the national parliament, armed forces, and police, but there is far less gender equity at the
local level. This is evidenced by the fact that only 2% of Suco chief positions are held by women(Indeva 2018).
Timor-Leste‘s traditional cultural and social values are patriarchal, and this has a strong influence on
the social construction of gender roles. This plays an important role in shaping the vulnerability ofwomen in Timor-Leste. Typically, men are expected to be the primary income earners in the formal
economy and are responsible for most decision-making at the household level. This means that men
tend to have more access to cash resources and the cash economy. One study indicated that this lackof access to cash limits women‘s ability to make important investments in small businesses, whichtends to increase their dependency on men.
A key root driver of the disadvantaged position of many women lies in the education system.
According to the 2015 census, 31.9% of women in Timor-Leste have never been to school. Of thosethat have attended school, 50% have some primary education, 33% have some secondary education,
and approximately 9% of women have more than secondary school education. These numbers
represent an improvement since the previous era, the GoDRTL has engaged in rigorous efforts toimprove access to and quality of education (UNDP 2018b).

21

In addition, gender-based violence has been a serious problem in Timor-Leste, and nearly 40% of
women over the age of 15 reports having experienced physical violence (Indeva 2018). Therefore, as
member state to the UN, the GoDRTL is struggling to achieve gender equality and the empowermentof the women and girls in Timor-Leste by formulating a National Action Plan (2016-2020) for the
implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security. The
Ministry of Interior is a leading agency for the implementation of this National Gender Action Plan.
This National Action plan adopts four pillars such as Participation, Prevention, Protection and Peacebuilding. The prevention and protection pillars include sexual, physical and psychological violence
and abuse. One of the critical actions for protection of women and girls for 2016-2020 is promoting
the gender sensitivity of the formal justice system through the implementation of gender-sensitive
laws, the equal and gender-sensitive interpretation of laws and regulations. The Action Plan also
addresses integrating modules on gender in training manuals of defense security and justice training
institutions and strengthening public awareness on gender-sensitive conflict prevention throughmedia. The current VIII constitutional government has established a Secretary of State for Gender
Equality and Inclusion as government entity to deal with protecting and prevention of gender-based
violence (GBV), including sexual violence, physical and other form of violence on women and girls.
With respect to climate change, the NDCC intends to establish a focal point on gender and climatechange in response to the trajectory of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the UNFCCC, including
recent actions taken at COP25 in Madrid. Once this focal point is established, the NAP process will
facilitate capacity building for the focal point, and subsequent efforts by the focal point to spearhead
the mainstreaming of gender considerations into Timor-Leste‘s adaptation response.

3.7. Legacies of Colonization and Occupation
Timor-Leste gained its independence from Indonesia in 2002. During the quarter-century conflict forindependence from Indonesia, there were at least 102,800 conflict related deaths (Mercer et al 2014).
During this period crop production fell by up to two-thirds as crops were burnt to starve out guerillas(Molyneux et al 2012). The occupation ended violently, and after the referendum as the Indonesianforces retreated from Timor-Leste they executed operation ―Clean Sweep‖ during which they reducedbuildings and infrastructure to rubble and executed hundreds, if not thousands of Timorese (Mercer et
al 2014). During this time more than three-quarters of the population was displaced, and 70% of theinfrastructure was destroyed (26). In addition, throughout the country educational infrastructure wastargeted, and nearly 90% of schools nationwide, including the Universitas Timor-Timur5, the only
higher education institution at the time, was damaged or destroyed (GoDRTL 2014).
While overall Timor-Leste has made tremendous progress in rebuilding the country, the inherent
fragility that exists after decades of struggle and national trauma has given rise to some episodes of
instability, including a period of violence in 2006 when deep-seated tensions emerged, and again in
February of 2008 when the President and Prime Minister of Timor-Leste were nearly assassinated ina coup attempt (Mercer et al 2014). Thus, this NAP incorporates perspectives and insights
concerning reducing the risks of climate change-driven social unrest and insecurity, and one of the
key guiding principles of this NAP is integrating climate change adaptation considerations into thenation-building and recovery process. Consideration of social conflict issues is very much aligningwith one of the guiding principles applied for the current National Climate Change Policy of TimorLeste which highlights that planning and implementation intervention of the Policy will embrace
conflict sensitivity and promote long-term peace and prosperity (Democratic Republic of TimorLeste, 2017).

5

After independence the name of the university was changed to Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e.

22Chapter 4. Rationale for Conducting Adaptation in Timor-Leste
4.1. Introduction
This section provides a general overview of the climate of Timor-Leste, data availability, observedchanges and future projections. In addition, sectoral baselines and current and future vulnerabilities
for six priority sectors is provided. The chapter aims to form the principle evidence base to support
climate-smart decision-making processes in Timor-Leste. The information in this chapter is relevant
to government and non-government stakeholders alike, and should contribute to policy formulation,
adaptation project design, and strategic processes for businesses, non-governmental organizations, anddevelopment partners. It is envisaged that this chapter will be expanded over time as new data andinformation becomes available. The chapter provides an overview of projected changes fortemperature, precipitation, sea surface temperatures and ocean chemistry, tropical cyclones, sea levelrise, and patterns of inter-annual variability. The chapter also describes challenges with respect todata availability and recommendations for addressing them. The chapter also provides sectoral
baselines for key sectors, including disaster risk management/disaster risk reduction, agriculture andfood security, water and sanitation, health, coastal systems and marine resources, infrastructure, andtransboundary climate change issues.

4.1.1. Key considerations to further enhance the NAP process. As in other chapters, there are anumber of actions with respect to data and information that should be prioritized over the near-term(2020-2022 timeframe) to support further work on adaptation through the NAP process in TimorLeste.
● Update this chapter as new information, including a CSIRO report on climate change inTimor-Leste, becomes available;● Conduct a needs assessment covering data collection and information as well as human andinstitutional capacities to support research, data analysis, and other aspects of data andinformation management to support the NAP and allied processes in the future;● Conduct research studies on the connection between climate shocks and stressors and forced
relocation (short term) and resettlement (long term);● Gather, organize, harmonize, and identify gaps in the historical data record;● Improve and standardize geospatial data collection and coordinate this with the conduct of
future vulnerability assessments to be conducted under the NAP process;● Prioritize geographic areas to expand the country‘s monitoring network of hydrometeorological stations to inform improved early warning systems and to begin to establish acomprehensive 30-year record of hydrometeorological data to facilitate improved
downscaling of global projections in the future;● Establish knowledge co-production arrangements between relevant government agencies andacademic and research institutions to provide decision-relevant information to inform the
NAP process;● Develop uniform methodologies and conduct expanded vulnerability assessments for priority
sectors, including a comprehensive study of climate risks to infrastructure;● Establish points of contact with relevant national, provincial, and regional government
authorities in Indonesia to facilitate cooperative arrangements to manage climate change
adaptation along the transboundary (shared) watersheds and over common marine resources.

4.2 Climate context: general climate characteristics
The overall climate is classified as tropical savannah (Koppen-Geiger type ―Aw‖), with all areas in
the country having a pronounced dry season. Timor-Leste is affected by the West Pacific Monsoon,
which moves to mainland Asia during the southern hemisphere winter, and south to Australia in thesouthern hemisphere summer bringing a switch from very dry to very wet conditions and a change inthe direction of the prevailing winds (GoDRTL 2016). This means that the wet season lasts from23

approximately December to May, and the dry season lasts from approximately June to November, butthere is some regional variability. In general, rainfall levels are highest in the south and decrease to
the north, with some areas receiving little to no rainfall for eight months of the year (USAID 2017).
July is the coolest month, whereas October is the warmest. The average difference between these two
is about 2.5C.

4.2.1. Precipitation and Temperature. The country is divided into three different climate zones
determined by precipitation and temperature characteristics (UNDP 2018b):● North Coast Region. This area is characterized by annual average mean temperatures of morethan 24C, annual rainfall of less than 1500mm, and a dry season lasting for around fivemonths;● Mountainous region. This area is characterized by average mean temperatures of less than
24C, annual rainfall over 1500mm, and a dry season lasting more than four months.
● South Coast region. This area is characterized by annual average mean temperatures ofgreater than 24C, average annual rainfall of approximately 2500mm, and a dry season lastingfor only three months.
In addition, Barnet (2003) cit. GoTL (2014) indicated that the country is categorized into six agroclimate zones based on rainfall pattern. It is indicated that rainfall along the northern coast is very low(<1000 mm/annum), throughout the central and elevated areas is low to moderate (1500-2000
mm/annum) , and in high altitude areas mostly in the west of the country is relatively high as
indicated in figure 6 below.

Figure 6: Agro-climatic zones of Timor-Leste

4.1.2. Interannual influences on climate variability. Timor-Leste is influenced by several
cyclical oscillations. The most widely known is the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), though thecountry‘s climate is also influenced to some extent by the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the Pacific
Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). These phenomena influence
the regional climate on intra-annual, inter-annual, and inter-decadal time scales and influence the total
amount of precipitation received as well as water resource availability throughout the country.
However, more research is needed in this area, as only the impact of ENSO has been studied withrespect to Timor-Leste (World Bank 2018).

24

In all places, El Niño weather pattern cause overall drier conditions and reduced rainfall in the(December-March?) January-March wet season, with some places experiencing reduced rainfall incomparison to the amounts usually received in these months during non-El Niño years. El Niño years
are usually associated with drought, and in general, the wet season is delayed by two to three months,
with significant implications for agriculture, food crops planting and consequently food security. Dueto decreased precipitation there is also reduced groundwater availability. According to official
estimates, the 2015-16 El Niño-induced drought event affected approximately 350,000 people locatedmainly in the central highlands and eastern parts of the country (USAID 2017). In years following El
Niño, rainfall can be higher than the annual average, which can lead to increased flooding. During La
Niña conditions dry season rainfall tends to be above normal and the wet season starts earlier andfinishes later. Above average rainfall can lead to more landslides and significant erosion mainly the
topsoil
ENSO also affects ocean conditions; in El Niño years sea level can be as much as 20cm below thelong-term average, while during the La Niña phase it can be 10-20cm above normal. During La Niña
years wave heights tend to increase by 1-2.5m along the north coast and up to 3 meters along thesouth coast relative to normal conditions (Secretary of State for Environment 2010).

4.1.3. Tropical Cyclones. Tropical cyclones can affect Timor-Leste between November and April,
but their effect tends to be relatively weak due to the country‘s proximity to the equator. Diliexperiences on average eight tropical cyclones per decade, but their effect is weak. Among the mostnoticeable and damaging effects of tropical cyclones are storm surges, but there are no existingstudies on the connection between cyclones and ocean surge dynamics in the seas surrounding TimorLeste (Banda, Arafura, Savu, Timor). The danger from storm surges is higher during La Niña when
sea levels are higher.

4.2 Climate Change Overview
The subsections below provide an overview of projections of future climate conditions for TimorLeste. This information is derived from several sources, but almost all of the referenced sources draw
on the 2015 report on Current and Future Climate of Timor-Leste, developed by the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) (PACCSAPP 2015). A special subsection
describes the product of downscaling experiments conducted to support the preparation of the Second
National Communication to the UNFCCC, which is currently under development6.

4.2.1. Global and Regional Overview. According to the United States National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA) the 2018 average global temperature across land and ocean
surface areas was 0.84˚C above the 20th century average (NOAA, 2019). 2018 was the 4th warmest
year in the 1880–2018 record and the 2nd warmest year on record without an El Niño present in thetropical Pacific Ocean. 2018 marked the 42nd consecutive year (since 1977) with global land andocean temperatures above 20th century average and nine of the ten warmest years have occurred since2005. The world‘s oceans have absorbed about 93% of the excess heat caused by greenhouse gas
warming since the mid-20th century (Jewett and Romanou 2017) and in 2018 sea surface temperatures
were 1.19°F (0.66°C) above the 20th century average (NOAA, 2019).
Increased ocean warming has resulted in a global sea level rise of 77mm above the 1993 average,
which is the highest annual average in the satellite record (Lindsey 2018). Global average sea level
rises at a rate of just over 3.1 mm per year due to a combination of melting glaciers and ice sheets andfrom the thermal expansion of seawater and the rate of sea level rise has doubled since 1993
compared to the 20th century average (Lindsey 2018). Oceans are absorbing about 25% of the carbon
dioxide emitted to the atmosphere annually and as a result are becoming more acidic (Leong et al.
6

It should be noted that CSIRO has announced its intention to update this analysis in 2020 or 2021. When an
update is available, this section will be updated as well.

25

2014). Increasing sea surface temperatures, rising sea levels, changing patterns of precipitation andwinds, and ocean circulation are contributing to overall decline in oxygen concentrations in the oceans(Jewett and Romanou 2017).

4.2.2. Atmospheric temperatures. Sporadic meteorological data makes establishing accurate
historical trends for Timor-Leste difficult, but the data that does exist suggests that averagetemperatures in the country have been increasing by .16C per decade since 1950. In the future annual
mean temperatures and extremely high daily temperatures will continue to rise, regardless of future
emissions scenarios. The temperature is projected to increase by .4-1.0C by 2030, which will beaccompanied by an increase in the number of hot days and warm nights (MCIE 2016). By 2050 theincrease in temperatures is expected to reach 1.25C-1.75C, with an increase in heat waves (USAID
2017).

4.2.3. Precipitation. Overall there has been an increase in average annual rainfall by 6.4mm per
decade between 1901-2009, however rainfall trends have decreased in much of the country since 1990
(USAID 2017). In general, it is predicted that there will be a decrease in dry season rainfall and anincrease in wet season rainfall, with extreme rainfall days occurring more frequently (MCIE 2016).
Overall annual average rainfall may increase 4-10% by 2050 with an increase of up to 100-120mm incoastal areas, and 260-300mm in the mountains (USAID 2017).

4.2.4. Sea surface temperature and ocean chemistry. Based on the results of large-scale gridded
sea surface temperature datasets (HadlSST, SadSST2, ERSST and Kaplan Extended SST V2), there
are indications of a gradual warming trend in sea surface temperatures since the 1970s (approximately.16C per decade on average with an increasing trend). Projections indicate that the annual average sea
surface temperatures will continue to increase in the future. According to Sofian (2015), if the trend
continues, the cumulative increase in average sea surface temperatures will reach between .6-.7C by
2030 and 1.2C by 2050. This cumulative increase could reach 1.6 to 1.8C by 2080, and 2.3C by 2100
(cited in UNDP 2018b).
Acidification of the ocean will continue to increase over the course of the 21st century driven by theuptake of carbon dioxide. As a result, aragonite saturation state will reach values below 3.5 by 2025,
negatively impacting the development of corals (AMB and CSIRO 2011). Impacts on reefs are likely
to be compounded by other stressors, including storm damage and fishing pressures, but the overallrisk of coral bleaching is expected to increase (PACCSAPP 2015).

4.2.5. Tropical Cyclones. As noted above tropical cyclones have affected the country on multiple
occasions, but overall losses and damage have been limited. Future projections suggest that there will
be a decrease in the frequency of tropical cyclones impacting Timor-Leste, but an increase inintensity, meaning that wind speeds and precipitation from the cyclones that do occur will be greater,
affecting larger areas (PACCSAP 2015).

4.2.6. Sea level rise (SLR). Sea level is expected to continue to rise. Based on satellite altimetrydata, the rate of SLR is higher along the south coast than it is along the north coast. This is due to anumber of local conditions, including wind patterns and ocean currents, which affect the local sea
level. On average, the rate of SLR surrounding the country is around 5.5mm/year. Assuming that therate is linear in the future, sea level in the region would increase by around 50mm by 2100, as mostprojections indicate that the rate of SLR will increase in the future.

4.2.7. Patterns of variability (ENSO and other oscillations). While it is certain that ENSO andother oscillations will continue to shape climate conditions in Timor-Leste into the future, there islittle consensus on whether there will be a change in intensity or frequency of these events. This
uncertainty is not specific to Timor-Leste; there is no global consensus on if and how ENSO and otheroscillations will change in the future.

26

4.2.8.
Projections and Downscaling Conducted in Support of Second National
Communication. Global climate model (GCM) projections have been tailored to the geographic
region encompassing the country of Timor-Leste using both dynamical and statistical downscaling
techniques. Projections of future changes in atmospheric surface air temperatures and seasonal rainfall
were obtained from 20 GCMs under four representative concentration pathways (RCP) (RCP2.6, RCP
4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5). For temperature the models predict that by 2081-2100 there will be atemperature increase of 0.3°C to 1.7°C in RCP2.6, 1.1°C to 2.6°C in RCP4.5, 1.4°C to 3.1°C in
RCP6.0, 2.6°C to 4.8°C in RCP8.5 scenario (IPCC, 2013). The model means for the RCP8.5
Business-as-usual was +3.4°C. For rainfall, there is disagreement among models as to the sign of thechange for the period 2006-2030 regardless of season. However, all of the RCP scenarios for the2051-2075 time period predict a decrease in rainfall during the wet (DJF) and dry (JJA) seasonscompared to a reference period. The sign of decrease of rainfall during the dry season may lead topossible increase on the drought-related impacts.

