The development objective of R4D is that women and men in rural Timor-Leste are deriving social and economic benefits from improved road access. Its immediate objective is that GoTL is more effectively planning, budgeting and managing rural road works using labour based methods, as appropriate.

Objective of R4D's is to develop and institutionalize capacities and instruments in the public sector - in particular within the Directorate of Roads, Bridges and Flood Control (DRBFC) of the Ministry of Public Works and among local contractors, that will enable GoTL to effectively and equitably plan, budget and implement investments in rural road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance.

Road works commenced in April 2013 with 67 contractors being awarded contract packages in 7 districts to rehabilitate 93 km and to maintain 145 km of rural roads. The progress on the rehabilitation works is 97% and on the maintenance works 88%. For the 2014/2015 construction season, 2 contract packages for rehabilitation works (10 km) and 12 maintenance packages (224 km) have been awarded to local contractors. To-date R4D has trained 125 local contractors on the labour based approach, engineering, project management and submission of tenders. R4D has completed for MOP a contract management system - which is currently being rolled-out -, GIS functionalities and systems procedures for tendering. Design and construction standards (including quality assurance & quality control guidelines) for rural road works are currently being finalized. R4D is also supporting MOP in the preparation and updating of annual action planning and budget preparation for investments in rural road works. A Rural Roads Master Plan is currently being developed and is expected to be finalized in March 2015.