In the Small Island Developing State of Timor-Leste where 42 percent of the population live below the national poverty line, communities that rely on aquatic resources face a harsh reality. Droughts, water shortages, and extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change, threaten their aquatic resources, putting livelihoods and food security at growing risk.

In response, the project “Strengthening the Adaptive Capacity, Resilience and Biodiversity Conservation Ability of Fisheries and Aquaculture-Dependent Livelihoods in Timor-Leste” (IkanAdapt) is helping communities dependent on fisheries and aquaculture strengthen adaptive capacity, build resilience and conserve aquatic ecosystems. The GEF-funded project is executed by WorldFish, with technical guidance, support and oversight by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in close collaboration with national partners.

The IkanAdapt project has worked closely with officials and local communities to develop climate change adaptation plans for aquatic food systems. The initiative helps fishers and fish farmers innovate to cope with climate challenges.

“It isn’t just about scoping for vulnerabilities, but trying to address them concretely,” said Thijs Schut, a scientist at WorldFish working on the project. “We help communities find ways to adapt to climate change through co-creation, so our work is guided by a set of best practices, including that of locally led adaptation.”

Recurring priorities have emerged across 21 participating communities, leading to initiatives in aquaculture development, seaweed farming and water catching and management.

Many communities are turning to aquatic food production to diversify their livelihoods and boost resilience to climate shocks.

“People’s resilience to climate change increases when aquatic foods or aquatic-related livelihoods are added to their lives,” Schut said. “What we try to do is to strengthen these aquatic food production systems as a key pathway to climate adaptation.”

However, many existing aquaculture operations face water shortages and inadequate knowledge of best farming practices.

IkanAdapt addresses these by empowering communities through capacity-building including training on climate-adaptive aquaculture, pond clearing to improve water quality, and ensuring a reliable supply of fingerlings and feed.

FAO is helping ensure growth is underpinned by the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) so that fish farming delivers food security, equitable livelihoods, restored ecosystems, and climate resilience.

Local fish farmers are already feeling the benefits. Angela Mesquita, a villager from Aileu, has strengthened her skills. “Now I know how to take better care of my fish – checking the water quality, giving the right amount of feed for their size, preparing the pond properly, and managing all the other things that matter,” she said.

Meanwhile, in coastal areas where fisher safety has become a pressing concern, the project has introduced FAO and WorldFish safety-at-sea training materials and improved weather reporting services.

Livelihood diversification is a central part of the project’s approach to climate adaptation.

One key area of support is seaweed farming, an underdeveloped sector. Limited technical capacity and the growing impacts of climate change have made it difficult to expand production. To address these, the project has trained 300 farmers, introduced improved cultivation techniques and supported the procurement of seedlings for farmers who have lost harvests to disease.

IkanAdapt is also helping communities build 10 mobile rafts designed for use by groups of three to five farmers. These allow cultivators to relocate production to optimize growing conditions, avoid storms and seek better water quality or cooler temperatures, reducing the risk of bacterial infections linked to rising sea temperatures.

“The training has made me realize that to have a good harvest, daily maintenance of the seaweed is very important to prevent it from suffering from diseases,” said Rosita Gomes from Atauro Island.

Water emerged as a consistent priority across all communities: while shortages threaten crop production, livestock, aquaculture, and household water supplies, heavy rains cause landslides and flash floods.

Although large-scale infrastructure is beyond its scope, IkanAdapt is supporting community-led solutions, such as the rehabilitation of water storage facilities and the revitalization of tara bandu, a customary law that regulates resource management, including the protection of water sources.

Residents of Oecusse joined forces to maintain a local water source by moving heavy rocks and sand. “Now we are very happy, especially the women, because we no longer have to walk long distances or use wheelbarrows to fetch water,” said Modesta Colo, a community member.

By prioritizing local voices and encouraging collaborative decisionmaking, the project ensures that adaptation plans are communityspecific, culturally relevant and sustainable.

“As Timor-Leste continues to face the far-reaching impacts of climate change, initiatives like IkanAdapt offer a model for resilience-building that balances ecological preservation with livelihood diversification,” Schut said.

When it ends in 2027, IkanAdapt is expected to leave behind a practical framework for locally led adaptation, strengthened institutions, and improved infrastructure for long-term adaptive capacity and climate resilience.

Source: https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/news/41515. Published by the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025.