4.3. A note on data availability
It should be noted here that a significant limitation in terms of developing accurate past climatology
and future projections of changing climatic conditions in Timor-Leste relates to the availability of
relevant data. The NAP process will prioritize addressing these gaps in Timor-Leste‘s knowledge
base. Identified limitations include:● Lack of monitoring and observation of sea surface temperatures in Timor-Leste‘s territorial
waters;● Lack of previous studies on the relationship between cyclone activity and ocean surge
dynamics around Timor-Leste (UNDP 2018b);● Of the 12 daily-observed stations maintained by the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, andCommunication, all have significant gaps which has meant that analyses relying on these data
sets has relied on 10-year time slices, rather than 30-year climatology as recommended by theWorld Meteorological Organization (UNDP 2018b). This suggests that the data record that isavailable for the country may not adequately capture and characterize longer-term sources ofinter-annual climatic variability (e.g. Pacific Decadal Oscillation).
● Lack of stream flow data in the country‘s rivers as data from the six hydrometric stations
constructed in the 1980s has been lost (GoDRTL 2010); and● In some cases, data records are spread across archives in Australia, Indonesia, Portugal, andTimor-Leste (Mercer et al 2014).

4.4. Sectoral baselines and current and future vulnerabilities
This section describes the changing climate in terms of potential impacts on several key sectors.
Sectors have been selected based on an analysis of existing documents related to climate change
adaptation (see Chapter 5). The overall impacts of climate change in Timor-Leste are likely to bequite significant in the absence of adaptation actions, with negative impacts on economic and social
development prospects. A 2013 ADB study estimated that damage resulting from tropicalwindstorms, landslides, floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis may cost Timor-Leste 10% of its annual
GDP by 2100, making it one of the worst hit countries in the Pacific region (UNDP 2018b).
Information compiled for the INDC indicates that the last 10 years shows that climate-related hazards
such as floods, droughts, storms, landslides and wildfires have caused major loss of human lives andlivelihoods, the destruction of economic and social infrastructure, as well as environmental damage(MCIE 2016). This trajectory would almost certainly be exacerbated in the future withoutcoordinated action to respond to climate hazards and their impacts.

4.4.1. Disaster Risk Management/Disaster Risk Reduction. Natural disasters have been a focal―sector‖ in most of Timor-Leste‘s climate change documents, and GoDRTL has been proactive intaking steps to improve disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management (DRR/DRM). However,27

as noted above, due to years of conflict there is a lack of credible datasets in Timor-Leste regarding
disasters and impacts (Mercer et al 2014). The country is one of the world‘s most vulnerable tonatural disasters due to high risk of earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, and heavy rainfall. In 2011, theUN mission in Timor-Leste reported that the country had suffered 470 disaster events over theprevious 10 years. The International Disaster Database (emdat.be) reports that between 1990 and2014, floods were responsible for 71.4% of disasters, with droughts and storms each responsible for14.3% of disasters recorded. During this period, flooding was responsible for all reported mortality.
Although the country has medium exposure to hazards, due to high levels of sensitivity and a lack ofadaptive capacity, Timor-Leste is ranked as the 7th most disaster-prone country in the world (UNCDP
2018). Many of the sectoral impacts of climate change described below could be considered natural
disasters.
The National Directorate for Disaster Risk Management (NDDRM), which is responsible fordeveloping policy and plans based on the four phases of the disaster cycle, is currently finalizing a
new national policy for disaster risk management which will integrate the Sendai Framework as well
as climate change considerations. As the NAP process evolves, it will be important to establish andmaintain close coordination with the NDDRM and the new Policy.

4.4.2. Agriculture and Food Security. As noted in Chapter 2, this sector is extremely important inTimor-Leste as approximately 80% of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Overall, the agriculture sector is dominated mainly by smallholders and to some degree subsistence
farming. In general, yields for all agricultural products are very low, and less than 10% of farmers
utilize fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers have historically not been widely available, but in 2010 the
GoDRTL began to support the use of chemical fertilizers on rice as part of a national strategy to boost
yields and reduce rice imports (Molyneux et al 2012). The use of poor-yielding local varieties isanother contributing factor to low yields (ibid), as are geographic conditions such as poor soil, steep
slopes, and high rainfall variability (ibid). Indeed, traditional farming techniques have not changed
much since the early 20th century, and shifting cultivation and bush fallow rotations are still usedwidely, particularly in the hills. Yields for major staples (rice and maize) are lower than inneighboring countries with similar agro-economies. Yields of other nutritious crops such as fruit,
vegetables, beans and other pulses that provide for additional essential dietary quality are also low, as
well as the yields of roots and tubers crops, which are an important coping mechanism, to the rural
poor during the lean season (World Bank 2019). Post-harvest grain losses are also estimated to be as
high as 30%, which has a negative impact on food security (Molyneux 2012).
In terms of future conditions, climate models show that Timor-Leste will experience major increases
in both temperature and rainfall, which could have significant implications for livelihoods and foodsecurity (World Bank 2019). Increased variability and more frequent/severe ENSO events could havesignificant impacts on agricultural production. Government records indicate that maize and riceproduction fell by 40% and 57% respectively during the 2016 El Niño (USAID 2017); if ENSO
events become more frequent and/or intense, disruptions to agricultural productivity and availabilityof food supply will likely increase in lockstep. In addition, given that 80% of crop production isreliant on rainfall, changes in precipitation patterns will likely impact on small-scale farmers. These
farmers tend to raise one crop a year, making them very vulnerable to crop failures (USAID 2017). In
the future, increasing cropping intensity will be more difficult without additional supporting irrigation
infrastructures, as potential areas for agricultural and food cropping become more and more limited.
Moreover, Timor-Leste‘s most valuable cash crop is coffee, which is highly sensitive to changes inprecipitation pattern (frequency and distribution) and increases in temperature.
Climate change will also impact international food commodity prices. Simulation models suggest that
inflation-adjusted prices of the three most important staple grains in the world—wheat, rice andmaize—would increase between 21-105% by 2050. Although high commodity prices may benefit
producers, substantially higher food prices may increase food insecurity and poverty not only for theurban poor but also for rural people, many of whom are net food buyers (World Bank 2019)28

Gender Considerations in the Agricultural Sector. Women are heavily involved in the agriculture
sector, but they are generally engaged in different activities than men. This may create or shapedifferential vulnerabilities for men and women both directly and indirectly. For example, with respect
to maize, men tend to be responsible for irrigation and tending to crops as they grow, whereas womenare responsible for selection and preparation of seeds, planting, harvesting, storage, processing, andmarketing. With respect to coffee, women tend to do the washing and drying of coffee beans,
whereas men are responsible for the preparation and planting of seeds, pest control, and grinding(Indeva 2018). In addition, female farmers have less access to hired labor and arming tools, and have
limited involvement in cash crop production and participation in farmer groups (World Bank 2019).

4.4.3.

Water and Sanitation. Timor-Leste has historically had ample freshwater resources.

Freshwater resources of Timor-Leste comprise both surface water and groundwater. There are 28
major river basins in Timor-Leste, and small amounts of water are stored in one major lake (Iralalaro)in the east, and a number of small lakes, mainly in the southern part of the country. Groundwater
resources are contained in a variety of aquifers, covering about 50% of the country (GoDRTL 2010).
However, vulnerability to water insecurity is considerable due to the high level of dependence of the
population on ecosystem services as the basis for their livelihoods (World Bank 2018). The physicalconditions in Timor-Leste combined with inadequate infrastructure investments and capacity to
manage water resources services has resulted in a low level of water management efficiency andeffectiveness, high levels of catchment degradation and high vulnerability to climate change (WorldBank 2018). Projected changes in rainfall patterns and saltwater intrusion are likely to compoundthese issues, putting more pressure on groundwater resources, which could lead to a decline in both
quality and quantity (USAID 2017).
At the national level, total rainfall is likely to increase, and rainfall and heat wave events will likely
increase in intensity. However, impacts on water resources are not well understood at the local level.
Furthermore, using existing information to design climate resilient water infrastructure and to inform
water sector planning and policymaking still requires improvements in terms of technical capacity(World Bank 2018). Increased temperature and evaporation are likely to negatively impact thecountry‘s river systems (USAID 2017). Climate change is predicted to have a negative impact onwater management because of the projected increase in rainfall intensity and variability as well as
because of sea-level rise (World Bank 2018). Extreme weather events such as flooding and othernatural disasters often compromise the quality of potable water sources, leading to outbreaks ofwaterborne diseases (MoH and WHO 2018).
In general, the impacts on water resources, their availability and use need to be better understood sothat investments in water infrastructure and service provision can provide users with greater levels ofcertainty that supply will be consistent and reliable (World Bank 2018).
Gender Considerations in the Waterand Sanitation Sector. In rural areas,
communities rely on women and girls
to collect water for the wholehouseholds. Difficulties associatedwith water availability tend to fall
disproportionately on the shoulders of
women. For example, the distance towater sources is a significant issue, as
for almost 40% of the population thesource of water is 30 minutes or more
away. In many cases, women andgirls can spend up to three hours per
Figure 7: Rural girls are collecting water far from their homes

29

day collecting water. In addition, a lack of access to sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools is amajor reason for girls dropping out of school when they reach puberty (Indevia 2018).

4.4.4. Health. The most common health risks posed by climate change in Timor-Leste include
vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, heat-related mortality, undernutrition,
diarrheal diseases, and disruption to healthcare services due to extreme weather events (MoH and
WHO 2018). More variable and extreme humidity and temperatures have been linked to heat stressand more severe respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections(MoH and WHO 2018). Public health is also indirectly impacted by climate change processes due to
direct impact on other sectors. For example, changing environmental conditions can lead to anincreased risk of crop failure and livestock mortality in the agricultural sector, which can undermine
food security and increase rates of malnutrition. Currently in Timor-Leste, it is estimated that 70
children under the age of 5 die every day because of diarrheal illnesses caused by poor water andsanitation
Gender Considerations in the Health Sector. Though much progress has been made on improving
women‘s health over the past decades, overall indicators suggest that in general women‘s healthremains poor, particularly in rural areas and amongst poorer women. Women face many barriers inaccessing health care information and services, including long travel times to health facilities, poorroads and transport, and cultural norms discouraging them from leaving home to seek healthcare(Indevia 2018).

4.4.5. Coastal Systems and Marine Resources. Approximately 66% of the population lives incoastal areas and lowlands below 500m, and the natural resources available in the coastal zone arevital for the economy of coastal populations. At the same time, the rapidly growing population
combined with the level of urban development and exploitation of natural resources is putting
increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems (UNDP 2018b). Damage to mangrove forests has
accelerated the impacts of climate change on coastal landscapes (USAID 2017).
A series of studies conducted between 2012-2016 (PIFSC 2017) provides essential baseline fisheries
and marine resource information to inform ecosystem-based management of the nearshore waters ofTimor-Leste. Since there were no previous studies, it is impossible to draw conclusions about trends
and trajectories with respect to nearshore ecosystems and resources. However, the data collectedfrom Timor-Leste‘s waters, when compared to other research sites around the Pacific and Indian
Oceans, suggests areas of concern and warrants long-term monitoring. Several indicators of reef andecosystem health were of concern compared to other sites, including carbonate accretion rates, reef
seawater temperatures, pH, and aragonite saturation state, suggesting that ocean acidification impacts
are part of a suite of threats currently facing the health of Timor-Leste‘s reefs (PIFSC 2017).

4.4.6. Infrastructure. Infrastructure is another priority sector in Timor-Leste‘s strategies andpolicies with respect to climate change (see Chapter 5). The infrastructure in Timor-Leste has beenranked (2013) as the 6th most vulnerable in the world by Maplecroft‘s Hazard Risk Index (Cook et al2019). Flash floods, destructive winds and landslides frequently threaten the infrastructure in the
country, and as noted in previous sections, increasing trends with respect to each of these hazards will
intensify the impacts on infrastructure in the future. This baseline vulnerability is exacerbated by thefact that the violence of 1999 drastically affected the infrastructure in Timor-Leste. Between 50-90%
of the houses in each of the country‘s 442 sucos at the time were burned down. Adaptation is seen as
essential in protecting investments that the GoDRTL has made and will continue to make in the
future. For example, the National Program for Village Development (Programa Nasional
Dezenvolvimentu Suku) began in June 2012 with investments of over US$300M over eight years,
including investments in rural infrastructure. However, to date there has been no comprehensive
study on the potential impacts of climate change on infrastructure (Indevia 2018).

30

An assessment of the impact of climate-induced hydrometeorological hazards on Timor-Leste underboth baseline and climate change scenarios was conducted to support the design of the recentlyapproved GCF project7. The study utilized existing national-scale hazard maps and detailed socioeconomic data on hazard receptors (including people, property, agriculture and infrastructure such as
roads, bridges and water supply) to show that under climate change there will be an increase in thenumber of areas and key infrastructure affected for all hazards. In most cases, at least a doubling of
hazard-affected areas in percentage terms is expected. On average, the increase in impact of eachhazard between the baseline and climate change scenarios nationally is 26.3%, 21%, 55.4%, and55.8% for landslides, floods, and drought risk respectively. The economic losses that could occur
under climate change range from US$203 million, US$37 million, US$10 million, and US$12.5
million, respectively. These losses will impose significant additional financial burdens on thegovernment and affected populations. At the same time, the frequency and intensity of climate
extremes and disasters will necessitate additional infrastructure and maintenance measures while also
increasing the demand for additional protective features to be embedded in the design of new
construction. These effects, in combination, will considerably increase the cost of construction,
operations and maintenance of rural infrastructure.
Table 2. Potential increase in hazard occurence and economic losses due to climate change (source: GCF 109)

HazardIncreased Impact (%)

Potential Economic Losses

Landslides

26.3

US$203 million

Flooding

21

US$37 million

Erosion

55.4

US$10 million

Drought

55.8

US$12.5 million

Currently the design of infrastructure and construction standards is not climate resilient and there islimited investment in operations and maintenance. The immediate implications of this could result in
the nearterm failure of infrastructure services.
With respect to infrastructure, it should also be noted that in rural areas infrastructure expenditures aredecentralized and managed at the local level, financed through decentralized mechanisms ofmunicipal and village level public finance. Floods, landslides and drought all affect rural
infrastructure, and therefore impacts of intensified extreme events on critical rural infrastructure willlead to damage and degradation of assets such as water supply and drainage structures, embankments
and river protections, and community-level feeder/access roads and bridges. These damages canleave rural populations without basic services and often in full isolation. Impacts include reduction inwater yields due to droughts, contamination of unprotected water sources, flooding of communities
living areas due to inadequate flood infrastructure defenses. In addition, the ability of municipal
planning officials, engineers and decision makers to identify areas that are critically vulnerable toclimate hazards is lacking.

4.4.7. Transboundary Climate Change Issues. Timor-Leste and Indonesia share marine, riverine
and terrestrial natural resources and ecosystems, especially those located in the border area. There are
10 water catchment areas that cross the border between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, including the
Tono Watershed area, which plays an important role for local livelihoods in both Indonesia(upstream) and Timor-Leste (downstream). The Talau-Loes basin is another catchment area, which
Talau river originates upstream in Indonesia, and the Loes catchment covers the mid- and downstream
areas in Timor-Leste. However, the natural resources and ecosystems in the Tono water catchmenttransboundary areas have been very much affected by floods and droughts which require appropriate
cross border management approach in dealing with climate change adaptation and environmental
7

Safeguarding rural communities and their physical and economic assets from climate-induced disasters in Timor-Leste31

conservation between two countries (Taena et al 2016). In this context, the NAP can play animportant role for addressing climate change impacts in the area of transboundary catchment sites.
Given that this NAP calls for the application of ecosystem-based adaptation measures, as well as
sectoral strategies that call for integrated water resource management (IWRM) and whole-basin
approaches, the evolving NAP process should explore innovative approaches to coordinate adaptationplans and actions in these areas with Indonesia, including data sharing arrangements, coordinatedmanagement plans, and other measures . This may also include the development of a jointimplementation project for GCF financing that could serve as a model for countries in similar
situations around the world.

32

Chapter 5. National Adaptation Plan Alignment with Existing
Strategic, Legal, and Regulatory Frameworks
5.1. Introduction.
This chapter describes the regulatory and institutional frameworks and arrangements that are relevantto the formulation and implementation of the NAP. The chapter describes the steps Timor-Leste has
already taken in developing its response to climate change, as well as additional strategies, plans, andpolicies that are directly and indirectly related to formulating a comprehensive NAP. The chapter
provides brief information on the National Adaptation Programme of Action, the Initial and Second
National Communications to the UNFCCC, the Nationally Determined Contribution, the Green
Climate Fund Country Program, and the Health National Adaptation Plan. The chapter also describes
non-climate change policies and plans of relevance to the NAP process and entry points, as well as
additional political and administrative processes and trajectories, including decentralization, so that
the NAP process can be aligned with these trajectories. Lastly, the chapter describes a number ofchallenges, gaps, and obstacles with respect to alignment with the existing strategic, legal andregulatory framework. Recommendations for overcoming these in the short term are presented in thesubsection below, and medium- to long-term options are presented in Chapter 7.

