The program is structured around four outcomes:

Outcome 1: Relevant GoTL agencies and development partners are collaborating to ensure an enabling environment for rural road asset management.

R4D-SP will work to strengthen the enabling environment for rural roads. It will support MPWTC to coordinate with other agencies that have important roles. The Rural Roads Master Plan and Investment Strategy (RRMPIS) will provide the framework for collaboration across all GoTL stakeholders, at both national and municipal levels. R4D-SP will also support MPWTC’s DRBFC to manage collaboration with other development partners through regular meetings of a multi-agency Roads Working Group.

Outcome 2: Local civil works contractors are effectively competing for rural roadwork tenders, and in implementation, are meeting technical and social protection standards and environmental, social, legal, and contractual safeguards.

GoTL will continue contracting private sector contractors to undertake rehabilitation and maintenance of rural roads. R4D-SP will continue to support the development of the technical and commercial capacity of contractors in each municipality to tender for and undertake this work. R4D-SP will provide mentoring for contractors, improving the quality of their construction activities and business practices. Capacity development for the private sector will also be provided by local training organisations. Training will be tailored to the different contracting requirements for rehabilitation and maintenance work. R4D-SP will continue promoting the use of Community Maintenance Groups

Outcome 3: MPWTC is effectively planning, budgeting and delivering rural road works as set out in the GoTL Rural Roads Master Plan and Investment Strategy.

During R4D-SP, DRBFC will commence its own program of rural road works. R4D-SP technical assistance will help DRBFC—and the Directorate General for Corporate Services within MPWTC—to develop the capacity to manage this program. This will involve DRBFC developing plans and budgets in accordance with the RRMPIS; securing funding from the national government to implement the RRMPIS; managing tendering and contracting packages for rehabilitation and maintenance through the GoTL Infrastructure Fund; supporting Municipal DRBFC Departments to develop their capacity to oversee physical works; and reporting on progress and updating the RRMPIS. To better manage annual workloads, DRBFC will develop a ‘pipeline’ of rural roads activities with pre-approved designs and costs. Within each DRBFC Department, a person responsible for rural roads will be appointed.

Outcome 4: Municipal Public Works staff are ensuring the quality and timeliness of local rural road works.

R4D-SP will build capacity of the municipal DRBFC departments to take on the tasks of basic planning, survey and design work, and supervision of contractors for core rural roads. MPWTC will allocate a team of four staff within each of the 12 municipal DRBFC departments to work on rural roads. R4D-SP’s team of 12 Field Engineering Trainers and four Regional Coordinators will support these municipal DRBFC teams in strengthening their capacities, providing a mix of formal training and coaching and mentoring. Specialist inputs will be provided by the Social Protection and Safeguards Specialist and the Capacity Building Specialist and other R4D-SP staff as required. R4D-SP staff will assist managers of the Municipal DRBFC Departments to improve basic management capacities, including HR, finance and reporting. The RRMPIS will be used as the starting point to help Municipal Administrations to develop municipal-level Rural Roads Plans. This will promote advocacy amongst municipal leaders and strengthen involvement of local government leaders at Posto Administrativo, Suku and Aldeia levels. R4D‑SP staff will support Municipal DRBFC staff to oversee these contracts and strengthen systems that enable local leaders—including the women and youth on suku councils—to play a role in mobilising communities and supporting communities to hold contractors to account.

Australia's R4D Support Program (R4D-SP) work to strengthen the capacity of the National Directorate of Roads, Bridges and Flood Control (DRBFC) within the Ministry of Public Work, Transport and Comunication (MPWTC) to oversee rahabilitation and maintenance of rural roads using private sector contractors. 

The first phase of R4D ran from 2012 to 2016

The Phase II End-of-Program Outcome defines the basis for a functioning and sustainable rural roads sector: selected rural communities throughout Timor-Leste are connected by rehabilitated and systematically maintained, core rural roads in line with the GoTL Rural Roads Master Plan. These ‘core rural roads’ are the 1975 km of existing rural roads that connect rural sukus to urban areas, national roads or municipal roads.