In 2014 Council signed the Municipal District Cooperation Agreement between Liquiçá and Moonee Valley. This is the Victorian Government and the Council of Ministers for Timor-Leste standard municipal agreement (Municipal District Cooperation Agreement), which provides a uniform approach for local government in Victoria in respect to friendship relationships.
The Moonee Valley Timor–Leste Liquiçá Friendship City relationship Program builds on enduring links between the people of Australia and Timor-Leste, including those developed during the Second World War when Australian Special Forces, with the support of many Timorese, resisted Japanese occupation.
Timor-Leste is one of the poorest countries in the world - more than two in five people live on less than 55 cents per day, with only 58 per cent of people having access to clean water.
Supported Projects
Council has entered into partnership agreements with the following key partners, to support projects that address key needs in Timor Leste using a sustainable partnership approach. The partnership agreements will see Council provide funding support to partners to enable them to deliver projects. Council is undertaking staff and community fundraising initiatives to support the following partners and their projects:
Health Alliance International are delivering a new program which will reduce infant and maternal mortality by training staff to respond to obstetric and newborn emergencies – the infant mortality rate in Timor-Leste (per 1000 births) is 31 compared to 4 in Australia.
The Xpand Foundation have developed a new enterprise will increase employment outcomes and exports through a community farming project for local Liquiçá farmers to harvest and farm vanilla – 40% of available crops are unharvested due to lack of access to international markets, and there is a ready-made market for vanilla to be exported to Australia.