5.1.1. Key considerations to enhance the NAP process. Recommendations for near-term (20202022) actions to strengthen the NAP process using the GCF NAP Readiness funding (to be acquired)include:● Develop and disseminate awareness-raising materials for national line agency staff as well asa range of subnational stakeholders with respect to the NAP process, the impacts of climatechange, and the need for adaptation;● Conduct consultations in all 13 municipalities to raise awareness and engage a range ofsubnational stakeholders in the NAP process, building on the five municipal consultations thatwere conducted to support the NAPA;● Establish a coordination mechanism between the implementation of the National Adaptation
Plan and a Health National Adaptation Plan;● Establish clear linkages between adaptation under the NAP and mitigation efforts under the
Nationally Determined contribution (NDC) in accessing support through the GCF;
● Create procedures for updating the Green Climate Fund Country Program based on additional
information and priorities that emerge from the NAP process and● Establish a coordination mechanism between the implementation of the National Adaptation
Plan with relevant line ministries.

5.2. Existing progress on climate change and related environmental issues.
Timor-Leste has a demonstrated commitment to addressing environmental and climate change issues
and has fully engaged with international frameworks governing these issues. Some major milestones
for Timor-Leste include:● 2003: Acceded to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification● 2006: Ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and establisheda focal point for the UNFCCC● 2006: Ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification● 2006: Ratified the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and became a party to
the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity in 2007
● 2008: Ratified the Kyoto Protocol● 2011: Submission of National Adaptation Programme of Action● 2014: Submission of First National Communication to the UNFCCC● 2015: Ratification of the Agenda for Sustainable Development and adoption of Sustainable
Development Goals
33

●
●
●

2016: Submission of Intended Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement
2017: Ratified the Paris Agreement
2020: Submission of Second National Communication to the UNFCCC

In addition, the Government is currently developing the national climate change policy with the aimsof ensuring better policy guidance for climate change integration into development efforts, improved
access to multilateral and bilateral sources of climate finance. The draft National Climate Change
Policy is expected to be approved in 2021.

5.3 Climate Change Plans and Policies
5.3.1. National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). The NAPA was developed under the
Ministry of Economy and Development and under the supervision of the State Secretariat forEnvironment in 2010 and submitted to the UNFCCC in 2011. The NAPA was aligned with the SDP
2011-2030, which identified climate change as one of the greatest challenges facing Timor-Leste.
The NAPA was the result of a 2-year participatory process focusing on addressing the mostimmediate climate-related risks. Formulation of the NAPA was based on the work of six sector
working groups (food security, water, health, disasters, biodiversity, and infrastructure). These
working groups identified the likely vulnerabilities and impacts of climate change on their individual
sectors and developed and prioritized potential actions to address the impacts. Members were drawn
from government agencies, universities, national and international NGOs, donor agencies, the private
sector, and youth. Preparation of the NAPA also involved consultations in five municipalities thatwere considered representative of Timor-Leste‘s environmental and climatic conditions, althoughtime and financial constraints limited engagement in additional municipalities (GoDRTL 2011 – TL
NAPA). It should be noted that stakeholders involved in the NAPA process acknowledge that futurestudies should include nationwide consultations, a lesson that has been incorporated in this NAP(Mercer et al 2014).
The NAPA included a list of priority projects that were originally estimated to require US$21.3
million in investments. However, the total financing that was eventually mobilized to support theinvestments outlined in the NAPA was in excess of US$32 million (Barbosa 2016). These measures
are summarized in Chapter 6.

5.3.2. Initial National Communication Under the UNFCCC (INC). The process to prepare the
INC began in 2011, and the document was submitted to the UNFCCC in 2014. The development of
the INC involved a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from local government
institutions, academic institutions, private sector stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations.
It was prepared in accordance with the UNFCCC‘s reporting guidelines on national communications.
The day-to-day work on preparing the INC was conducted in collaboration with six thematic working
groups comprising a variety of stakeholders. One of these thematic groups focused on vulnerability
and adaptation.
The INC includes future projections based on scenarios from both the 4th and 5th Assessment Reports(AR4 and AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The INC also has theresults of a vulnerability assessment that was conducted in approximately 60 sucos around thecountry. This is followed by vulnerability profiles for priority sectors, including agriculture, water
resources, health, and coastal and marine resources. The INC includes a number of generalizedrecommendations for adaptation, which are included in Chapter 6.

5.3.3. Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Paris Agreement establishes acollective commitment by the Parties to the UNFCCC to take action to limit the increase in global
average temperatures to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue further efforts tolimit the increase to 1.5C. The Paris Agreement established a series of five-year cycles to increase
ambition through Nationally Determined Contributions that would grow more ambitious over time for34both mitigation and adaptation. The GoDRTL‘s first INDC was submitted to the UNFCCC in 2016
and details the government‘s commitments to fulfilling the goals of the Paris Agreement. It includes
priorities for both mitigation and adaptation, with food security, water resources, natural disasters,
forestry, biodiversity, livestock production, infrastructure, and coastal ecosystem resilience being
identified as priority sectors for adaptation. The INDC notes that the institutions and regulations thathave been put in place by the GoDRTL are a starting point for putting the country on a climate
resilient development pathway, but acknowledges that cooperation and assistance from theinternational community will be required to achieve the goals outlined in the INDC. In the INDC the
GoDRTL commits the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation in the action plans of all sectors towork jointly towards the targets outlined in national policies. The INDC also notes that the NAP will
guide medium- and long-term adaptation priorities. Importantly, the INDC outlines a number ofadaptation measures. These have been incorporated into the synthesis of adaptation priorities
included in Chapter 6.
These priorities provide general directions that have been incorporated into the specific actions thatare covered by the priority actions/programmes of this initial NAP, and over the period from 2020 to2022, they will be incorporated into the financing, and monitoring and evaluation sections of an
expanded NAP..

5.3.4. Second National Communication to the UNFCCC (SNC). The GoDRTL is currently inthe process of formulating its Second National Communication to the UNFCCC. To support theformulation of the SNC, the government has completed a number of studies to ensure that this reportcontains the most recent data and information available. This includes a vulnerability assessment,
which is described more fully in Chapter 6, and an updated Trend and Scenario Analysis. Thisupdated analysis features new downscaled projections of temperature and precipitation, as well as
analysis based on these projections. The downscaling of projections is based on the latest round of
global projections, which were developed for the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) to theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This represents a significant advance over the
projections used for the Initial National Communication, which were based on the Fourth Assessment
Report (AR4) to the IPCC. These new projections are incorporated into this NAP (see chapter 4) andinform the priorities and actions described herein. This new analysis is consistent with the
expectation that Timor-Leste will update the information in its historical climate and future climatechange scenarios when submitting its SNC.

5.3.5. Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP). The HNAP was produced by the Ministry of
Health and is currently being finalized. The HNAP provides some baseline information on healthindicators and describes the primary threats to health associated with changing climate andenvironmental conditions. It also outlines priorities for addressing identified gaps based on the World
Health Organization‘s Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient Health Systems. The
HNAP includes linkages to this NAP, explaining that sectoral adaptation plans are required tostrengthen the NAP process and increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable sectors. The HNAP has
been developed to ensure that the management of health risks of climate change are integrated into theoverall NAP process, including the assessment of risks, and identifying, prioritizing, andimplementing adaptation options. The HNAP acknowledges the need for intersectoral coordination
since some environmental health issues are not within the control of MoH.
The HNAP provides the overall strategic direction for strengthening health systems to protect healthfrom climate change. It identifies and addresses medium- and long-term adaptation needs, including
upstream drivers of health risks, taking into consideration the physical, social, and biologicaldeterminants of health. It is envisaged that the HNAP will facilitate increased access to climate
adaptation finance by identifying entry points in the health sector.

5.3.6. Green Climate Fund Country Program. The GCF country program was completed in2019 and serves as a roadmap to guide Timor-Leste‘s engagement with the GCF, within the UNFCCC
and Paris Agreement financial mechanism. Timor-Leste is a member of two classifications of35

countries that the GCF prioritizes support to: least developed countries (LDCs) and small island
developing states (SIDS). With respect to facilitating engagement with the Fund, GoDRTL iscurrently working to establish a National Designated Authority, which would serve as the point ofcontact between the GoDRTL and the Fund, and which would coordinate all activities related to theFund in Timor-Leste. The NDA will be established under the Secretary of State for Environment andis to be supervised by a Director General. The NDA will be supported by technical staff who will act
as the secretariat for all GCF-related matters. In addition, the GoDRTL is planning to establish aSpecial Committee for Climate Finance (SCCF), which will work to facilitate the flow of international
climate finance into the country to support adaptation and mitigation investments. As the NAP
process evolves, the GCF Country Program will be updated as additional information and priorities
emerge.
Annual Action Plan of Secretariat of State for Environment (2020). The main focus of the annual
action plan for the Secretariat of State for Environment is environmental protection and conservation,
biodiversity, climate change and international cooperation in the area of environmental protection andclimate change. Pollution control and waste management has been seen as one of the key priorities for
the Secretariat of State for Environment, especially implementation of Zero-Plastic Policy andfinalization of the current Climate Change Policy draft. In addition, the Secretariat of state forEnvironment is going to coordinate formulation of a national policy on environmental education.
Further, the National Directorate for Climate Change (NDCC) under this Secretariat deals with thecontinuation of undertaking Integrated Vulnerability Assessment up to 35% of 442 villages in order to
identify and collect information on climate change vulnerability being faced by the communities,
sectors and ecosystem and identifying adaptation options to increase resilience.

5.4 Other relevant Documents and Policies
This section describes additional policies, strategies, and plans that are relevant to the NAP process.
In the 2020-2022 period, the NAP steering and technical guidance mechanisms (see Chapter 2) will
establish clear linkages with each of these.

5.4.1. National Strategic Development Plan (2011-2030). The SDP is a keystone document that
informs a wide range of other strategies, policies, and plans. The SDP focuses on three core pillars: 1)
social capital; 2) infrastructure development; 3) economic development. The SDP acknowledges thatclimate change presents serious environmental and political challenges for Timor-Leste from threatssuch as rising seas, increased clouding, forest fires, and food shortages. The NAP process shall bealigned as closely as possible with the SDP and its future successors, and specific areas of alignment
to the SDP 2011-2030 are highlighted in Chapter 2 of this NAP.

5.4.2. Integration of Climate Change Adaptation and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Timor-Leste has developed a roadmap for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable
Development Goals (GoDRTL ND). To guide the country‘s efforts to meet the SDGs, a Working
Group was established in 2015 to identify ways in which the SDGs and the 2030 agenda could beharmonized with the SDP 2011-2030. This working group identified synergies and entry points andconcluded that the SDP is largely aligned with the SDG 13: Climate Action. As the NAP processprogresses, its steering mechanism will ensure proper coordination with the country‘s efforts toimplement the SDGs.

5.4.3.

National Disaster Risk Management Policy 2019-2023 (DRAFT). The NDRMP
supports the SDP 2011-2030 and provides guidance and direction for improving disaster risk
management and disaster risk reduction in Timor-Leste for the next five years. The Policy iscurrently in the process of being approved by the Government and is expected to go into effect in2020. As is widely acknowledged, there are broad overlaps between DRR/DRM and climate change
adaptation, and thus the NDRMP provides a number of entry points to exploit synergies between the36

two areas in Timor-Leste. The priorities and actions described in this NAP are harmonized with thepriorities in the NDRMP. This includes alignment with the objectives of the NDRMP:● Promoting and strengthening risk assessment, research, and preparedness;● Improving national disaster risk management governance and collaboration;● Building capacity, understanding, and communication of DRR/DRM; and● Providing targeted investment and effective DRM program implementation

5.4.4. Timor-Leste Water Sector Assessment and Roadmap 2018. This sectoral assessment androadmap were prepared by the World Bank in response to a request from the General Directorate for
Water Supply and Sanitation. The document highlights key priority areas in the sector as well as
potential investment options needed to achieve the goals set out in the SDP 2011-30. These priorities
include:● Formulating a national strategy of the development and management of water resources. This
would include studies of water availability and demand under a range of demand and climate
scenarios conducted at the national scale with regional downscaling to priority areas.
● Monitoring and early warning systems to reduce the vulnerability of communities to climatedriven events that have an impact on water management, such as drought and flooding.
● Integrated basin development pilot activities for catchment management and water resources
protection. This includes making water resources more resilient to climate change by
establishing institutional structures at the sub-basin level accompanied by strengthened local
government services.
Each of these priority actions provide entry points for coordinating the NAP process with TimorLeste‘s needs with respect to improved water resources management and service delivery.

5.4.5.

National Water Resource Management Policy (draft). The GoDRTL, through the

Ministry of Public Work, has formulated its National Water Resource Management Policy, which isawaiting approval by the Council of Ministers. This Policy defines responsibilities, objectives andstrategies of the government to manage water resources in the country. This policy will guide thegovernment of Timor-Leste to achieve some targets identified under the SDP 2011-2030. The draft
Policy considers the importance of climate change adaptation related to water resource management,
including construction of proper infrastructure for the protection of water resources, enhance thegovernment‘s strategies and actions for responding to droughts, establishing or enhancing watercollection and water storage system and water resource management that can mitigate the scarcity ofwater resulting from climate change.

5.4.6. Environmental Basic Law (Environmental Framework Law 26/2012). This law sets out
the principles and rules governing environmental conservation and protection, the sustainable use ofnatural resources and environmental management from an overall and integrated perspective, which
protects the fundamental rights of the citizens of Timor-Leste. The Law mandates that the State―implement all measures necessary for climate change adaptation and mitigation in terms of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and/or their removal by sinks and minimizing thenegative effects of the impacts of climate change on biophysical and socioeconomic systems‖. It also
requires that the government must protect, conserve, and improve the quality and quantity of surface
and groundwater and promote the sustainable use of water resources through the adoption of
integrated water resources management.

5.4.7. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2011-2020.

The NBSAP is TimorLeste‘s guiding framework to conserve its biodiversity and serves as a safeguard in achieving thecountry‘s development agenda in the next two decades. One of the guiding principles of the NBSAP
is that Timor-Leste will take steps to adapt to, and be resilient to, long-term climate change.
However, the Plan acknowledges that it is difficult to predict the impact of climate change on
biodiversity resources (e.g. coral reefs) as there is not sufficient data on ecosystems, species
composition, and other biological indicators and characteristics.
37

5.4.8.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Strategic Plan 2014-2020. This document
includes climate change considerations and is evidence that the agriculture sector is taking thechallenges of climate change seriously. The strategy acknowledges that climate change is leading to
extreme weather events and is creating changes in geographic production patterns, as well as causing
deterioration to the natural resources base due to water scarcity and rising temperatures. The strategy
includes strategic and specific objectives which are consistent with the priorities and actions includedin the NAP, including:● Enhance the contribution of agricultural research to sustainable agricultural productivity, foodsecurity and reduced poverty and malnutrition. This specific objective highlights theimportance of publicly funded research in generating new technologies, practices, andstrategies for traditional and emerging crops or enterprises. This research will include climatechange considerations and analysis.
● Develop capacity for improved decision-making in the planning and budgeting process byproviding accurate and up-to-date climate information and analysis. This strategic objective
notes that improved climate information will be a key input into the planning of adaptation
strategies in the future. It also includes a focus on identification of climate impacts,
vulnerability and coping measures, improved climate forecasts, and improving the capacity of
individuals to integrate climate change issues into the planning process.
The strategy also recommends that MAF mainstream climate change impacts its planning andpriorities.

5.4.9. Gender equity and inclusion frameworks. Though the GoDRTL currently has no standalone national gender strategy or policy, there are other policies and plans related to genderconsiderations that are relevant to the NAP process and climate change adaptation andimplementation in Timor-Leste. These include:● National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace andSecurity 2016-2020. This plan aims to increase and strengthen the active participation andleadership of Timorese women in the peace and state-building efforts of the nation. It is built
around four pillars: 1) Participation; 2) Prevention; 3) Protection; and 4) Peacebuilding. The
plan proposes concrete actions to review and improve policies, laws, and programs forenhancing women‘s active and meaningful participation in all aspects of state-building. The
plan describes specific activities to advance its objectives, at least three of which provide
direct entry points for harmonization with the NAP process:o Activity 1.2.3: Ensure that the perspectives of women and minority/marginalizedgroups contribute to the planning, writing, and implementation of legislation,
policies, and programs. The participatory nature of the NAP process will strengthen
this activity, and conversely implementation of the NAP will build on participatory
structures created for the implementation of this activity.
o Activity 4.1.1: Conduct monitoring of basic infrastructure development to provide
benefits to communities, particularly women. The NAP process for climate change
will advance climate-smart planning processes for planning of infrastructure andother investments which will be sensitive to the gendered impacts of climate change,
and which will help to ensure equitable distribution of benefits from theseinvestments.
o Activity 4.1.2: Socialize and disseminate gender-sensitive mechanisms for natural
disasters so that communities understand how to provide immediate response if
natural disasters occur. The NAP for climate change‘s focus on understanding
gendered impacts of climate change and their drivers so that these can be addressed
through concrete actions at all levels of government is in alignment with this activity.

