By Ed McDonald (Consultant – Water Environment and Policy Advisory Team) and Suhaib Malkawi (Project Engineer)
Recently, we had the privilege of representing Sequana on WaterAid’s Supporter Trip to Timor-Leste. As a proud WaterAid Gold Member, Sequana is passionate about supporting WaterAid’s efforts to bring safe water, sanitation, and hygiene to communities across the world, and this trip gave us the opportunity to see the impact of that support firsthand.
A Nation in Transition
Timor-Leste, one of the world’s youngest countries, has been forging its path since its independence just 23 years ago. Despite the challenges of rebuilding, its communities show extraordinary resilience. Our journey began in the capital, Dili, where we met with WaterAid Timor-Leste staff, leaders from the national water supply authority (BTL), and the National Regulatory Directorate for Water and Sanitation (DNRAS). These conversations revealed both the challenges and the determination driving the future of water management in Timor-Leste.
We then travelled into the hills of Liquiçá to visit Loidahar village, where WaterAid has worked since 2007. The warm welcome we received was unforgettable. As honoured guests, we were gifted Tais, a handwoven traditional cloth, and heard from the village Chief about Tara Bandu, the customary rules that protect natural resources and water catchments. 
In Loidahar, we witnessed how a community that once struggled with unreliable water access now manages fit-for-purpose systems, while also leading conservation initiatives to safeguard their environment.
Later, we visited representatives from the municipal council of Liquiçá, who explained to us the importance of our ongoing support in making lasting change. The journey ended at the beginning of Timor-Leste, with a visit to the Timorese Resistance Museum, where we started to truly understand the resistance struggle of the Timorese people. We saw the histories of tragedy and triumph that have led them to where they are today – a beautiful and independent country.
Lessons in Community-Driven Change
At the core of WaterAid’s support is community. All of the projects begin and persist with the communities they affect, through local voices shaping priorities and communities building and maintaining the infrastructure. This spirit of ownership has made the changes lasting and powerful. 
Several moments stood out to us, in particular:
- Community empowerment: Villagers have built and now maintain their own water infrastructure, ensuring stable access to water and flood resilience under a changing climate.
- Creating lasting change: Liquiçá achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in 2020, proving that behavioural change can be as transformative as new infrastructure.
- Access for all: At the village health post, the presence of accessible toilets highlighted the way WaterAid’s WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) programs protect the most vulnerable.
- Nature-based solutions: From check dams to terracing and bioretention cells, we saw how practical, locally managed systems are reducing the risks of flooding and landslides.
What struck us most is that WaterAid’s approach goes beyond building infrastructure. Every step is done alongside communities and governments, not for or around them. This ensures trust and ownership, which in turn ensures sustainability.
Impact of WaterAid’s Support
The achievements of WaterAid are significant, and we are a proud supporter of their work. Since 2005, WaterAid’s work in Timor-Leste has achieved remarkable outcomes:
- 145,000+ people have gained access to clean water and sanitation.
- 29 retention ponds and 32 check dams have been constructed to protect against flooding and landslides.
- In Loidahar alone, 10 rural water systems now serve over 2,400 people, eliminating hours once spent collecting water every day.
These achievements are not just statistics. They represent more girls able to attend school, reduced disease and improved wellbeing, and communities with the confidence and capacity to manage their resources.
For us personally, the trip was humbling. It reminded us that something as simple as turning on a tap is not universal. Clean water is life-changing. Seeing the impact of not only Sequana but the water industry’s support made us proud of the role we all play in empowering communities far beyond our own.
We encourage our water sector colleagues to consider joining future WaterAid supporter trips. Experiencing this work up close is transformative. It deepens appreciation for how vital safe water and sanitation are to dignity, independence, and opportunity.
Sequana’s partnership with WaterAid is about more than pipes and pumps. It is about building futures and helping communities take ownership of their development. Each project supported through this partnership is changing lives in Timor-Leste every single day, and we are proud to play a small part in that story.
Check out some of our photo highlights below!
