East Timor is a small, insular country located in Southeast Asia. Its tropical climate is heavily influenced by the West Pacific Monsoon, altitude variations in the mountains, as well as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate phenomenon characterized by higher-than-average sea surface temperatures. The country is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, including cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, and heavy rainfall (World Bank Climate Risk Country Profile). 

East Timor’s economy is primarily agrarian, with 70 percent of families relying on some form of farming activity for their livelihoods. Despite development efforts, East Timor remains a low-income country, still suffers from high levels of poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and limited social welfare (World Bank Climate Risk Country Profile). 

Rising temperatures altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent heavy rainfall events are among the impacts of climate change and are expected to exacerbate vulnerability and inequality, particularly in terms of food security. Changes in rainfall patterns will significantly affect food production, with the rural poor and other marginalized groups being the most vulnerable. In addition, water resources, forestry, and public health are projected to be among the sectors most affected by climate change (World Bank Climate Risk Country Profile).