5.4.10. Five Year Action Plan (2019-2023) of National Directorate for Road, Bridge andFlood Control under the Ministry of Public Works. In order to achieve the target of the National
38

Strategic Development Plan (2011-2030) on infrastructure, the Ministry of Public Work, primarily
through the National Directorate for Roads, Bridges and Flood Control has formulated its five year
investment plan for upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance of national, urban and municipal roads
and bridges. The document does not clearly mention related climate change adaptation measures forthe road and bridge; however the plan would address the negative impacts of floods and landslides onroads and bridges.

5.5. Political Processes, Trends, Trajectories, and Considerations
5.5.1. Decentralization. The GoDRTL is currently deliberating a draft law on decentralization
which would increase the power and responsibilities of the municipalities in overall governance,
including processes of prioritization, planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring ofdevelopment processes. The broader process of decentralization to which the GoDRTL has
committed itself involves three phases:● Deconcentration (2016-2018). This phase involves strengthening of municipal administrative
units, providing them with regulations, human resource, financial allocations, and otherresources in preparation for their increased responsibilities;● Institutional Decentralization (2018-2020). During this phase ministries will transfer
additional functions and resources to the municipalities, including management of larger
budgets. Municipalities will have greater discretion over local expenditures, and electedmunicipal councils will be established; and● Territorial Decentralization (from 2020 onwards). This phase will include local elections toform the municipal councils, which will be headed by a mayor.
This ongoing process of decentralization has significant bearing on many aspects of the NAP process
in Timor-Leste. These decentralization initiatives will be followed by other improvements, including
a move towards program-based budgeting and more participatory and consultative planning
processes. In addition, administrative decentralization will be accompanied by fiscal decentralization
policies. The decentralization process will also prioritize private sector engagement at the municipal
level for economic development, job creation, vocational training, and delivery of public services
including education, health, water, sanitation, agriculture, irrigation, and construction andmaintenance of local infrastructure (including a stronger role for public-private partnerships). All
these initiatives create unique entry points for incorporating climate change adaptation considerations
into day-to-day processes of governance, and the NAP process will guide this mainstreaming at themunicipal level.

5.6. Identified barriers, gaps, and obstacles within policy and institutional Landscape
Although the GoDRTL has made great strides in terms of establishing an enabling environment forbuilding resilience and adaptive capacity in the country, additional steps must be taken to ensure that
the NAP process is effectively implemented and that future iterations of the NAP can continue tostrengthen the country and its people in the face of changing environmental conditions. This section
briefly describes some gaps, barriers, and obstacles that have become apparent over the course of
implanting policies and projects for climate change adaptation.
● Low levels of awareness with respect to climate change physical processes and the need foradaptation. Virtually all sources agree that knowledge is lacking among government officials
about climate change impacts and the types of policies and actions needed to adapt tochanging climate and environmental conditions, as well as how to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. This lack of understanding holds true across all 13 municipalities. This issue
requires a comprehensive approach to raising awareness about climate change physicalprocesses, impacts, and adaptation across all sectors of the population, as well as effective
capacity building for government and non-government stakeholders involved in various
aspects of Timor-Leste‘s adaptation response.
39

●

●

●
●
●
●

Communication and coordination across line ministries at the national level with respect toclimate change adaptation is lacking, and there are no clearly defined and formalized channelsof communication on this issue (UNISDR 2014). The NAPA notes that technical constraints
combined with the fragmentation of responsibilities for climate change, natural resources, anddisaster risk reduction pose challenges for effective implementation of adaptation measures.
Related to this, the absence of specific legal frameworks and laws defining the responsibilities
of individual line ministries and municipal administration offices in terms of disaster risk
reduction and climate change adaptation has been seen as a key factor limiting theeffectiveness of the first National Disaster Risk Management Policy (currently in draft stage).
Significant gaps in data records as well as observation and monitoring networks. The HNAP
observes weaknesses with respect to public health and disaster related data collection andanalysis, hindering the assessment of risk and vulnerability at different levels. Surveillancewith respect to diseases is rudimentary, and in general there is a lack of research, research
capacity, and research support infrastructure for the health sector and other priority sectors.
In addition, there is a general lack of data sharing across departments and ministries;
Further capacity and human resources are needed at the municipal level in order to provide
support to communities in the form of technical knowledge to identify hazards andvulnerabilities (UNISDR 2014);
Low levels of public expenditure on climate change activities;
Lack of specialized technical capacities needed for planning and implementation, and lack ofstand-alone capacity building programs;
Weak/non-existent national-level monitoring and evaluation for progress on resiliencebuilding and adaptation to climate change.

Each of these weaknesses will be addressed over the near term (2020-2022) through the GCF NAP
Readiness support or is addressed in the priority adaptation programmes and actions described in
Chapter 7 of this NAP.

Chapter 6. Summary of Results of Impact, Risk, and Vulnerability
Assessments
6.1 Introduction
Among the most important components of the National Adaptation Plan is a rigorous assessment ofrisks and vulnerabilities at the national (sectoral) and subnational (generally geographic) levels.
Vulnerability and risk assessments help to establish the evidence base to inform and prioritize
adaptation measures. As the NAP process in Timor-Leste evolves and expands over the near- term
(2020-2022), additional vulnerability and risk assessments will be conducted. This chapter provides abaseline for future vulnerability and risk assessments by compiling the results from previously
conducted vulnerability and risk assessments, and identifies additional gaps that should be covered by
future assessments. Comprehensive climate risk and vulnerability assessments have been conducted
only for a few sectors thus far (e.g. for coastal systems, 8 coral reef ecosystems9). Additional
assessments will be conducted to fulfill NAP requirements.

6.1.1. Key considerations to improve the NAP process. As noted above, a key priority over the
short term will be to conduct additional risk and vulnerability assessments to inform the futureversions of the NAP and improve it‘s the overall evidence base. Recommended actions over the shortterm include:
8

UNDP. 2018b. National Coastal Vulnerability Assessment and Designing of Integrated Coastal Management and
Adaptation Strategic Plan for Timor-Leste: Coastal Vulnerability Assessment Report. UNDP. 161pp.
9
PIFSC. 2017. Interdisciplinary baseline ecosystem assessment surveys to inform ecosystem-based management planningin Timor-Leste: Final Report. NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-17-02, 234p.
Available at: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14793.

40

●

●
●
●

●

Establishment of a centralized database of vulnerability and risk assessments (including anational registry of suco-level vulnerability assessments) as well as climate change adaptation(and climate change adaptation aligned) projects conducted by development partners, NGOs,
local communities, and other stakeholders. This database should be maintained by NDCC;
Establish routine methodologies to monitor and subsequently conduct vulnerability/risk
assessments for key sectors at the national level (e.g. agriculture, health, coastal and marine
resources, infrastructure, water and sanitation, disaster risk reduction);Standardize and conduct training on suco-level vulnerability assessment methodology andprovide technical and financial assistance so that suco development committees can conduct
their own vulnerability assessments;
Establish a mechanism for consolidating the results of suco vulnerability assessments andefficiently incorporating them into the NAP process and the priorities that emerge from the
NAP process, and also for incorporating them into suco development programs andinvestment budgets; andFormalize a rigorous process for moving from sectoral and subnational vulnerability and risk
assessments to the identification of national adaptation priorities for the NAP.

41

6.2 Summary of Vulnerability Assessment Results
There has been a wide range of vulnerability assessments conducted in Timor-Leste over the years.
Recently, efforts to scale-up vulnerability assessments to the national and sectoral level, as well as
efforts to use standardized methodologies have increased. This section focuses primarily on several
larger scale vulnerability assessments that are relevant to the sectors outlined above, and theirfindings. The GoDRTL has decided that this first NAP shall be based on available analyses of risk
and vulnerability (particularly those conducted for the Initial National Communication and Second
National Communication to the UNFCCC). More detailed vulnerability and risk assessments will takeplace in parallel to the implementation of the first NAP.

6.2.1. Integrated vulnerability assessments (IVA) at the village level. Integrated Vulnerability
Assessment (IVA) activities have taken place in 32 villages across all 13 municipalities of thecountry. NDCC has been undertaking IVAs since 2018, covering 32 villages with an eventual targetof 158 villages out of a total of 450 villages in Timor-Leste. The main objective of these assessments
is to gather information and data on climate change impacts through the communities‘ observations
and experiences while identifying vulnerable livelihood assets as well as identifying focus areas foradaptation action. This assessment utilizes a framework that was designed by the University of South
Pacific (USP). The core indicator for the assessment are livelihood assets of the community which is
closer to the capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change as well as reflecting level ofvulnerability toward exposure and sensitivity. The preliminary report of this IVA result for 32 villages
indicates that the most important impacts of climate change at the village level include the Human
Security Objectives (HSO) of environment and water security are the most vulnerable HSO. Factors
associated with environmental degradation are droughts, floods, landslides, strong winds and others
have significantly affected the lives and livelihoods of the communities and their natural resources,
including damaging infrastructure, affecting water resources, human health and food security. Most of
the villagers in the assessment areas indicated that water shortage is the main issue facing the villages.
The vulnerability assessments also indicate that floods and landslides have affected roads andinfrastructure during the rainy season, and that the communities have limited capacity to adapt tothese negative impacts of climate change. These impacts lead to food insecurity, unsustainability
within the local economy, and environmental and natural resource degradation. For example, thevillages of Mau-Nuno, Larisula, Aitutu and Lalawa are currently facing natural resources andinfrastructure degradation, while Lisadila, Mahakidan, Leolima, Maubisse, Talimoro and Madabeno
villages are currently facing natural resources degradation.

6.2.2. Second National Communication vulnerability assessment. A vulnerability assessment
has been conducted to support the Second National Communication to the UNFCCC. This VA builds
on the work that was conducted for the Initial National Communication by digging deeper into thedriving causes of vulnerability to determine what makes different social groups vulnerable to climatechange impacts. This VA combines top-down analysis of biophysical drivers of vulnerability and abottom-up analysis of socio-economic factors of vulnerability, addressing processes at multiple scales.
Fieldwork for this assessment was conducted in three different agro-ecological zones with a sectoral
focus on agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure. Some key points from the VA are:
● In all areas it was recognized that there has been increasing frequency and intensity of
extreme weather events, and that longer dry seasons are leading to more pervasive droughts.
● All communities reported that the impacts of these changing environmental conditions areaffecting the poor to a greater degree; key factors include a lack of access to more resilient
building materials, lack of access to alternative income and livelihood diversification
strategies● During the vulnerability assessment it was also observed that some people have been forced
to sell assets, including livestock. This suggests that changing environmental conditions may
be leading to a gradual diminution of personally-held wealth and capital, undermining theability of poor rural residents to climb out of poverty. In contrast, those that have diversified

42sources of income (e.g. civil servants) tend to be less severely affected by changing
environmental conditions.

6.2.3. Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment. The Ministry of Health, with support
from the World Health Organization, has conducted a health vulnerability and adaptation assessment
for Timor-Leste, which is part of the broader process of developing a Health National Adaptation Plan
(HNAP). The assessment was conducted according to WHO‘s guidelines on ―Protecting Health from
Climate Change—Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment‖ and included four steps: 1) framing andscoping; 2) vulnerability assessment; 3) impact assessment; and 4) adaptation assessment. The
assessment reached the following conclusions:● Under high-emissions scenarios, heat-related mortality among elderly residents are projected
to increase significantly (from a baseline of zero deaths between 1961-1990);● Improved research capabilities to examine the linkages between climate/weather-related
phenomena and health impacts and disease incidence are needed;● Surveillance and early warning systems for disease vectors should be improved, and data
sharing between different agencies to inform these systems should be improved;● There is a need to mainstream climate change into new policies and programs related toclimate-sensitive diseases and risks, including mainstreaming of both CCA and DRR/DRM
considerations into the Timor-Leste National Health Sector Strategic Plan 2011-2030 during
the mid-term review and four-year comprehensive evaluation processes;● There is a need to enhance the capacities within MoH and among other stakeholders toaddress the health risks of climate change, including general awareness-raising activities andimproving access to finance for adaptation activities;● The assessment also concludes that higher temperatures and longer heat waves are expected
to increase the incidence of heat-related diseases. However, municipality and village levelvulnerability assessments have not been undertaken (MoH and WHO 2018).
The programs and activities described in Chapter 7 of this NAP incorporate the recommendations of
this health sector vulnerability assessment, and will improve the overall resilience of the health sector
and the ability of health sector professionals and systems to improve service delivery amidst changing
environmental conditions driven by global warming.

6.2.4. National Coastal Vulnerability Assessment. In 2017 the GoDRTL , with support from
UNDP, conducted a nationwide assessment of coastal vulnerability in 121 sucos situated in 11
different municipalities (two of Timor-Leste‘s 13 municipalities are landlocked) as part of the―Building Shoreline Resilience of Timor-Leste to Protect Local Communities and their Livelihoods‖
project, funded by the Global Environmental Facility. Using a modified version of the Coastal
Vulnerability Index methodology developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), thestudy examined the role of socio-economic factors, infrastructure, and ecosystem services in shaping
vulnerabilities in the coastal zones. 16 of the sucos were classified as having ―very highvulnerability‖, with 40 additional sucos classified at the ―high vulnerability‖ level. 40 of these 56
sucos are located on the southern coast. Key findings from this assessment include:● A key vulnerability in many areas is the fact that roads are often constructed too close to thecoastline and are currently affected by severe coastal erosion;● In many coastal areas, out-migration to urban centers lowers the overall resilience of coastal
communities and leaves behind particularly vulnerable people, including children, the elderly,
and poor women as the economically more productive population moves to places such as
Dili.
● All coastal communities report an increase in strong winds and waves, which has affectedfishing productivity as most fisherfolk use small boats, which are more vulnerable underheavy wind and wave conditions. Coastal communities also report that fish stock is
declining, and this is blamed both on coral reef degradation and illegal fishing by outside (tosome extent overfishing, the use of unregulated fishing methods as well)

43

Chapter 7. Priority Adaptation Programs for Timor-Leste
7.1 Introduction
This chapter presents the adaptation priorities for Timor-Leste‘s initial NAP. These priorities havebeen compiled from the existing strategies and plans related to climate change adaptation that were
described in Chapter 5, including the NAPA, NDC, INC, HNAP, and the GCF Country Program. The
priorities were validated at the initial NAP stakeholder consultation workshop conducted in Dili in
February 2020. The priority actions have been categorized according to sector (infrastructure,
biodiversity and ecosystem adaptation, health sector, agriculture sector, water sector, disaster risk
reduction, and tourism). In addition, capacity-building at individual, systemic and institutional levels
across sectors were also identified as a priority area. Completing a national climate change policy isalso a priority, and this is well underway. .

7.1.1. Key considerations to improve the NAP process. Over the near-term (2020-2022) there
are a number of tasks to facilitate the implementation of these priorities. These early steps can besupported by a GCF Readiness grant and/or other support from development partners. These steps
include:● Build capacities within NDCC to coordinate the implementation of priorities;● Further validate the identified priorities with the designated lead agencies;● Disaggregate priorities into actionable steps and develop draft work plans;● Identify existing programs and expenditures within priority sector agencies which could serve
as entry points for the identified priorities and work plans;● Identify sources of technical support among development partner community to implement
the identified priorities, as per work plan;● Establish monitoring and evaluation frameworks and detailed implementation arrangements
for each priority;● Develop cost estimates for implementation of priorities; and● Identify internal and external sources of financing to support implementation.

7.2 Priority Adaptation Programs
The priority adaptation programmes for physical investments are presented in table 3. The
adaptation priorities are grouped into policies, projects and programmes, and a national support
programme to manage the NAP process going forward. Physical investments are priorities, which
involve building or construction (―hard projects‖). In most cases, these priorities will require externalfinancing from development partners, supplemented with financing from domestic sources. Also, inmost cases these investments will require public funds through grants or loans.

44

Table 3.Priority adaptation programmes by sector showing the source and lead agencies (detailed activities
under each are given in the annex 1).

