MILAN — Over 14,000 people have been left homeless, without food or shelter, and are extremely vulnerable following devastating floods and landslides that started 4 April 2021 in Timor-Leste. The Timor-Leste government announced their relief package will focus on the city of Dili only, due to budget and information-gathering constraints. In response, Raw Material have launched a plan to reach the farming communities in need across the country. Raw Material are gathering damage reports from villages, securing the funding required, and responding to the disaster in three stages:
1. Meet immediate needs
2. Support recovery
3. Build long-term resilience
These floods have struck during the worst COVID-19 outbreak and lock-down. Movement was already extremely restricted outside the capital of Dili, and now with roads destroyed and power intermittent, coffee-producing teams in the remote regions have become the arms and legs of those that are trying to help. Raw Material is responding rapidly, have the trust and support of local authorities and organisations, and have experience responding to landslides and flooding in coffee-growing regions of other countries.
Raw Material’s focus is on meeting the needs of families in the coffee-growing areas of Timor-Leste
Damage reports village by village have been gathered, across 6 of the 13 municipalities of the country:
– Ermera Municipality
– Manatuto Municipality
– Aileu Municipality
– Ainaro Municipality
– Bobonaro Municipality
– Liquica Municipality
Each of these municipalities is divided into about 4-6 subdistricts, with up to 18 villages in each. Work is currently happening across coffee processing centres, village chiefs, local police forces, and district administrators to gather data on damages and urgent needs as quickly as possible.
Door-to-door interviews are also being conducted through a network of coffee farmers. Power and cell phone reception is often unavailable, and many roads are destroyed, so it will take time to collect a full picture of the damage in the more remote coffee-growing regions of Timor-Leste.
Investments will be prioritised based on the level of funding Raw Material can achieve, as well as the community-identified needs. All planning, management, and work is being carried out with village chiefs and local community members at all stages. Soon, it will be possible to track the developments funded through a Google Sheet, and on Instagram.
Helpful Links:
Donor Box
https://donorbox.org/timor-leste-floods-urgent-appeal
Where people can learn about the appeal, donate, and share.
Raw Material Coffee Instagram
www.instagram.com/rawmaterial.coffee
Regular updates will be posted as the campaign develops.
The Successful Rollout of Phase Two of Last Year’s Nyabihu Appeal, Rwanda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWyRAW-zUM4
An example of similar work Raw Material has completed in the flood response appeal held last year (and ongoing) in Nyabihu District, Rwanda. This was organised alongside Muraho Trading Co.
Raw Material Coffee
Raw Material is a social enterprise focused on impact for coffee farming communities worldwide. 100% of the profit they generate goes to small-holder producers, directly through payments for coffee and through community-level investments.
Raw Material works with a network of smallholder farmers and dedicated global coffee buyers to facilitate trade at stable, sustainable prices while improving coffee quality, yields and community outcomes.
A little bit famous in underground development circles for extremely low-cost, high-impact investments. For further information please contact Jessie May Peters jessiemay@rawmaterial.coffee
