WFP Timor-Leste Country Brief February 2021 in Numbers

WFP Timor-Leste In Numbers Country Brief US$ 0.00 m six months

February 2021 (March 2021 – August 2021) net funding requirements.

Situation Updates

• Timor-Leste registered 43 new COVID-19 cases in February 2021. The Government has H.E Mr. King Jeong Ho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea with . Mr. Dageng Liu (WFP Representative). WFP received US$ 150,000 extended the State of Emergency and it will for the continuation of Aviation Services from the Korean remain in effect until 2 April 20021. Government. • Currently, air, land, and water borders remain Operational Context largely closed, except for a few Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an humanitarian/cargo flights bringing in essential

independent state in 2002. Poverty rates have dropped supplies and personnel to the country. from 49.9 percent in 2007 to 41.8 percent in 2014

according to the World Bank. Timor-Leste confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March Operational Updates 21, 2020. On March 28, the Government declared a • In February, WFP provided one humanitarian ‘State of Emergency’ that lasted for three months, was chartered flight connecting Kuala Lumpur to then paused and then re-instated on October 27 to Díli, with 197 humanitarian passengers and 819 present. WHO and MoH COVID-19 protocols and border restrictions are still in place. kg of light cargo. Subsequent flights are scheduled for 17 March. WFP has been present in Timor-Leste since 1999. WFP’s • WFP’s humanitarian air service in support of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2018-2021) supports the attainment of the Government’s vision and contributes Government’s COVID-19 response will continue thanks to a US$150,000 donation from the to the National Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030. Republic of Korea. The funds will allow the The World Food Programme (WFP) Timor- humanitarian community to continue flying Leste Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2018-2021) supports the vital supplies to Timor-Leste until April. There attainment of the Government of Timor Leste's vision and have been very limited commercial contributes to the National Strategic Development Plan international flights since March 2020 due to 2011-2030. The WFP CSP promotes the shift from the COVID-19. provision of food assistance to policy engagement and • A high-level meeting was conducted between capacity development. This is built on putting people at the the Ministro Coordenador dos Assuntos center of the country’s development efforts through the Económicos (MCAE) minister, the Resident Road Map for Achieving the SDGs, including ending hunger, Coordination Office (RCO) and WFP on the Cesta combating all forms of malnutrition, and establishing Básica Programme that is a part of the sustainable food systems. The CSP addresses food security Government’s post-COVID-19 Economic and nutrition gaps identified by the National Strategic Recovery Plan. After the meeting, it was Review on SDG 2 and repositions WFP in areas where it has decided that WFP would continue to provide a comparative advantage and potential to maximize the policy advice and technical support to the impact of its assistance to ensure that no-one is left behind. Government for the implementation of the 2018 Human Development Index: Cesta Básica Programme. 132 out of 188 • WFP provided support to the Government of Population: 1.3 million Timor-Leste to install a rice fortification machine in Tibar Centre. This will facilitate local Income Level: Lower middle production of fortified rice.

Chronic malnutrition: 50% of children between 6-59 months

Contact info: Seetashma Thapa ([email protected]) Country Director: Dageng Liu ([email protected]) Further information: www.wfp.org/countries/timor-leste