Sector and program

SourceLead Agencies

I. Infrastructure Adaptation Priorities
Program 1: Identification of
Infrastructure Vulnerabilities

NCCP
Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment; MoPW, Responsible
MUPD and UNTL

Program 2: Establish Institutional
NCCP, NAPA
and Human Capacities
Program 3: Improve regulatory
NAPA, GCF
framework for climate-smart andCountry Program,climate-proof infrastructure
NCCP
Program 4: Climate-proofed
GCF Country
infrastructure development
ProgramII. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Adaptation Priorities

MoPW, UNTL and Responsible
Ministry of/for Environment
MoPWand Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment

Program 1: Build human andinstitutional capacities for
Ecosystem-Based Adaptation

MAF, Responsible Ministry of/for
Natural Resources; Forestry;
Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment; Higher Education and
UNTL
MAF, Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment and UNTL

NCCP

Program 2: Incorporate Ecosystem- NDC, NCCP
Based Adaptation into Planning andRegulatory Frameworks
III. Health Sector Adaptation Priorities

MoPW and Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment

Program 1: Integrate Climate
NDC, DCCP
Change Considerations into Health
Sector Planning and Regulatory
Frameworks
Program 2: Improve Health Sector
NDC, NC,
Capacities for Managing Climate
NAPA, NCCP
Risks
IV. Agriculture Sector Adaptation Priorities

MoH; UNTL; Responsible Ministryof/for Environment

Program 1: Improve Research andKnowledge Management Capacities
to Support Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Resilient Land
Management
Program 2: Incorporate Climate
Change into Agriculture Sector
Planning and Management Practices
Program 3: Mainstream Climate
Change Considerations into
Agriculture Sector Regulatory
Frameworks
Program 4: Support Private Sector

NCCP

MAF, UNTL and MoE

NAPA, NCCP
and GCF country
Program
NCCP

MAF, MoH and Responsible Ministryof/for Environment

NCCP

MAF, MoH and Responsible Ministry
45

MoH, Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment

Responsible Ministry of/for Forestry,
MAF; Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment

and MSME Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Aqua/Mariculture
Program 5: Promote Climate-Smart NCCP
Livestock Practices
Program 6: Implement Community- NAPA, GCF
Centric Climate-Smart Agriculture
Country Program,and Resilient Land Management
NDC, NCCP
ProgramV. Water Sector Adaptation Priorities

of/for Environment

Program 1: Incorporate Climate
Resilience into Water Sector
Planning and Regulatory
Frameworks

GCF Country
Program/NDC/N
APA, NCCP

MAF; MoE and UNTL
MAF, Responsible Ministry of/forforestry; Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment

Program 3: Empower Communities
to Utilize Climate-Smart Water
Management Techniques
Program 4: Build New/Retrofit
Existing Water Infrastructure for
Climate Resilience
VI. DRR Adaptation Priorities

NCCP

GCF Country
Program/NDC,
NCCP

Responsible Ministry of/for
Forestry/MAF and UNTL; Responsible
Ministry of/for Environment,
Responsible Ministry for Water
Resource Management and UNTL
UNTL, MAF, Responsible ministryof/for Environment; Responsible
Ministry of/for Water resource
management
Responsible Ministry for Water
Resource Mgt and Responsible Ministryof/for Environment
MoPW, Responsible Ministry for Waterand Sanitation; Responsible Ministryof/for Environment

Program 1: Enhance communitylevel integration of DRR and CCA

NAPA, GCFCountry Program

Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment, SSCP/DRR

Program 2: Implement Climate1NC, NDC,
Smart Water Management Among
NCCP
Large (institutional/municipal users)

Program 2: Strengthen National
NDC,1NC
Capacities for Climate Change
Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction
and disaster risk management
VII. Tourism Sector Adaptation Priorities

MAF, Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment, SSCP/DRR, UNTL and
MoE

Program 1: Supporting ClimateResilient Tourism Resources inTimor-Leste
Program 2: Strengthening theMarket for Climate-Resilient
Nature-Based Tourism.

Responsible Ministry of/for Tourism;
Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment
Responsible Ministry of/for Tourism;
Responsible Ministry of/for
Environment, MAF, MoE and UNTLNCCPGCF Country
Program, NDC,
NCCP

The activities under each program as given in above Table 3 include a range of activities fromconcrete
adaptation
investments
toresearch,
capacity-building
andregulatory
formulation/reformulation and harmonization of the existing ones. The concrete adaptation
investments have been extracted and presented according to policies and projects as per Table 4
below.

46

Table 4. Priority policies and concrete activities (physical investments) extracted from Table 3, andarranged by system to show a timeline for planned implementation.
I. Policies

Timeline

Lead Agencies:

1. Timor-Leste is in the final stages of preparing a National
Climate Change Policy. This policy will define objectives 2020
and a vision for addressing climate change and will provide
the necessary mandate for the NAP.

Secretariat of State forEnvironment (SSE)/
NDCC

2. Several issues will be integrated into Tarabandu 2-3 years(customary rules) including: water conservation, water andland use management, and climate risk reduction

SSE, MAF, MoPW,
SSCP

II, Adaptation Priorities Projects

Government of TimorLeste and leadInternational andNational agencies

Timeline

MoPW; MAF and
Responsible Ministryof/for Environment

A. Strengthening the capacity of national, local
institutions and communities in managing climate risks(floods, drought, landslides)
1. Improve physical infrastructure and natural vegetation
methods to prevent landslides in hill sites, roads and riverbanks that are made vulnerable by climate change
2. Review existing laws, regulation and standards toenhance climate change resilience of critical infrastructure

3-5 years

MoPW, Responsible
Ministryof/forEnvironmentandMAF

3-4 years

MoPW and MTC

3. Enhancing Early Warning Systems to build greater 5-6 years
resilience to hydro and meteorological hazards in SIDS
(taking a regional approach, in prep, part of the GCF
Country Programme, with UNEP and the Government ofTimor-Leste)

MTC,
MAF
and
Responsible Ministryof/for Environment

B. Addressing the needs of indigenous and vulnerable
communities and groups

Responsible Ministryof/forEnvironment
and MAF

4. Reduce the vulnerability of farmers and pastoralists to 5-10
increased drought and flood events
years

MAF

5. Improve institutional and community (including 2-5 years
vulnerable groups such as women and children) capacity to
prepare for and respond to climate change-induced natural
disasters

SSCP/DRR
andResponsible Ministryof/for Environment

6. Integrate climate risk information into traditional 3-5 years
disaster risk reduction and management

SSCP/ DRR

47

andResponsible
Ministryof/forEnvironment

7. Integrate water conservation, water use management, and 5-10
climate risk reduction approaches into Tarabandu (custmary years
rules – also included under policies)

MAF, MoPW and
Responsible Ministry
for Environment

C. Using ecosystem-based DRR in coastal areas and coral
reefs
8. Maintain mangrove plantations and promote awareness 3-6 years
to protect coastal ecosystems from impacts of sea level
rise

MAF, MoPW and
Responsible Ministry
for Environment

D. Improving water resources management underclimate change
9. Build climate-proof and environmentally sustainableinfrastructure to protect water resources, including
enhancing water harvesting storage tanks and irrigation farm
ponds, distribution and management systems, particularly indrought-prone areas
10. Create and enhance water harvesting, water
distribution and management systems to avoid water
shortage due to climate change

11. Develop integrated agroforestry and watershedmanagement to reflect impacts of climate change on
agriculture and forestry systems
12. Control quantity of water used by industry, and waterpollution control standardization including coffee
processing waste management in climate change context

5-10
years

MoPW and MAF

5-10
years

MoPW and MAF,
Responsible Ministry
for Environment

3-5 years

MAF

5-10
years

MoPW,
MAF,
Responsible Ministry
for Environment

13. Design a water management system that includes 5-10
assessment of demand projections and sustainable supply years
systems disaggregated by end use, and existing status of thewater sources and supply systems

MoPW

14. Implement integrated water resource management 4-10
approaches to protect and rehabilitate watersheds critical for years
sustainable water supply for agriculture and domestic
purposes
15. Enhance government and community strategies to
3-5 years
respond to drought exacerbated by climate change

MoPW, MAF

16. Promote water conservation, protection of springs andrecharge of the ground water sources including strong
linkages between up-stream and down-stream
communities

3-6

E. Promoting sustainable land management underclimate change
17. Implement integrated sustainable land management
5-10
which promote climate resilient practices such as
years
fixed/permanent agriculture, reduced burning, reduced
erosion, and increased soil fertility

48

MoPW
MoPW, MAF and
Responsible Ministryof/for Environment

MAF18. Reduce climate vulnerability of forests throughreforesting degraded lands and provide a sustainablesource of fuel wood
19. Adapt to climate change and enable sustainable land
management through productive rural communities inTimor-Leste

2-4 years

MAF

3-5 years

MAF,
Responsible
Ministryof/forEnvironment

20. Reduce climate vulnerability in the agricultural sector 5-10
through promotion of sustainable and conservation years
agriculture with minimal negative impact on theenvironment, and avoiding agricultural activities in climaterisk prone areas

MAF

F. Improving public health services to deal with climate
related public health issues
21. Develop a health database and data management 2-5 years
system which includes climate sensitive health risk andvulnerability information to facilitate effective, targeted andefficient delivery of health services

MoH

22. Establish surveillance for health early warning systems 3-4 years
and response mechanisms for climate-related health risks

MoH

G. Building climate-resilient livelihoods
23. Develop alternative livelihood options to enhance 3-5 years
community resilience through fisheries and marine
ecosystem-based bio-physical resources

MAF,
Responsible
Ministryof/forEnvironment

III. NAP National Support Programme
Support to the NAP process in Timor-Leste, proposal to the 2-3 years
GCF NAP Readiness Support window (see below)

Responsible Ministryof/for Environment

The Support to the NAP process in Timor-Leste, proposal to the GCF NAP Readiness window
Building on the continuous, progressive, and iterative nature of the NAP process, support is being
mobilized from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness window for the formulation of NAPs tosupport the ―national NAP support programme – NSP‖ under the NDCC. This version contains
several recommendations for strengthening the human and institutional capacities as well as for
improving Timor-Leste‘s knowledge management infrastructure to support climate change adaptation.
These recommendations should be incorporated into the funding proposal to the GCF to support theongoing activities of the NAP process in Timor-Leste under the NSP.
As part of the GCF NAP Readiness project, next steps will include development of implementationplans for each of these priority actions. These implementation plans will include specific steps toachieve the priority actions. These steps then can be linked to a monitoring and evaluation framework
and budget plan, which identifies sources of financing for implementation. Here is envisaged that theSpecial Committee for Climate Finance (see Chapter 2), will have a strong role to play in coordinating
financial support for the priorities.
The adaptation cycle will be applied to each of the key sectors under the NSP upon receipt of the GCF
NAP readiness funding, hopefully between end 2020 and 2022 (the adaptation cycle includes (i)research and systematic observation; (ii) governance and institutional arrangements; (iii) analysis and49assessment; (iv) plan development; (v) implementation strategy; (vi) implementation; (vii) monitoringand evaluation; (viii) reporting; (ix) update and revision of the plans).
Detailed vulnerability assessments will be synthesized along the following sectors (where necessary,
additional vulnerability and risk assessments will be conducted to fill knowledge gaps in key
geographic areas):
1. Infrastructure priority programs include (i) identification of infrastructure vulnerabilities, (ii)establishing institutional and human capacities, (iii) improving regulatory framework forclimate-smart and climate-proof infrastructure, and (iv) climate-proofed infrastructure designand development.
2. Biodiversity and ecosystem adaptation priorities programs include (i) building human andinstitutional capacities for ecosystem-based adaptation and (ii) incorporating ecosystem-based
adaptation into planning and regulatory frameworks.
3. Health sector adaptation priority programs include (i) integrating climate change considerations
into health sector planning and regulatory frameworks and (ii) Improving health sector
capacities for managing climate risks.
4. Agriculture sector adaptation priority programs include (i) improving research and knowledge
management capacities to support climate-smart agriculture and resilient land management, (ii)incorporating climate change into agriculture sector research planning and management
practices, (iii) mainstreaming climate change considerations into agriculture sector regulatory
frameworks, (iv) supporting private sector and Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprises(MSME) climate-smart agriculture and aqua/mariculture, (v) promote climate-smart livestockpractices, and (vi) implementing community-centric climate-smart agriculture and resilient land
management programs (vii) mainstreaming climate change considerations into agriculture food crops - handling o new of varieties, as well as pest and disease management.
5. Water sector adaptation priority programs includes (i) incorporating climate resilience into
water sector planning and regulatory frameworks, (ii) implementing climate-smart water
management among large-scale users, (iii) empowering communities to utilize climate-smart
water management techniques, and (iv) building new/retrofit existing water infrastructure forclimate resilience.
6. Disaster risk reduction adaptation priority programs include (i) enhancing community-level
integration of DRR and CCA and (ii) strengthening national capacities for climate change
responsive disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management.
7. Tourism sector adaptation priority programs include (i) supporting climate-resilient tourism
resources in Timor-Leste and (ii) strengthening the market for climate-resilient nature-based
tourism.
In addition to this NSP to be funded by the GCF NAP support, the following will also be addressed:
●
●
●
●

●
●
●

Formalized institutional arrangements will be established;
Finalization of administrative arrangements and the legal basis for the NAP including on
data;
Development of a centralized data archive system to support the work on NAPs, building ondata collected for specific sectoral assessments and projects (this will include a data policy);
A ―theory of change‖ that maps Timor-Leste‘s long-term adaptation goals at national andsubnational levels and identified clear pathways for reaching these goals will be developed
through a fully participatory process. This theory of change will also include mapping
behavior change pathways in priority sectors to encourage people, organizations, andinstitutions to adopt climate resilient development pathways;
Developing cost estimates of prioritized adaptation options;
Development of a comprehensive financing plan to support implementation of the NAP;
Formulation of a monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL) framework;50Additional activities on Human Capacity Development, Institutional Strengthening,
Regulatory Modifications and Research
Given the need to build capacity, improve data and information basis for adaptation, and conduct new
research on climate vulnerabilities and risk while implementing concrete adaptation measures, eachproject and programme will also include activities to build institutional and human capacity, update
regulations as well as research components. Annex 1 shows Table 3 expanded to show the following
categories for activities under each priority program:

Human capacity development. These are priorities that involve training or capacity development
for individuals both within the government and among non-government stakeholders (e.g. private
sector, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, etc.). Some of these priorities may be supported by domesticallysourced funds. In other cases, development partners will support these relatively low-cost, highimpact investments.

Institutional strengthening. This refers to priorities that involve improving institutional
competencies and other aspects of governance. This category is primarily ―soft‖ measures thatcan be supported by development partners through grants and technical assistance.

Regulatory modifications. This category refers to priorities that involve modification andharmonization or enhancement of sectoral and/or subnational policy, regulatory, or legal
frameworks. These priorities may be implemented by sectoral adaptation teams (see chapter 2)
with technical support from development partners coordinated though the NDCC.



Research. This identifies priorities that involve research, collating available data and information
as well as the associated capacities to produce, process, and utilize data and information. Thesepriorities may be supported by development partners, but there is also a role here for innovative
partnerships between domestic institutions (including government agencies such as NDCC andacademic institutions such as the National University of Timor-Lorosae) and international
agencies and academic/research institutions in developed countries.

51

Chapter 8: NAP Implementation Considerations
This chapter describes implementation considerations for the NAP. The chapter comprises two sections.
The first section proposes interim implementation arrangements to guide the NAP process until a formal
mandate and permanent institutional arrangements can be established. The second section of the chapter
presents an implementation plan for the NAP including near- (2020-2022), medium- (2022-2025), andlong-term (2025-2030) actions and objectives. Additional details are provided for the short-term actions.

