G-SIG Participates in the Annual Reflection of the AHP Disaster READY Project in Timor-Leste in Viqueque
Viqueque, 6–8 May 2025 – As an implementing partner of the Disaster READY Project in partnership with World Vision Timor-Leste, G-SIG participated in the annual reflection of the Disaster READY Project held in Viqueque Municipality. The event was organized by CARE International in Timor-Leste and brought together community leaders, government representatives, local partners, and agencies working within the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Consortium for Disaster Preparedness. The aim was to reflect on progress, share learning, and strengthen collective actions towards inclusive disaster risk reduction in Timor-Leste. Representing G-SIG at this event was our Executive President, Mr. Ponciano da Costa de Jesus.
The event served as a central platform for participants to engage in discussions, share achievements related to disaster preparedness programs and climate adaptation efforts in targeted areas. The annual reflection included diverse activities held from May 6 to May 7, focusing on site visits, group discussions, gallery visits, and presentations.
On May 6, the first day of the event, all participating agencies, AHP representative, along with government representatives, communities, and local authorities, conducted field visits to project areas where CARE has been implementing initiatives. The objective was to observe and learn from successful community-led initiatives related to disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation. During the visit, each agency, alongside representatives from the Australian Government’s AHP Support Unit, engaged directly with community initiatives such as VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Associations) initiatives, water source conservation, youth groups, anticipatory action programs, and other community activities supported by CARE and its partners.
On the second day, the reflection focused on presentations, gallery exhibitions, panel discussions, and listening to voices from the communities regarding their initiatives. During the gallery visit, AHP consortium agencies such as CARE International in Timor-Leste, PLAN International in Timor-Leste, OXFAM, WORLD VISION, and HANAI (CAN DO) with the implementing partners showcased their project achievements under the Disaster READY program in their respective target municipalities. Participants, including government representatives, AHP Support Unit, and DFAT in Dili, visited these exhibition booths to observe agency activities and outcomes achieved. During this session, the G-SIG Executive President also presented on digital mapping and the benefits of GIS in disaster mapping, which G-SIG has conducted in collaboration with World Vision, PLAN, and OXFAM in Timor-Leste.
In the group discussion sessions, participants were divided according to the project’s target areas and its three main outcomes: Community, Government, and Implementing Partners. Each group discussed the benefits received from the project, concrete examples, challenges faced, and strategies used to address them, including technical capacity needs for the future. Additionally, there was a session highlighting voices from the community sharing success stories and experiences. The final segment involved a panel discussion where community representatives, local authorities, and APC representatives reflected on the benefits, challenges, and opportunities encountered during the implementation of the project.
The Disaster READY Project was officially launched in January 2018 and completed its first phase in 2022. Funded by the Government of Australia and implemented in agreement with the Government of Timor-Leste through the Civil Protection Authority, the second phase of the project commenced in July 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in December 2026. The project is led by the AHP consortium, which includes CARE, OXFAM, PLAN, WORLD VISION, and CAN DO (HANAI). Each agency focuses on different municipalities: CARE in Viqueque, PLAN in Lautem and Ainaro, OXFAM in Oecusse, Ermera, and Liquiça, WORLD VISION in Bobonaro, and HANAI in Manatuto and Manufahi. Overall, the project covers the municipalities of Ainaro, Viqueque, Lautem, Bobonaro, Ermera, Liquiça, Manufahi, Manatuto, and the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse-Ambeno (RAEOA).
Participants in this workshop included representatives from the government through APC, AHP Support Unit, and DFAT in Dili, local authorities, community members, and consortium agencies such as CARE International Timor-Leste, Plan International Timor-Leste, World Vision Timor-Leste, Oxfam in Timor-Leste, Caritas, HANAI, Child fund Timor-Leste, Mata Dalan Institute (MDI), Ra’es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO), FRATERNA, ADRA Timor-Leste, Church World Service-CRS, Knua Haberan Comunidade Foundation (F-KHC), Fundasaun Sosial Naroman (FUSONA), Sharis Haburas Comunidade (SHC), Kadalak Sulimutu Institute (KSI), Masine Neo Oe-Cusse (MANEO), Bunibu Faef Nome (BIFANO), Maubisse Hametin Futuru (MAHARU), and HADEER Foundation.
As a youth-led organization committed to advancing geospatial technology for responding to natural disasters and climate change in Timor-Leste, G-SIG is extremely proud and honored to participate in this event and contribute to a project directly funded by the Australian Government.