Inauguration of PNDS community centre in Soro, Ainaro District

Inauguration of PNDS community centre in Soro, Ainaro District

14/03/2015

Officials from the Australian Embassy joined the Prime Minster of Timor Leste, His Excellency Dr Rui Maria de Araújo, for the opening of a new community centre in Soro, Ainaro District. Also in attendance were the Vice-Minister of Health, Her Excellency Ana Isabel Soares, the Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity, His Excellency Miguel Marques Manetelu, and other representatives from the Government of Timor-Leste.

The community centre is part of the national village development program, or Programa Nasionál ba Dezenvolvimentu Suku (PNDS). PNDS is a ‘grass roots’ program that contributes to rural development by inviting communities to set out their basic infrastructure needs. A new community centre was the top development priority for the Soro community.

The program is majority funded by the Timor-Leste government. Australian Aid has supported PNDS since 2011, with $25m provided over the past three years. The funding is used for training, technical advice and support, and monitoring and evaluation.

“The Australian Government is proud to work with Timor Leste to improve the PNDS processes and to make PNDS one of the best community development programs in the world” said the Australian Deputy Head of Mission, Angela Robinson. “PNDS belongs to the people of Timor Leste. All suku in Timor-Leste deserve the opportunity for the community to decide their development priorities. The Australian Government is proud to partner with communities and the Government of Timor-Leste to achieve this.”

Through Australia’s ongoing support to PNDS, communities are benefiting from important local facilities such as community centres and improved infrastructure for health, education, roads and water.