Dili, August 26, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), together with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has signed an agreement to support social protection programmes aimed in combating child stunting. The information was accessed by Média Democracia from a press release published on the MSSI page today.
According to the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), Verónica das Dores, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the Conditional Bolsa da Mãe Programme for Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (BdM SANUTRIO), an initiative aimed in preventing stunting among children under three years old from vulnerable families in Timor-Leste.
“This pilot programme will be implemented by MSSI in close collaboration with WFP and other government institutions such as the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Statistics of Timor-Leste, along with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It will run from 2026 to 2028 in the municipalities of Covalima, Ermera, and Oecusse, targeting vulnerable populations (pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children) during the crucial first 1,000+ days of life, from pregnancy until the child reaches three years of age,” said Minister Verónica das Dores.
The Minister added that the implementation of the Conditional Bolsa da Mãe – SANUTRIO is an important step to ensure that infants, young children, and mothers from vulnerable families receive the necessary care and nutrition, including conditional cash transfers to cover transport and related costs. “By investing in their health today, we are building healthier and stronger people for the future of our nation.” She said
“Timor-Leste continues to face alarming rates of malnutrition, with 46.7% of children under the age of five suffering from stunting,” the Minister added.
She reaffirmed that the BdM Conditional SANUTRIO Programme seeks to address this challenge through a multi-sectorial approach, combining social protection and health platforms to provide specialized nutritious foods and essential services to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children aged 6 to 35 months.
Meanwhile, the WFP Representative in Timor-Leste, Jacqueline de Groot, said that WFP is committed to strengthening its cooperation with MSSI for the progressive implementation of this project in Timor-Leste.
“We continue to build consistent communication to ensure the successful implementation of the BdM Conditional SANUTRIO Programme. Together, we are working to combat stunting in Timor-Leste,” said Jacqueline de Groot.
The WFP Representative further highlighted that it is a great honor for WFP to be entrusted as one of the lead agencies in nutrition and food security. “The Government’s decision to jointly implement this programme not only contributes to the fight against malnutrition but also strengthens the national social protection system.” She said
The programme’s activities focus on improving maternal and child nutrition, supporting healthy pregnancies, reducing the number of children born with low birth weight, lowering rates of anemia, and raising awareness about good health practices. This initiative marks a significant step in Timor-Leste’s efforts to break the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition and to build a healthier future for all.
Report by: Nelfiano
Photo by: MSSI Media