WFP Country Strategy Current Priority Areas

Country Strategic Plan (2018-2020) Priority Under Activity 1: Nutrition and Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Total Requirement Allocated Six Month Net Funding (in USD) Contributions (in USD) Requirements (in USD) Interventions: 1. WFP continues to follow up and organize advocacy meetings with the 18.17 m 6.7 m 0.00 m Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC) on Moderate Acute Malnutrition treatment intervention and Strategic Result 2: No one suffers from malnutrition supply chain management . Strategic Outcome 1: Children under five, adolescent girls, and 2. Together with other NGOs, WFP provided technical support to the pregnant and breastfeeding women have improved nutrition towards Ministry of Education Youth and Sport to prioritize nutrition-sensitive national targets by 2025 programme under leadership on the SUN Timor Leste focal points based Focus area: Root Causes on the SGD2 consolidated national action plan for nutrition and food security. Activities: 3. WFP in collaboration with the MoH finalized and broadcasted a new 1. Provide nutritious food and raise awareness through social video on anaemia in the local media as part of the SBCC activity. and behaviour change communication for targeted individuals. Priority Under Activity 2: Nutrition Policy through Filling Data Gaps 2. Provide the Government and partners with technical Interventions: assistance and evidence for enhancing the efficiency of 1. WFP started installation of blending machinery with engineers from national programmes and safety nets. Shanghai Constructions in February 2021 in Tibar. Strategic Result 5: Developing countries have strengthened capacity 2. WFP is supporting drafting for the Food Fortificaton Decree Law officially to implement the SDGs requested by the Ministry of Tourism Trade and Industry (MTCI). It will be presented to the Council of Ministries after further consultations. Strategic Outcome 2: National and subnational government 3. WFP collaborated with Care International to print the information on the institutions have increased capacity sustainably to deliver food, importance of food fortification in a local magazine called “LAFAEK” that nutrition, and supply chain related services by 2020. will be distributed to all schools in Timor-Leste in May 2021. Focus area: Resilience 4. Fill the Nutrient Gap (FNG) analysis 2019: WFP followed up with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI) to examine potential Activities: vouchers for the most vulnerable groups. 3. Provide the Government and partners with technical expertise for improved targeting, monitoring, and Priority Under Activity 3: Strengthening Nutrition-related Social Safety programme analysis. Nets 4. Provide the Government and partners with technical expertise for the development of an efficient and effective Interventions: supply chain management system. 1. WFP completed the installation of water supplies in two schools out of three planned, began the construction of kitchens in two schools out of Monitoring five, conducted regular monitoring of the pilot project, and supported the nutrition unit to conduct nutrition sensitization in four schools. • Plans are underway to produce the 2021 first quarter 2. Under the pilot project, WFP engaged with the Agriculture municipality Food Security Bulletin. to explore the possibility of linking local farmers to the Home-Grown School Feeding programme. • WFP continued providing technical assistance to the 3. WFP continued reviewing the school feeding manual with the MoEYS, MCAE for the Cesta Basica programme by training the MoH, and other stakeholders to present it to Director General of both

focal points on registering data into the KOBO system Ministries. 4. The KOICA funded school health and nutrition programme was and displaying the same on dashboard to aid in approved and will be implemented by this year (mid/end). decision-making. 5. WFP conducted a cash-based transfer (CBT) market retail assessment in • WFP continued supporting the Government in Ermera to gather primary data for assessing the feasibility of CBT preparations for the September 2021 Food Systems programmes to cover essential needs in municipalities of Timor-Leste based on consumption patterns, as well as to assess retailers’ capacity to Summit through the development of the draft Concept satisfy a growing demand. Note . This is planned to be presented to the Council of Priority Under Activity 4: Assuring an Effective Emergency Ministers later this month for approval. Response and Logistic Network in Timor-Leste Challenges Interventions: 1. Between 14 June 2020 – 17 Feb 2021, WFP Global Aviation Service • The Ministry of Health is experiencing a significant operated 19 chartered flights between Kuala Lumpur and Dilli, pipeline break of supplies for its moderate acute transporting a total of 1,354 humanitarian passengers and 14.5 mt of malnutrition treatment programme for pregnant and humanitarian cargo, on behalf of 83 organizations. Subsequently, WFP lactating women and children under 5. plans to run one flight in March and April 2021 each. 2. Based on WFP’s advice, the National Logistics Centre (NLC) has started • Most school feeding programmes have also been the fumigation of some 22,000 mt of rice stored at the government suspended due to delays in approval of the warehouse located in Tibar, Dili. This rice is the part of country’s Government’s budget for the programme. strategic reserve for the COVID-19 response.

Donors

Government of Timor-Leste, Korean International Cooperation WFP Timor-Leste Country Brief Agency (KOICA), SRAC/Multilateral Contributions, China and Japan February 2021