Attachments
Highlights
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The Government of Timor-Leste, supported by WFP, held an event on social protection and zero hunger alongside the IV Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Conference in Antigua and Barbuda. -
WFP conducted qualitative research in schools across three municipalities to explore children's health and nutrition knowledge and behaviours.
Operational Updates
Nutrition
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WFP provided fortified rice to 62,500 students in 387 schools in Baucau, Bobonaro, and Manufahi municipalities, distributing 355.9 mt of fortified rice across these municipalities. Given the improvement in road conditions, 13 additional schools will receive fortified rice.
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WFP conducted qualitative formative research in schools in Baucau, Bobonaro, and Manufahi municipalities to understand schoolchildren's health and nutrition knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceptions, including the behavioural determinants of optimal nutrition. The research included focus group discussions with school-aged children (6-15 years old) and their parents, as well as interviews with parent-teacher associations, mother support groups, cooks, headmasters, and school coordinators.
Social Protection / School Feeding
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WFP supported a delegation from the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion for a study visit to Pakistan to learn about the social protection scheme through the Benazir Income Support Programme, focusing on both unconditional and conditional cash transfers, including the use of Specialized Nutritious Food (Super Cereal).
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The Government of Timor-Leste, supported by WFP, held the event "Social Protection for Zero Hunger in Small Islands and Developing States" as part of the sideevent agenda of the IV SIDS Conference in Antigua and Barbuda. This session provided a space for experience exchange and collaboration among SIDS, allowing them to share best practices, innovative solutions, and lessons learned in implementing social protection programmes. The event was part of the activities of the Global Task Force (GTF) on Social Protection for Nutrition, Human Capital, and Local Economic Development, co-chaired by the governments of TimorLeste and Chile with the membership of the Group of Seven Plus (g7+) intergovernmental body, and supported by WFP as its secretariat.
Logistics and Supply Chain
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WFP has already received 3.6 mt of beans for distribution as part of the El Niño emergency response activity supported by the United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF). An additional 76.2 mt of beans and 18 mt of Super Cereal are expected to arrive in June for delivery to six distribution sites.
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As part of its emergency preparedness, WFP has finalized the first data collection, update, and validation phase for the Logistics Capacity Assessment in collaboration with government entities. This assessment aims to evaluate humanitarian logistics infrastructure, identify actors that may play critical roles in humanitarian scenarios, and find opportunities to strengthen emergency response capacity.
Research, Assessment, and Monitoring
- As part of the CERF project, WFP prepared beneficiary distribution maps and data collection tools for monitoring and reporting activities and established a Community Feedback Mechanism. The CERF food distribution aims to reach 18,600 vulnerable individuals with rice, beans, and oil rations across six municipalities: Bobonaro, Covalima, Ermera, Lautem,
Liquiçá, and Manufahi.
Partnerships
- WFP supported the advisor to the Vice Prime Minister in establishing an orchard according to the relevant functions of the government ministries to advance the implementation of the Global Task Force on Social Protection, Human Capital, and Nutrition.
Challenges
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Heavy rains in the rainy season have caused landslides and flooding, which have destroyed homes.
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The price of food staples such as rice remains high and continues to be impacted by global food price inflation.
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El Niño-related dry ground conditions coupled with flash flooding are decreasing crop yields in some areas, which is worsening food security.