DILI, 28 december 2021 ( TATOLI) – The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) work together to present the Prime Minister’s National Nutrition Awards to the nutrition and food security champions of 2021.
The award aims to acknowledge respective communities and community groups that have shown commitments to improving the status of nutrition and food security in Timor-Leste.
This National Award was supported financially by the World Food Programme (WFP) totaling $US 100,000 and the technical support from PMO – Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat Movement, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Partnership for Human Development, World Health Organisation, and UNICEF.
“We’re grateful for the generous funds offered by WFP and the technical support from development partners – both national and international to help us bring the Nutrition Awards Programme to life,” Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak commented on the CNE’s meeting room Colmera Dili.
“I am pleased to congratulate all the Civil Society Partners, especially the community leaders, youth, women, and farmer groups that won this year’s Nutrition Award, and whose example and presence honors us greatly,” PM Taur Added.
The WFP Timor-Leste Deputy Country Director Ash Rogers said
WFP is proud to join Timor-Leste’s Government on this important journey. This year’s Nutrition Awards has taught WFP the critical role of health and nutrition in the country’s socio-economic growth and development.
“Together with the Government and partners, WFP stands ready to support innovative solutions from the communities in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition faced by the country’s women and children,” said Rogers.
This year’s applications for the Prime Minister’s Nutrition Awards targeted four categories: Community leaders; Women; Youth; and Farmers Group.
Community groups in all villages/regions across Timor-Leste were invited to apply for this opportunity.
Rogers explained The criteria for the winners were selected based on their efforts and creativity to prioritize malnutrition and food insecurity issues; using available local resources as the creative solution; and capacity to mobilize external supports.
“The Winners had received a certificate and US$2,000-5,000 to invest in nutrition and food security initiatives in their villages and communities,” said Rogers.
For this year, the winner is from Riheu village, Ermera municipality, the second winner is from Caurui Village, Sub – Administrative Laleia, Manatuto municipality, and the third winner is from Wenunuc village, Sub – Administrative Metinaro, Dili municipality.
It is known that the award program was officially launched on 09 of August 2021, by Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