8.1 NAP Interim Implementation Arrangements

8.1.1. High-Level Decision-Making Body
According to section 116 of the Constitution of Timor-Leste, the powers and responsibilities of theCouncil of Ministers are relevant to the NAP process. These include: a) to define the guidelines ofgovernment policies as well as those for implementation, and f) to approve plans. In addition, Section
105 of the Constitution stipulates that the Council of Ministers shall be convened and chaired by thePrime Minister. The Council of Ministers is the highest decision-making authority in addressing
implementation of national adaptation priorities as well as mainstreaming climate change adaptation into
sectoral policies and plans. Therefore, the Council of Ministers will delegate, as per its Organic Law, tothe responsible Ministry for the Environment to oversee the development and implementation of NAP. A
regulatory body shall be created to steer and enforce the leading role of NAP at all level, acrossgovernment institutions.
Specific roles and responsibilities of Ministry in-charge shall include: Provide overall policy guidance with respect to NAP implementation and facilitate high-level
decision-making in determining appropriate implementation actions by various sectors andministries;
 Provide policy direction on how to mainstream climate change adaptation into sectoral and local
policies, plans, programs, and activities;
 Ensure adequate budget allocation for climate change adaptation actions identified in the NAP; Draft and submit to Council of Ministers‘ approval Decree Law/Goverment Decree to legally
empower line agencies to incorporate guidance and recommendations from the NAP into theirplanning and budgeting processes, and to implement the priorities described in the NAP.
 Sign a Ministerial dispatch on details and specific regulations to direct and enforce NAP
implementation

8.1.2. High-Level Operational Body
The Secretary of State for the Environment (SSE) under the minister of Economic Affairs is responsible
for all climate change related issues, including overseeing formulation and implementation of the NAP.
The SSE is mandated by the Council of Ministers through the guidance of the Ministry of Economic
Affairs to coordinate the implementation of the NAP at the policy level. The SSE will act as the interim
high-level operational body for guiding NAP implementation. The SSE takes responsibility for
implementation of the NAP at policy level, including programs and actions as well as monitoring andevaluation, with technical support from the National Directorate for Climate Change, within the
Secretariat of State for Environment. The SSE will brief the Council of Ministers on the state of the52

implementation of the NAP and seek guidance and direction from the Council. Specific roles andresponsibilities during the interim period shall include: Lead and provide strong coordination for the effective implementation of the NAP priorities;
 Formulate Decree Law/Government Decree to legally empower line agencies to incorporate
guidance and recommendations from the NAP into their planning and budgeting processes, and to
implement the priorities described in the NAP. This Decree Law/Government Decree will thenbe approved by the Council of Ministers;
 Establish a high-level inter-agency coordination mechanism to steer the formulation of successive
full NAP processes and guide NAP implementation;
 Undertake performance review of the status of implementation of the NAP at the political level; Be accountable to the Council of Ministers on the progress of NAP implementation.

8.1.3. Technical Coordinating Body/Interim Secretariat
The National Directorate for Climate Change will act as the interim technical coordinating body andsecretariat to coordinate the implementation of the NAP over the short term. The NDCC will besupported by the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) under the NDCC with membership from all
related ministries, agencies, NGOs, FBOs, academic institutions, private sector representatives and otherrelevant stakeholders. The CCWG will be the primary mechanism for coordination and consultation withstakeholders in implementing the NAP priorities undertaken by government entities, agencies, civilsociety, and private sector actors. The CCWG was first officially recognized by the GoDRTL in January
2017 by a Ministerial Decree. The CCWG will meet regularly every three months and will convene more
frequently on an ad-hoc basis if necessary. Specific roles and responsibilities during the interim period
shall include: Coordinate and provide technical guidance for NAP implementation with line ministries andother relevant agencies and organizations; Provide technical inputs for the proposed Decree Law/Government Decree to legally empowerline agencies to incorporate guidance and recommendations from the NAP into their planning andbudgeting processes and to implement the priorities described in the NAP;
 Undertake performance review of the status of implementation of the NAP at the technical level; Provide information on climate finance and facilitate international climate finance and technicalsupport for implementation of the NAP;
 Monitor and evaluate the implementation, as well as the activities of all sectors and avoid
duplication of efforts;
 Spearhead the identification of linkages between the NAP and the NDC;
 Advance new initiative and proposals designed to implement NAP priorities with development
partners; and Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to register, facilitate and ensure transparency of financial
support from outside with respect to climate change adaptation.

8.1.4. Other relevant information
In addition to the roles and responsibilities outlined in the previous sections, the Secretariat of State forEnvironment is responsible for mobilizing funding from international sources and will ensure, in strict
coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the release of funds from international organizations forapproved adaptation priorities. The Ministry of Finance will also be responsible for mobilizing funding
from both domestic and as well as international sources for the implementation of NAP priorities.
53

Figure 8: Interim implementation arrangements for NAP

54

8.2. NAP implementation plan

The implementation plan for the NAP is divided into three timeframes: near-term (2020-2022), mediumterm (2023-2025), and long-term (2026-2030). Table 5 describes these three phases along with thematic
areas and key outcomes.
Table 5. Summary of short, medium, and long-term NAP objectives

Short-term

Medium-termLong-term

Timeframe

2020-2022

2023-2025

2026-2030

Themes• Submission of at least 2 fullproject proposals to the GCF forthe implementation of the NAP• Implementation of funded GCF
project10• Submission of GCF NAP
Readiness Proposal for the
Timor-Leste NAP process:Activities to include
strengthening evidence base,institutional/administrative
arrangements, and humancapacities for adaptation andresilience building• Mainstreaming adaptation andresilience building• Submission of 3 full project proposals
to the GCF for the implementation of
the NAP• Implementation of funded GCF project• Ensuring a resilient future
for Timor-Leste• Submission of at least 2
full project proposals to the
GCF for the
implementation of the NAP• Implementation of funded
GCF projectKey
Outcomes• Some adaptation priorities
addressed• Strengthened evidence baseincluding improved humancapacities and technicalinfrastructure for gathering andprocessing data and producing
relevant information to support
adaptation. Methodologies to
conduct sectoral andsubnational vulnerability/risk
assessments established,
finalized IVA and utilized• Strengthened legal andinstitutional arrangement for
NAP coordination andimplementation, including
formal mandate to support NAP
processes, permanent steeringand technical coordination• Some adaptation priorities addressed• Continue with legal arrangement,
permanent legal and institutionalarrangements formalized and ratified
to support adaptation at national andsubnational levels, including clear
roles and responsibilities for national,
municipal and suco levels• Established capacity within nationalline agencies for incorporating climatechange adaptation into sector planningand budgeting• Monitoring framework with sectoraland subnational targets established to
track progress towards low carbon,
climate resilient development
trajectory• Sectoral and subnational adaptation
actions prioritized and cost, withcomprehensive financing plan

• Some adaptation priorities
addressed• Full incorporation ofadaptation and resilience
into national development,
sectoral, and subnational
planning processes• Implementation of low
carbon, climate resilient
development trajectory• All public sector
investments are resilient topotential impacts ofclimate change• Sectoral and subnational
regulatory frameworks
incentivize and encourage
private sector adaptation

10

GCF Proposal Number FP109: Safeguarding rural communities and their physical and economic assets fromclimate induced disasters in Timor-Leste Timor-Leste | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | B.23/10
23 July 2019.

55

mechanisms, and verticalcoordination arrangements• Fully realized stakeholder
engagement and ownership over
NAP process from national
leadership to the mostmarginalized segments of the
Timorese population• Climate change programs establishedin tertiary education and professional
development programs• Research program established tosupport evidence-based decisionmaking processes

8.2.1. Near-term (2020-2022)
The implementation plan for Timor-Leste‘s NAP responds to the LEG Guideline‘s vision that the NAP―encompasses all the arrangements necessary to develop the knowledge to support decision-making andrequired capacity building to facilitate all actions that are needed for a strategic country-owned adaptation
planning process‖ (14). Hence the first phase of the National Adaptation Plan works to build a solid
foundation for sustained action to address climate change, in parallel to some priority adaptation projects
being implemented. The first phase consists of actions to strengthen the evidence base for informed
decision-making processes as well as strengthening institutional arrangements and human capacities foradaptation planning. Identified needs from the initial stocktaking for the NAP have been consolidated
into three interlinked short-term programs comprising 48 actions as detailed in table 6. The short-term
implementation plan also includes timelines for completing the actions and lead agencies. The three
short-term programs cover the following areas: Data, Methodologies, and Information
 Institutional and Legal Foundation
 Stakeholder Engagement and Ownership
Capacity development needs are also addressed in the near-term implementation plan and are linked witheach of the three programs. Capacity development actions will be designed to support the actions in theother three categories.
It is expected that financial support for the actions described in the near-term implementation plan will
come from the GCF NAP Readiness and general GCF Readiness funds, supplemented by other sources ofnational and international support.

56

8.2.2. Medium-term (2023-2025)
Over the medium term the NAP process will focus on deeper integration of climate change adaptationconsiderations into governance at national and subnational levels. A key outcome over the medium termis that climate change adaptation will be integrated into national and subnational development andsectoral planning processes, and that the requisite capacities to support this will continue to be developed.
During this phase the NAP process will also concentrate on identifying and implementing behavior
change pathways that move towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient development trajectory. The NAP
process will identify and establish enabling conditions for behavior change for government agencies,
private sector actors, and individuals. In addition, sectoral and subnational adaptation actions will beprioritized and costed, with a comprehensive financing plan for implementation developed. It is also
expected that financing for adaptation activities will be significantly scaled up during this period.
Key work areas and results will include: Established capacities and procedures for incorporating climate change into sectoral planning andbudgeting processes. This will be supported by sector-specific guidance, targets, and indicatorsfor mainstreaming climate change into planning and budgeting. Budgeting processes will ensure
the appropriate levels of financial resources are available to support implementation. This willlead to increased public expenditures on climate change adaptation and resilience building
measures that also advance other development priorities.
 Established capacities and procedures for incorporating climate change into municipal and sucolevel planning processes
 Mechanism established to channel national and donor-provided support to municipalities andsucos to support adaptation priorities
 Establish firm linkages between new NDC commitments and NAP priority actions. NDC
commitments have clear implementation pathways through NAP process
 Establish incentives to encourage behavioral shift towards resilient and low carbon development
trajectory
 Conduct legal and regulatory reviews to identify entry points and needed changes in sectoral andsubnational frameworks
 Continue to incorporate climate change considerations into tertiary education and professional
development programs to ensure that specialized training program on Climate Adaptation clauses
are included in their curriculum to create a cadre of climate change technical specialists
 Continue to support knowledge co-production between government agencies and academic
institutions and expand research capabilities at UNTL research program. In the meantime efforts
will be extended to expand international research partnerships on climate change and adaptation.
 Climate proofing investments. This includes establishing guidelines and improving technicalcapacity at all phases of the project cycle for developing climate resilient infrastructure, WASH,
etc.
 Identify appropriate entry points and indicators to encourage and track transition to climate
resilient development pathway.
 Establish a comprehensive financing plan that provides adequate resources to support strictly
identified and cost sectoral priorities.

8.2.3. Long-term (2026-2030)
The NAP also includes general direction for the long-term (2026-2030). Key outcomes over this period
are that climate change adaptation and resilience building will be fully integrated into the next cycle of57

strategic development planning at the national level (2031-2050) and also that climate change aspects will
be fully integrated into national, sectoral, and subnational budgets. It is expected that additional detailwill be added with respect the long-term vision for the NAP process once the institutional andadministrative arrangements are finalized over the short-term and once full buy-in and ownership on thepart of all stakeholders is achieved.

58

Table 6. Near-Term Programs of the NAP
Short-Term Program 1: Strengthened evidence base including improved human capacities and technical infrastructure for gathering and processing
data and producing relevant information to support adaptation
OutputSpecific action
Capacity development needs
Timeframe
Responsible agency(ies)1.1.1. Prioritize geographic areas to
Improve capacity to maintain
2020-2022
NDCC, Ministry of Public1.1. Improve
expand network of hydrometeorologicalmonitoring stations
Works, Transport andMonitoring Network
monitoring stations
Communication and MAP
Improve technical capacity to record
1.1.2. Establish network for monitoring2021-2022
NDCC
data uniformly and regularly on
sea surface temperatures in Timor-Leste‘sobservations from network
territorial waters
1.1.3. Rebuild and expand network of
2021-2022
NDCC, Meteorology
Improve capacity to disseminate data tohydrometric stations to monitor
Services, MAP andappropriate end-users
streamflow
Secretary Sate of Civil
Protection
1.1.4. Improve geospatial data collection
2020-2022
NDCC and Meteorology
Services
1.2.1. Develop uniform methodology for
Train sectoral/subnational personnel to2020-2021
NDCC, CCWG
1.2. Conduct
conduct vulnerability/risk assessments
Vulnerability and Risk sectoral vulnerability/risk assessments
Assessments
1.2.2. Conduct priority sector
2021-2022
Sector teams
Build basic mapping and enumeration
vulnerability/risk assessments
skills at subnational levels
1.2.3. Develop baseline maps for
2020-2021
NDCC
community-led vulnerability/risk
assessments
1.2.4. Develop methodology and guidance2021
for community-led suco vulnerability/risk
assessment
1.2.5. Conduct pilot suco-level2022
vulnerability/risk assessments
1.3.1. Establish centralized database forStrengthen staff capacities to manage,
2021
NDCC
1.3. Improve data anddata and information including physicalprocess, and analyze data
information
processes, vulnerabilities/risks, andmanagement to
Build capacity and establish procedures
support NAP processes adaptation and resilience building projects
to maintain web resources
1.3.2. Create NAP internet portal
2021-2022
NDCC
1.3.3. Establish data management2021-2022
NDCC
Build capacity to transform data into
protocols including storage, formats,useful decision-support information
quality control and gap filling standards
and procedures
1.3.4. Compile all relevant data from2021-2022
NDCC
disparate sources, homogenize formats,59

1.4. Establish research
program to support
NAP process

identify and fill gaps
1.3.5. Identify and address decisionsupport information needs for priority
sector agencies and municipalities
1.4.1. Identify research priorities andestablish partnership with University ofTimor-Lorosae (UNTL) and international
universities. Develop research protocols
for foreign scholars
1.4.2. Initiate research and documentation
program to identify entry points andsynergies for locally-led adaptation andlocal Tara Bandu cultural practices andformulate action plan for integration
1.4.3. Establish and implement research
and monitoring framework to trackobserved and potential future impacts ofclimate change on women. Identify sexdisaggregated indicators of vulnerability
for incorporation into NAP processes
1.4.4. Conduct research on the nexus ofclimate change adaptation, peace building,and conflict resolution in Timor-Leste andidentify specific actions for NAP process

2021-2022

NDCC, sector focal points

2020-2022

NDCC, UNTL

Build capacities at UNTL to manage
research program and function as―boundary agency‖

2021-2022

NDCC, UNTL, Ministry of
Tourism, Arts, and Culture

Improve capacities to identify andimplement monitoring frameworks
disaggregated by gender and otherrelevant socialeconomic/cultural/demographic
variables

2021-2022

NDCC, UNTL and Sec
State for Women and
Gender Inclusion

2021-2022

NDCC, UNTL

Improve capacities to develop coproduction of knowledge research
projects

Short-Term Program 2: Strengthened legal and institutional arrangements for NAP coordination and implementation, including formal mandate tosupport NAP processes, permanent steering and technical coordination mechanisms, and vertical coordination arrangements.
OutputSpecific Action
Capacity development needs
Timeframe
Responsible agency(ies)2.1.1. Identify specific provisions
Develop appropriate information
2020-2021
NDCC, CCWG
2.1. Formulate and(including sectoral and verticalresources for members of high-level
ratify mandate forcoordination mechanism) for legal
and technical committees
NAP process
mandate through consultative processes
2.1.2. Write draft legal instrument and
2021
NDCC and CCWG
disseminate for peer review andconsultation
2.1.3. Council of Ministers approves legal
2021-2022
Council of Ministers
mandate
2.1.4. Disseminate legal arrangements and
2022
NDCC
raise awareness among stakeholders
2.1.5. Nominate, inaugurate, and convene
2022
NDCC

60

2.2. Conduct sectoral
assessments to identify
and implement
adaptation priorities

members for permanent steering
mechanism2.2.1. Appoint sectoral focal points andclimate change task forces in priority
sectors
2.2.2. Establish capacity building andtechnical support program to upskill
sectoral teams
2.2.3. Establish sectoral knowledge bases
including relevant data, information, bestpractices, tools, etc. to facilitate
mainstreaming
2.2.4. Analyze sectoral vulnerability/risk
assessments and lead collaborative process
to identify priority actions
2.2.5. Incorporate priority actions into
second NAP and updated adaptation
communication to the Paris Agreement
2.2.6. Submit project proposals to GCF
and other funding sources to Implement
adaptation priorities

2.3. Strengthen
vertical coordinationand subnational
mainstreaming inalignment with TimorLeste’s decentralization
trajectory

2.3.1. Map entry points for NAP-relevant
governance processes (e.g. planning,budgeting, technical support, knowledge
management) at municipal and suco levels
to determine relevant stakeholders andadministrative process to engage with
2.3.2. Strengthen coordination between
national line agencies and municipal
counterparts with respect to adaptation andresilience building processes
2.3.3. Designate financial and technicalsupport for task force operations and initial
adaptation activities at municipal levels
2.3.4. Establish and capacitate municipallevel climate change tasks forces that build
on existing municipal structures (e.g.
health, disaster risk management,

Improve knowledge and capacity on
mainstreaming gender and social equity
considerations into climate change
processes
Build understanding of climate change
issues among sector and subnational
government officials
Build capacities to analyze risk andvulnerability assessments

2021-2022

NDCC, priority sector teams

2021-2022

NDCC, priority sector teams

2021-2022

NDCC, priority sector teams

2022

Priority sector teams

2022

NDCC

Build capacities to develop project
concepts

Build capacities to implement
successful adaptation projects(integrated into relevant development
activities)
Improve knowledge and capacity on
mainstreaming gender and social equity
considerations into climate change
processes
Improve understanding and awarenessof climate change at subnational levels

