Community Resilience Research in Morcoluli, Timor Leste

As part of the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership’s (Climate Partnership’s) community resilience case study series, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney, Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF) have recently returned from Timor-Leste where they have been documenting insights about a community’s experience in responding to climate and disaster risks and strengthening resilience. The research forms part of the Climate Partnership’s monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) portfolio of work, with community resilience case studies also in the final stages of completion in Fiji and Kiribati.

Researchers from UTS-ISF worked closely with the Partnership to Strengthen Village Development and Municipal Administration (PARTISIPA) in Timor Leste to learn about perceptions and experiences of resilience to climate change and disasters in Morcoluli village in the Manufahi Municipality. PARTISIPA is a 10-year Australian aid program supporting the Government of Timor-Leste to strengthen sub-national infrastructure and governance. Improving the operations and maintenance of rural water is a key priority of the program.

During 19 – 22 March 2024, the research team undertook interviews, focus group discussions and a community workshop with Suku (village) leaders, women, men, youth, people with disabilities and older people in Morcoluli, Manufahi to hear about diverse experiences of climate change, how climate change affects different groups, and ways they each demonstrate resilience. 

Of particular concern to the community were changing seasonal rainfall patterns, which were less predictable and impacting their ability to grow food and their main agricultural product - coffee. Accessing the markets to sell coffee and other products was becoming more challenging due to the poor quality of the road in Morcoluli. Landslides were commonly triggered from increasingly heavy downpours of rain which blocked road access, meaning transporting coffee and other products to the market was at times impossible. Limited access to markets meant unpredictable incomes, which further exacerbates the negative impacts of changing weather patterns on people’s livelihoods. 

Water security over the dry season, which was tending to last longer than it used to, was also a primary concern for people of Morcoluli. Research participants also described the strengths existing in Morcoluli, including their ways of working together and sharing resources during challenging times, and the cultural customs and practices of caring for water, plants and land.

Findings and lessons from the case studies will be shared over the coming weeks which are intended to promote a shared understanding of community resilience, and serve as guidance to the Australian aid program in its design, implementation, and support for community resilience initiatives.