Strengthening farmers’ access to social protection and sustainable livelihoods in Timor-Leste

© ILO

© ILO

COVALIMA, Timor-Leste (ILO News) - The Government of Timor-Leste, in collaboration with three United Nations organizations – the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – and with support from the European Union (EU), is working to improve nutrition and expand access to social protection for communities in Covalima Municipality, Timor-Leste. The initiative strengthens the capacity of local farmers’ groups and cooperatives in agricultural production techniques and the contributory social security system.

Around 30 farmers’ groups and cooperatives were selected to become reliable suppliers to Timor-Leste’s National School Feeding Programme through the Home-Grown School Feeding approach. Held on 12 August, the training was facilitated by technical experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Fisheries (MALFF), the Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECoop) and the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).

School meals should prioritize local, safe and nutritious products, benefiting children while creating markets for local farmers’ produce.

Mateus Talo, Secretary of State for Rural Development

By connecting local farmers with schools, the initiative creates opportunities for rural producers to strengthen their income security and resilience while contributing to children’s access to nutritious food. Greater income security can also strengthen farmers’ ability to access social protection mechanisms. The activity contributes to broader efforts to expand social protection coverage in Timor-Leste, including for workers in the informal economy.

© ILO

© ILO

The initiative also provides opportunities for farmers to apply the knowledge gained through practical activities. Participants took part in a field demonstration in Suai Loro Administrative Post, where they learned techniques including compost production, crop rotation, seedling management and other sustainable agricultural practices.

Mateus Talo, Secretary of State for Rural Development, emphasized that agriculture plays an important role in supporting children’s nutrition, increasing family incomes, and strengthening rural economies. “School meals should prioritize local, safe and nutritious products, benefiting children while creating markets for local farmers’ produce,” he stated in his remarks.

By bringing together government institutions and development partners, this collaboration aims to strengthen the resilience of rural communities while creating greater opportunities for farmers to access social protection, in line with the ILO’s mandate to promote social protection for all.

Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste

The delegation also visited the Community Health Centre in Covalima village to observe UNICEF-supported nutrition services, including growth monitoring, micronutrient supplementation and community-based efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition. The visit highlighted the importance of linking food systems, nutrition services and social protection to improve the well-being of children and families.

“The initiative reflects the value of coordinated action across agriculture, food systems, nutrition and social protection. By bringing together government institutions and development partners, this collaboration aims to strengthen the resilience of rural communities while creating greater opportunities for farmers to access social protection, in line with the ILO’s mandate to promote social protection for all,” stated Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

The initiative is part of a broader partnership between the Government of Timor-Leste, the EU and United Nations agencies to advance food security, nutrition, rural development and social protection. A US$10 million contribution from the EU is supporting efforts to build more resilient communities across Timor-Leste.

For further details, please read the press release: EU, Government and UN Agencies Join Forces to Strengthen Agriculture, Nutrition and Social Protection in Covalima | EEAS