2020- 2030

NDCC, priority sector
teams, local government,
communities, and all otherrelevant actors

2020-2021

NDCC

2021-2022

Sector agencies,
municipalities

NDCC, MoF

2021-2022

61

NDCC, Municipal
governments

2.4. Develop
monitoring, evaluation,
reporting, and learning
framework for NAP
process

agriculture).
2.3.5. Task forces develop workplans andtechnical support needs
2.4.1 Identify indicative physicalindicators to track climate change physicalprocesses in Timor-Leste and establish
monitoring procedures
2.4.2 Identify appropriate socio-economic
indicators of vulnerability (e.g. sensitivity,
adaptive capacity, resilience index) andestablish procedures for obtaining datafrom relevant agencies
2.4.3. Review other relevant M&E
frameworks (DRR, SDG, sectoral) to
identify entry points for harmonization
2.4.4. Develop mechanism for tagging andtracking government expenditures related
to NAP priorities
2.4.5. Finalize and implement MERL
framework for NAP process

2021-2022
Build M&E technical skills in NDCC

2021

NDCC

2021

NDC

2021

NDCC

2021-2022

MOF, NDCC

2022

NDCC

Short-Term Program 3: Fully realized stakeholder engagement and ownership over NAP process from national leadership to the most marginalized
segments of the Timorese population
OutputSpecific Action
Capacity development needs
Timeframe
Responsible agency(ies)3.1.1. Develop NAP public awareness
Build awareness and capacity among
2020-2021
NDCC
3.1. Increase publiccampaign (Resilient Timor-Leste!)
media professionals to identify andawareness of climate
communication strategy informed byreport accurately on climate changechange and encourage
stakeholder mapping, including media
relevant issues
behavior shift
outreach (3.2.1).
pathways
Improve knowledge of educational
3.1.2. Identify entry points and2021-2022
NDCC, MoE
professionals with respect to climate
incorporate climate change into primarychangeand secondary education curricula.
Develop support resources for education
Improve NDCC capacity to conduct
professionals
media and public outreach
3.1.3. Develop public service messaging
2021-2022
NDCC
campaign with print media/radio/television
stories and messages targeted at specificstakeholder groups
3.2.1. Conduct stakeholder mapping
Improve capacities to conduct inclusive 2021-2022
NDCC + Relevant focal
3.2. Enhance
exercise to identify key stakeholders,
stakeholder outreachpointsstakeholder

62engagement in NAP
processes

3.3. Increaseownership and foster
NAP champions among
elected and appointed
government officials

priorities, and roles in building adaptive
capacity and resilience
3.2.2. Establish stakeholder advisorycommittee and communications protocols
to advise and provide inputs for NAP
processes. Ensure representation ofpotentially marginalized anddisproportionately vulnerable groups
3.2.3. Establish private sector outreachmechanism through Chamber ofCommerce and Industry and conductengagement events
3.3.1. Establish information and outreachprogram to Parliamentarians to provide
relevant data and information on climatechange impacts in Timor-Leste
3.3.2. Conduct consultations in all 13
municipalities to raise awareness andengage a range of subnational stakeholder
in the NAP process
3.3.3. Develop municipality-specificinformation products and generalvulnerability profiles to highlightrelevance of climate change to subnational
stakeholders
3.3.4. Develop sector specificpresentations and information materials to
encourage buy-in among priority agency
leadership

Build awareness and capacity among
stakeholder advisory committee

2021-2022

NDCC+ Relevant focal
points2021-2022

NDCC, CCI+ Relevant
focal points

2020-2022

NDCC+ Relevant focal
points

2020-2021

NDCC+ Relevant focal
points

2020-2021

NDCC+ Relevant focal
points

2020-2022

NDCC+ Relevant focal
pointsIncrease capacity among NDCC andother stakeholders to identify entry
points for the private sector in
adaptation processes

Improve capacity in NDCC to conduct
outreach to elected officials

63

Chapter 9. Conclusion and Next Steps for Advancing Timor-Leste‘s
National Adaptation Plan Process
9.1 Introduction
This first NAP document has laid the foundation for Timor-Leste‘s medium- to long-term adaptation
programme by outlining the national circumstances and by recommending institutional arrangements anda coordination mechanism for iterative NAP formulation and implementation. The first NAP provides arobust list of adaptation priorities based on multi-stakeholder consultative process, building on best
available science and knowledge on adaptation in Timor-Leste, and provide a baseline analysis ofobserved and projected changes in the physical processes driving climate, and has described expected
impacts on priority sectors to the extent possible with the data and information that is available currently
in Timor-Leste. The NAP goes on to summarize climate risks and vulnerabilities that have been
documented through various assessments and analysis that have been conducted to date. Based on thesevulnerabilities, the initial NAP compiles adaptation priorities that have already been identified throughvarious strategies, plans, and policies, and compiles them into adaptation programs that can guide
immediate action in Timor-Leste. This NAP also provides comprehensive recommendations forstrengthening the NAP process over the near-term (2020-2022) to cover the period of the GCF NAP
Readiness support. The NAP represents the culmination of research and consultations on the part of the
National Directorate for Climate Change, and an auspicious first step in formulating a unified vision forclimate change adaptation for the country.
This section briefly describes the next steps in the NAP process for the GoDRTL. The Government had
an original goal of completing this first NAP and submitting it to the UNFCCC prior to the end of 2020.
Upon final validation and formal approval of this document, this goal will have been accomplished. The
GoDRTL has already developed a roadmap and timeline for completing its updated NAP, as shown infigure 9 below. By following the next steps described in the following section, it is expected that
GoDRTL will be able to achieve its goal of having an updated NAP by 2022. It is also expected that the
GoDRTL will incorporate the following recommendations, and those more detailed recommendations at
the beginning of each chapter, into a funding proposal to the Green Climate Fund‘s NAP Readinessfacility.

64

Figure 9: Timor-Leste NAP Roadmap

9.2 Next Steps
The first NAP is an excellent first step towards establishing a coherent and effective adaptation
programme for Timor-Leste. Upon ratification of this NAP, over the next 24 months, the NDCC shalltake the lead in completing the following steps to enhance the NAP:
Formalizing institutional arrangements, establishing a formal legal mandate. and ensuring buy-in andownership on the part of line agency stakeholders. This can be achieved largely through the support of
GCF Readiness grants and by following the recommendations found in Chapter 2 of this document. This
step will likely require significant technical support and human capacity development, but there aresupport mechanisms, tools, and other useful resources widely available.
Complete sectoral Impact chain analysis and vulnerability/risk assessments. Improved sectoral risk andvulnerability assessments will provide evidence-based linkages between the physical processes of climatechange to direct and indirect impacts on people, places and things. Integrated vulnerability assessments
should be continued in rural areas, and special attention should be given to the country‘s 14 priority
watersheds. This evidence-based impact chain analysis will include inclusive stakeholder consultations to
describe the drivers of vulnerability, including the characteristics of the most vulnerable groups that leavethem susceptible and sensitive to changing climate and environmental conditions.
Stocktaking of progress and updating prioritized adaptation actions. NDCC shall first coordinate astocktaking exercise to gauge progress on the priorities and programs that have been compiled in Chapter
7 of this document. Subsequently, based on the impact chain analysis and extensive stakeholder
consultations, the NAP process will generate adaptation options for the identified vulnerabilities tosupplement the existing priorities that have previously been identified. This will include projects, but also
actions to integrate climate change adaptation considerations into day-to-day processes of governance.
65

Options will be prioritized utilizing best available good practice methodologies (e.g. cost-effectivenessanalysis, multi-criteria analysis). Some project concept notes may be developed for this part of the NAP.
Communication strategy. With support from GCF or another development partner, NDCC shall develop
a communications strategy for engaging stakeholders in the broader and further formulation andimplementation of the NAP. The communications strategy will detail steps for engaging a wide range ofstakeholders in all stages of the NAP process, and also for disseminating results of the NAP. This
communication strategy will include provisions for effective communication and engagement withvulnerable and marginalized groups.
Costing and Financing Plan. Based on the revised adaptation priorities and programs, NDCC will
coordinate the estimation of costs for the priority actions, as well as cost-benefit analyses, cost effective
analyses, and other approaches where applicable. NDCC will also work with the Special Committee for
Climate Finance to identify funding sources, including domestic sources, private sector possibilities, andinternational financiers to provide grants and loans to support the priorities. This information will becompiled into a costing and financing plan for the NAP, which is expected to be completed by the end of2022.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Framework. The monitoring and evaluation framework will
include SMART indicators for determining progress during the first NAP process. This section will also
describe mechanisms for capturing lessons learned to be incorporated into subsequent versions of the
NAP.

66

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70

Annex 1. Full details to Table 3 of the body of the NAP with activities by type under each program

I. Infrastructure Adaptation
Priorities

SourcePhysical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

RegulatoryModificati
ons

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Program 1: Identification of
Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
Identify and map all and the appropriate andeffective climate proofing measures that havebeen practiced in the country and in theregion.
Develop a Climate Risk Zone Map
disaggregated by key climate risks to guidethe infrastructure development projects

NCCP

Identify the most climate vulnerable
communities and the underlying factors
contributing to their vulnerability andrecommend appropriate infrastructuredevelopment priorities such as access towater, irrigation canals, roads, healthfacilities among others to help enhancecommunity resilience

NCCP

Program 2: Establish Institutional and
Human Capacities

SourcePromote climate resilience and climate
proofing approaches in small, medium, andlarge scale infrastructure
Commission a comprehensive Cost-Benefit
Analysis to assess the costs and benefits ofintegrating climate resilient options into
infrastructure development designs

NCCP

NCCP

X

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

X

NCCP

RegulatoryModificati
ons
X

X

Responsible Ministry for
Environment

X

Responsible Ministry for
Infrastructure/UNTL andEnvironment

X

Responsible Ministry for
Infrastructure , MAP and
Environment

Research

X

71Timeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Responsible Ministry for
Infrastructure +Environment
UNTL/Responsible
Ministry for
Infrastructure amd MoF

Support the ambitious national poverty
reduction target in relation to the expected
increased storm intensity at sea by improving
the capacity to forecast and adapt offshore oiland gas infrastructure to withstand strong
storms and waves

NAPA

X

Responsible Ministry for
Infrastructure and MoF
and ANPM

Develop the capacity of technical teams
responsible for designing, approving,commissioning and implementing
infrastructure development projects in thegovernment as well as private sector to
integrate climate resilience andenvironmentally friendly options into their
work

NCCP

Program 3: Improve regulatory
framework for climate-smart andclimate-proof infrastructure

SourceIntegrate climate resilience into the existing
monitoring and evaluation templates used by
the government authorities such as Ministryof Public Works, Transport andCommunication

NCCP

Integrate climate resilience aspects into theEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
regulations and introduce provisions to makethe EIA mandatory for all infrastructuredevelopment activities

NCCP

X

Responsible Ministry for
Environment andInfrastructure

Improve regulations, standards andcompliance for climate-resilient
infrastructure, and Review existing laws,
regulation and standards to enhance climatechange resilience of critical infrastructure

NAPA,
GCF
Country
ProgramX

Responsible Ministry for
Infrastructure andRelevant line ministries

Program 4: Climate-proofed
infrastructure development

SourceX

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Development

Responsible Ministry for
Environment *Relevantline Ministers

Institutional
Strengthening

X

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

72

RegulatoryModificati
onsX

RegulatoryModificati
ons

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Responsible Ministries
for Infrastructure

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Improve physical infrastructure and naturalvegetation methods to prevent landslides inhill sides, roads, and river banks that are
made vulnerable by climate change

GCF
Country
ProgramX

X

X

II. Biodiversity and Ecosystem

SourceProject

Human
Capacity
Developm
ent

Institutional Regulator
Strengthenin ygModificat
ions

Adaptation Priorities
Program 1: Build human and institutional
capacities for Ecosystem-Based
Adaptation
Prepare a climate risk and climate sensitive
land use, biodiversity and natural resource
management plan.
Explore and map the potential of different
natural resources such as stones andminerals, forest land, oil and gas and prepare
an analysis of potential versus climate risk ofeach of these key natural resources.
Decide on the country appropriate level andapproach of ecosystem management options
such as integrated watershed management,
landscape level, ecosystem-based approachand implement the ecosystem management
approach for sound management of natural
resources and biodiversity.

NCCP

X

X

Responsible Ministry for
Infrastructure and MAP(DG for Forestry)

ResearchTimeline(years 15)

X

NCCP

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment
Responsible Ministry for
Natural Resources and
ANPM

X

NCCP

X

Lead Agency

X

Responsible Ministry for
Forestry andEnvironment

Support research on the cost-benefit analysis,
identification of climate change related
problems facing different ecosystems andsocio-economic benefits of sustainable
natural resource management.

NCCP

X

UNTL/Responsible
Ministry for Higher
Education * Relevantline ministry

Identify biodiversity in different terrestrial
and marine ecosystems which are at risk
from climate change related impacts

NCCP

X

Program 2: Incorporate EcosystemBased Adaptation into Planning andSourceResponsible Ministry for
Environment and MAP
DG Forestry and DG
Fisheries
Lead Agency

Physical
Invest-Human
Capacity
Developme

Institutional
Strengthening

73

RegulatoryModificati

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

mentRegulatory Frameworks
Including ecosystem management in national
planning

NDC

Develop and prioritize natural resource
management measures in alignment with thepriorities set by sectorial ministries forforests, grazing land, mines, stone quarries,
water resources and hydropower resources.

NCCP

Promote sustainable natural resource
management measures including the ones
that ensure welfare of the local communities.

NCCP

III. Health Sector Adaptation

SourcePriorities

nt

ons
X

X

Responsible Ministry for
Forestry and Natural
Resources andEnvironment
Responsible Ministry for
Forestry and Natural
Resources andEnvironment

X

X

Project

Human
Capacity
Developm
ent

Environment + Relevantline ministries

Institutional Regulator
Strengthenin ygModificat
ions

Researchtime line

lead agency

Program 1: Integrate Climate Change
Considerations into Health Sector
Planning and Regulatory Frameworks
Reviewing all existing guidelines, standard
operating procedures to consider climatechange and its adverse effects
Review all existing guidelines and Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs) considering
climate change and its adverse effects

NDC

X

Ministry of Health +Environment

NCCP

X

Ministry of Health +Environment

Support preparation of ―Health Risk andPreparedness Map‖ in relation to different
climate risks, magnitude of existing andpotential health risks due to each type ofclimate risk and existing and planned publichealth service delivery capacity at thenational, sub-national and local levels.

NCCP

X

X

74

Ministry of Healthsupported by UNTL +EnvironmentIn close collaboration with national and subnational health service delivery units andComprehensive Primary Health Care system
which includes Family Health and SISCA,
establish surveillance and response
mechanisms to deal with climate related
public health issues
Coordinate with the Ministry of Health tointegrate climate change adaptation andmitigation in health sector policies including
WASH priorities.
Establishing a health cluster in order toprepare for and respond to emergency eventsand disasters

NCCP

Program 2: Improve Health Sector
Capacities for Managing Climate
Risks

SourceIntegrated disease surveillance and early
warning systems
Mainstreaming and implementation ofclimate change into the Comprehensive
Primary health Care System
Enhance the capacity of the health sector andcommunities to anticipate and respond tochanges in distribution of endemic andepidemic climate-sensitive diseases, andreduce the vulnerability to infection of
population in areas at risk from expansion ofclimate-related diseases
Create awareness among the health service
providers at all levels on the different typesof health risks associated with different typesof climate risks and the different coping andadaptation measures so that these coping
strategies could be communicated to thevulnerable populations.

NDC

X

X

X

Ministry of Health +Environment

NCCP

X

X

Responsible Ministry for
Environment

NDC

X

Physical
Investment
X

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Ministry of Health andEnvironment/NDCC

Institutional
Strengthening

RegulatoryModificati
ons

X

NC

X

NCCP

X

Timeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Ministry of Health

X

NAPA

Research

X

X

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Health andEnvironment

Ministry of Health andEnvironment75

Prepare the health workers, institutions, andcommunities on the prevention and response
mechanisms to be adopted related to different
diseases and health challenges exacerbatedby climate change.

NCCP

Support the development of health databaseand data management systems which
includes climate sensitive health risk andvulnerability information to facilitate
effective, targeted and efficient delivery ofhealth services
Advocate establishing specialized publichealth service units well equipped and welltrained to respond to health issues during
climate induced disasters.

