What can Japanese NGOs do to support Timor-Leste?

The Japanese Association of NGOs for Agriculture and Rural Development (JANARD) organized a coffee hour at the World Bank Public Information Center in Tokyo (PIC) on October 5, 2005, to report the findings of their recent research mission:"Timor-Leste, as the youngest country, needs various support to make one step further to upgrade people's life, and JANARD is ready to work together with the people in Timor-Leste" said Mr. Tokuaki Kamano, President of Japan Kenaf Development Organization (JKDO) and the head of JANARD's research mission to Timor Leste.     "We have handful experience and knowledge accumulated among Japanese community, which may be of use for the people in Timor-Leste" said Mr. Kamamo. "JANARD dispatched the research missions twice in 2005, trying to learn the issues and priorities the country is facing, and we were fascinated by the country's potentiality for agricultural growth and development.  Empowering the people in rural villages seems one of the key priorities, given their natural, human and other resources available in their hands", Ms. Michiko Takahashi, Secretary of JANARD and Director of Asia Regional Division of OISCA International.

Timor-Leste reached independance in May 2002, following 24 years of Indonesian control and three years of UN administration. At the time, an estimated 75 percent of the population was displaced and nearly 70 percent of all infrastructure was destroyed by an orchestrated campaign of violence carried out by militia groups.

JANARD is a thematic network of 31 Japanese NGOs active in the area of agriculture and rural development, established in December 2000.  The World Bank Tokyo Office co-organized the workshop on community-driven development (CDD) in April 2005 where Mr. Terrence Abeysekera, Senior Rural Development Specialist in the Colombo Office served as the resource person.  Based on the research findings, JANARD will continue and try to prepare a set of 9-year action plans addressing the key agricultural issues, working together with local civil societies.

 

This coffee hour was held as part of JANARD's Photo Exhibit "Three Years After Independance: Current Status of East Timor", which took place at the Tokyo PIC on Oct. 3-7, 2005. About 30 people gathered, from various background (civil society, academics, government, private sector and youth). Coffee is the main agricultural product of Timor Leste. Timorese coffee imported by Peace Winds Japan   was served during the event.