Oxfam in Timor-Leste has released a report analyzing the climate change policies in Timor-Leste with a focus on transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. The report highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable groups, particularly women and people with disabilities, and underscores the importance of effective climate finance disbursement to help these communities build resilience.
“Vulnerable groups in Timor-Leste, particularly women and people with disabilities, are already experiencing severe impacts caused by climate breakdown. We need a climate action plan that enables the most vulnerable to participate,” said Jude Perera, Country Director for Oxfam in Timor-Leste.
The report emphasizes that climate finance is critical to help these communities build resilience. It outlines how the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) influences climate finance allocation through its policies. The policies analyzed include the Strategic Development Plan, National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contribution, National Climate Change Policy, Zero Draft Carbon Farming Policy and Guidelines, and the proposed Climate Change Framework Law.
A key recommendation from the scoping study is the need for greater transparency. The report recommends that all climate change policies should be available in Tetum on a Climate Change Information webpage and that the GoTL should expand its direct engagement with communities on climate change.
Accountability is another crucial aspect highlighted in the report. While the policy framework includes provisions promoting accountability, their implementation is largely lacking. The report recommends that the GoTL implement these accountability measures and develop a national monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning framework.
“The government has made significant progress in creating a policy framework that enables affected communities to hold it to account for its climate action. We want to work with the government to implement its good intentions,” Perera stated.
“Oxfam calls on the government to develop a framework to monitor the implementation of its climate change policies,” Perera emphasized.
Although gender equity is an important element of the GoTL’s climate change policy approach, the report calls for the GoTL to implement all provisions promoting gender equity.
“Oxfam congratulates the Government of Timor-Leste for including gender equity as a core focus of its climate change response. What we need to see now is action. The government should urgently develop guidelines for mainstreaming gender into Timor-Leste’s climate change response as provided for in its National Adaptation Plan,” said Lucio Savio, Climate Justice Programme Manager.
In addition, the report points out that the current policy framework does not specifically address the challenges faced by people with disabilities in relation to climate breakdown.
“People with disabilities have been left behind from Timor-Leste’s response to climate change. We call upon the government to update all climate policies to include the rights, needs, and priorities of people with disabilities,” Savio added.
The report underscores the need for a climate finance plan and mobilization strategy. Implementing the climate change policy framework depends on dedicated financial resources. The report calls on the GoTL to develop a financing plan that outlines how Timor-Leste’s climate policies will be funded and a strategy to access international support required to undertake climate action.
“Climate finance is the key to helping vulnerable communities build resilience to climate breakdown, yet it’s missing from the government’s climate change response. Oxfam is calling on the government to develop a plan to finance its climate policies and a strategy to access international support,” Savio emphasized.
To access the report, visit here.
The Climate Finance Project is supported by the New Zealand Aid Program. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Oxfam in Timor-Leste, and the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Government.
About Oxfam in Timor-Leste:
Oxfam in Timor-Leste (OiTL) is part of a global movement that fights against inequality, poverty, and injustice. Oxfam works in more than 60 countries in partnership with over 3,500 organizations to deliver 22 million programmes. Over 50 percent of those working with us are women and girls.
Oxfam has been working with the Timorese people for almost 50 years. We are an organization focused on rights and a leader in our partnership model, to enable our partners to conduct activities in rural communities. One of our objectives is to advance our work to influence development challenges such as land rights and economic diversification.