NCCP

IV. Agriculture Sector

X

Adaptation Priorities

Ministry of HealthX

Ministry of Health

X

X

Ministry of Health

Human
Capacity
Developm
ent

Institutional Regulator
Strengthenin ygModificat
ions

X

NCCP

SourceX

Project

ResearchTimeline(years 15)

Lead Agency

Program 1: Improve Research andKnowledge Management Capacities to
Support Climate-Smart Agriculture
and Resilient Land Management
Map all the climate smart agricultural
practices existing in Timor-Leste and identify
the best practices that have contributed inclimate change adaptation.
Support MAF in conducting research toidentify the tree species which contribute toenhanced carbon sequestration, better water
retention capacities and better erosion
reduction/ slope stabilizing capacity.

NCCP

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

NCCP

X

MAF and UNTL/Facultyof Agriculture, Ministryof Education

Collaborate with Ministry of Agriculture andFisheries and other partners to identify andclassify the crops as food crops, high value
crops, cash crops and multi-purpose
crops/plants and map them.

NCCP

X

UNTL/ Ministry of
Education/Ministry ofAgriculture

X

76

Conduct assessments to identify vulnerability
and resistance of the major crops to different
climate risks and an action plan to safeguard
the agricultural land and production.

NCCP

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries/UNTLMinistry of Education

Promote research and development ofclimate resistant varieties such as drought
resistant, water tolerant, fast growing, etc.

NCCP

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries and UNTL

Launch studies on economic valuation, costbenefit analysis and loss and damage toassess the existing ecosystem services andprogrammes to enhance the ecosystemfurther.
Support assessments and mapping of theoccurrences of adverse impacts of climatechange on the productivity and health of
livestock such as diseases, reduced milk
production, lowered birth rates, increased
pest attack and reduced body mass of the
livestock and poultry because of increases intemperature, drought, and/or flooding.
Collaborate with National Directorate on
Fisheries and produce a Fisheries Viability
Map for fresh water and marine aquaculture
practices.
Identify and adopt appropriate technologies
that are low cost, user friendly, high impact
and less damaging to the environment.

NCCP

X

UNTL/Ministry of
Education and Ministryin-charge of Economy
and Development

NCCP

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries and UNTL

Program 2: Incorporate Climate
Change into Agriculture Sector
Planning and Management Practices

SourceCollaborate with agencies such as the
National Directorate for Meteorology andGeophysics, ALGIS, the National Directorate
for Disaster Risk Management to promote
well-informed agricultural practices by

NCCP

NCCP

X

NCCP

X

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Development
X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

X

Institutional
Strengthening

X

77

RegulatoryModificati
onsX

Research

MAF and UNTL/Ministryof Education

Timeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment

utilizing weather forecast information, early
warning systems, hazard mapping, disease
occurrence among others.
Facilitate national level, local level and transboundary dialogue to explore the solutions toadapt to and combat the negative impacts ofclimate change on the health and productivityof livestock.

NCCP

Collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries on the protection andconservation of coastal ecosystems from sea
level rise and other related climate change
impacts, especially mangroves and coral
reefs.
Assign a Climate Focal Point and build thecapacity of the Climate Focal Point in the
MAF to ensure that the plans, programmes
and initiatives consider climate resilience inall forms of agricultural practices andprogrammes.
Collaborate with Ministry of Public works,
Transport and Communication‘s to promote
alternative fuel options such as biomass
based sustainable energy and reduced
dependence on the fuel wood.

NCCP
and GCF
country
Program

Improve planning and legal framework forthe promotion of sustainable and balanced
food for livestock production
Develop integrated agroforestry andwatershed management

NAPA

GCF
Country
Program,
NDC
SourceProgram 3: Mainstream Climate
Change Considerations into
Agriculture Sector Regulatory
Frameworks
Collaborate with MAF in developing
standards for sustainable forest harvesting

X

NCCP

X

Ministry of Agricultureand Ministry of HealthX(awarenessraising)

X

Responsible Ministry for
Environment and Ministryof Agriculture andFisheries

X

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment

NCCP

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Development

X

Responsible Ministry forenvironment

X

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

X

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and fisheries andEnvironment

Institutional
Strengthening

RegulatoryModificati
ons

NCCP

X

78

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Responsible Ministry for
Forestry/MAF andprocedures.

Environment

Ensure that the climate change adaptationinterventions are well integrated into thecoastal and mangroves rehabilitation andprotection policy instruments.
Collaborate with MAF to introduce
provisions to discourage burning pasturesand forests and shifting cultivation practices.

NCCP

Program 4: Support Private Sector
and MSME Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Aqua/Mariculture

SourcePromote research on different types ofaquaculture techniques and technologies.

NCCP

Advocate for sustainable harvest of fish andpromote sustainable fishing techniques.

NCCP

Promote research and an information
management system related to different typesof fish that live in different ecologicalregions in the sea and terrestrial water bodies
in Timor-Leste and their corresponding
maximum sustainable yields

NCCP

Explore the potential of developing
recreational fisheries as one of the options for
eco-tourism.
Promote aquaculture research centers in
different municipalities to test anddissiminate local breeds and biotypes andnewly adapted types fresh water fish..
Develop Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem
based bio-physical resources as one of thealternative livelihood options to help
communities become more resilient.

NCCP

X

NCCP

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment

X

Responsible Ministry for
Environment

RegulatoryModificati
onsX

Researc
h

X

X

X

X

Lead Agency

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment
Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries and UNTLX

XTimeline(years 1-5)

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

X

NCCP

NCCP

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andTourism
Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment
Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

79Support in diversifying agricultural products
leading to improved food security conditions
and also the nutrition status of thecommunity members.

NCCP

X

Connect water resource strategies with theaquaculture development strategies to further
develop local fisheries.
Identify the aquaculture techniques that could
promote and adapt best practices of theexisting traditional knowledge
Promote government‘s initiative of―increasing investment and introducing low
cost and productive, agro-ecological andresilient agricultural practices‖ (reference)

NCCP

X

Program 5: Promote Climate-SmartLivestock Practices

SourceSupport research and studies to explore thelivestock breeding programs which can adapt
better to the climate risks and have better
resistance to diseases and pest triggered byclimate change.

NCCP

Coordinate with the sectorial ministry andpartners to document local knowledge andbest practices of adapting to challenges on
livestock disease and pest emanating fromclimate risks.
Support research and development of theexisting and alternative feeds, including
production of fooder and feeding techniques,
breeding techniques and livestock
management techniques that consider theadverse impact of climate change.

NCCP

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andMinistry of Health

X

X

NCCP

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andMinistry of Infrastructure
Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

X

NCCP

X

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Ministry of Agriculture
and FisheriesInstitutional
Strengthening

RegulatoryModificati
ons

Research

X

XTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Ministry of Agriculture
and fisheries and UNTL
and other universities

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

NCCP

X

80

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

Program 6: Implement CommunityCentric Climate-Smart Agriculture
and Resilient Land Management
Program

SourcePhysical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

RegulatoryModificati
ons

Implement integrated sustainable land
management practices, which promotes
fixed/permanent agriculture with pilot
demonstrations field and education andawareness raising, reduced crop burning,
reduced erosion, and improved soil fertility.

GCF
Country
Program,
NDC

X

X

X

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries/Responsible
Ministry for forestry

Collaborate with MAF to promoteafforestation and reforestation programmes in
the most disaster-prone and degraded areas

NCCP

X

X

X

Support MAF in developing guidelines forcommunity-based forest resource
management to promote forest resources
based sustainable small enterprises.
Promote community-based and integrated
watershed management approach tocontribute towards co-benefits of sustainableagricultural options.
Work closely with the local community
leaders and elders to integrate climate
resilient agriculture aspects into Tarabandu
or other local customary laws
Promote and invest in education and trainingof the community level agriculture extension
workers on the climate smart agriculture
techniques, conservation agriculture, climate
resilience, and climate change adaptation
measures.
Help establish community service centers toshare the experiences and to create
community self-help mechanisms.

NCCP

Forestry
Directorate/Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries,
Environment, Ministry for
DRR(Secretary State of
Civil Protection)
Forestry
Directorate/Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries
and Environment
Forestry/Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries
and Environment

X

NCCP

X

X

NCCP

X

X

NCCP

X

NCCP

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Responsible Ministry for
Environment andAgriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries andEnvironment

81

Promote establishment of Agriculture
Support and Information Centres within the
Agriculture Stations at the sub-national level
for the farmers to access information, tools,
and equipment for climate smart agriculture.

NCCP

Reduce the vulnerability of farmers andpastoralists to increased drought and flood
events

NAPA

V.

SourceWater Sector Adaptation
Priorities

X

X

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

X

X

X

Project

Human
Capacity
Developm
ent

Institutional Regulator
Strengthenin ygModificat
ions

GCF
Country
Program/
NDC/N
APA
NCCP

X

X

X

X

X

X

NDC

X

X

X

X

X

Research

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

Timeline(years 15)

Lead Agency

Program 1: Incorporate Climate
Resilience into Water Sector Planningand Regulatory Frameworks
Develop integrated agroforestry andwatershed management, including integrated
water resource management approaches

Identify appropriate approaches to promote
and adopt Payment for Ecosystem Services(PES) approaches
Enhancing government and community
strategies to respond to drought
Identify the water sources and categorize thecapacity of these water sources along withthe threats to these water sources fromdifferent climate risks.

NCCP

Program 2: Implement Climate-Smart
Water Management Among Large(institutional/municipal users)

SourceResearch and development of technologies
more adaptive to climate change, particularly
for key sectors (i.e. agriculture, water
resource and coastal/marine)

INC

Responsible Ministry for
Forestry/MAF and UNTL

X

Responsible Ministry for
Forestry/MAF, UNTL
and Environment
Responsible Ministries forEnvironment, water andforestry
Responsible ministry forwater resource
management and UNTLX

Physical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

82

RegulatoryModificati
onsX

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

UNTL/MAF/Responsible
ministry for EnvironmentImproved control of water quality (NDC)

NDC

X

X

X

Improvement of water management including
developing and utilization of rainfall
harvesting technologies particularly in highprone drought areas
Protection and rehabilitation of rainfall
catchment areas should be accelerated toensure sustainable water supply. Priority
should be given to watersheds that supply
water for agriculture and domestic purposes

INC

X

X

X

INC

X

X

X

Collaborate with the National Directorate for
Pollution Control and Environmental Impacts
to prevent pollution or environmental
degradation of the water sources.
Collaborate with other entities to assess
demand projection and sustainable supply
systems disaggregated by end use, andexisting status of the water sources andsupply systems.

NCCP

X

X

NCCP

X

Program 3: Empower Communities to
Utilize Climate-Smart Water
Management Techniques

SourceCreate new or strengthen existing Water
Management Groups at the community level.

Physical
Investment

Responsible Ministry for
Water resource
management
Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt +Ministry incharge ofinfrastructure
Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt+
Ministry incharge ofinfrastructure and MAP
Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt

X

Institutional
Strengthening

NCCP

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt
X

Integrate water conservation, water use
management, and climate risk reduction
approaches into Tarabandu.

NCCP

X

X

Promote water conservation, protection ofsprings and recharge of the ground water
sources through an integrated watershedmanagement approach in collaboration withkey stakeholders.

NCCP

X

X

RegulatoryModificati
ons

X

X

83

ResearchResponsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt +Ministry incharge ofinfrastructure
Timeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt +Ministry incharge ofinfrastructure
Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt+
Ministry incharge ofinfrastructure and MAP
Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt+
Ministry incharge ofinfrastructureDisseminate knowledge about proper water
management and usage techniques,
especially for the dry season.
Build strong linkages between up-stream anddown-stream communities (i.e. Watershed
Committees) to ensure equitable andadequate water sources are available todownstream communities too.

NCCP

Program 4: Build New/Retrofit
Existing Water Infrastructure for
Climate Resilience

SourceBuild climate proof and environmentally
sustainable infrastructure to protect water
resources, including enhancing water
harvesting, distribution and management
systems

GCF
Country
Program/
NDC

Promote techniques of conserving water suchas water storage tanks, water harvesting, andirrigation farm ponds among others to collectand store water during wet season and use
during dry season.

VI. DRR Adaptation Priorities

X

NCCP

Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt +MAP
Responsible Ministry for
Water Resource Mgt andresponsible ministry forforestryX

Physical
Investment
X

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

RegulatoryModificati
ons

NCCP

X

X

SourceProject

Human
Capacity
Developm
ent

Institutional Regulator
Strengthenin ygModificat
ions

X

X

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Ministry of Public
Works/Resp Ministry for
Water

Ministry of Public
Works/Resp Ministry for
Water + MAP

ResearchTimeline(years 15)

Lead Agency

Program 1: Enhance community-level
integration of DRR and CCA
Improve institutional and community(including vulnerable groups such as womenand children) capacity to prepare for andrespond to climate change-induced natural
disasters
Enhance government and community
strategies to respond to drought exacerbatedby climate change

NAPA

GCF
Country
ProgramResponsible Ministry for
DRR

X

X

84

Responsible Ministry for
Environment/DRR(Secretary State of Civil
Protection)

Program 2: Strengthen National
Capacities for Climate Change
Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction
and disaster risk management

SourcePhysical
Investment

Human
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

Improving early warning systems fordisasters

NDC

X

X

X

Integrated climate risk information into
traditional disaster risk reduction andmanagement

NDC

X

X

Strengthening the capacity of national andlocal institutions as well as communities inmanaging climate risks through thedevelopment of effective climate information
systems (improving skills for climate
forecasting) including the development ofearly warning systems and decision support
system tools for policy makers
Research and development of technologies
more adaptive to climate change, particularly
for key sectors (i.e. agriculture, water
resource and coastal/marine)

INC

X

X

VII. Tourism Sector Adaptation
Priorities

SourceRegulatoryModificati
ons

ResearchTimeline(years 1-5)

Responsible Ministry for
DRR (Secretary State of
Civil Protection) andMeteorology Services
Responsible Ministry for
DRR (Secretary State of
Civil Protection) and
Enviroment
Responsible Ministry for
DRR (Secretary State of
Civil Protection) and
Environment

X

INC

X

Project

Human
Capacity
Developm
ent

Institutional Regulator
Strengthenin ygModificat
ions

Lead Agency

UNTL and Ministry of
Education

ResearchTimeline(years 15)

Lead Agency

Program 1: Supporting ClimateResilient Tourism Resources inTimor-Leste
Support assessments to find out the potential
climate change stress and loss and damage
potential on the tourism sector and thetourism sector on the natural resources.

NCCP

X

85

Responsible Ministry for
Tourism andEnvironment

Introduce fees to utilize ecosystem based
tourism hotspots as one of the options togenerate income stream contributing towards
the Climate Fund/Trust Fund to support
better management and sustainable
development of the area.

NCCP

X

Responsible Ministry for
Tourism andEnvironment

Work with the National Directorate for
Pollution Control and Environmental Impacts
to ensure that any potentially damaging
tourism enterprise, conducts a full-scale EIA
and mitigates all the negative impacts on theenvironment

NCCP

X

X

Responsible Ministry for
Environment

Identify areas that are biodiversity
hotspots or the areas that are or could bevulnerable to over-exploitation by the
tourism sector and introduce zonationand prohibition mechanisms.

NCCP

X

X

X

Program 2: Strengthening theMarket for Climate-Resilient
Nature-Based Tourism.

SourceHuman
Capacity
Developme
nt

Institutional
Strengthening

RegulatoryModificati
ons

ResearchPromote eco-tourism with adequate
environmental management aspects
integrated into the eco-tourism approach.
(NCCP)
Help the Tourism sector identify andintegrate climate resilience measures toreduce the adverse impacts in the sector.

NCCP

X

X

X

NCCP

X

X

Identify the potential environmentallyfriendly tourism promotional aspects
such as biodiversity hotspots, wilderness,water-based sports and introduce
adaptation strategies that can be linked tobiodiversity and natural resource
protection to enhance sustainable tourism
development.

NCCP

Physical
Investment

Timeline(years 1-5)

Lead Agency

Responsible Ministry
for Tourism andEnvironment
X

X

86

Responsible Ministry
for Environment +MAF(DG Forestry
and DG Fisheries)

Responsible Ministry
for Environment,
UNTL and Ministryof Education
Responsible Ministry
for Environment\
andTourism

Identify and promote tourism aspects thathave low degrading impact on the nature
yet can contribute significantly to the
local and rural livelihood, such as
wilderness photography, home-stay
options, etc.
Document and map knowledge, knowhow and capacity of the tourism
stakeholders that can be adopted to the
Timorese context, which would enhance
the adaptive capacity of the tourism
sector to climate stress.
Making conscious and consistent efforts
to promote sustainable and conservation
agriculture with minimal negative impact
on the environment, and to avoid theagricultural activities in the climate riskprone areas to minimize the loss anddamage in the agricultural sector.
Reforest degraded lands and provide asustainable alternative fuel wood source
to areas with high vulnerability

NCCP

X

NCCP

X

NCCP

X

X

X

X

GCF
X
Country
Program, NDC

X

Responsible Ministry
for Tourism andEnvironment

X

Responsible Ministry
for Tourism

Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries

Forestry
Directorate/Ministryof Agriculture andFisheries

87