The NSSP for 2021-2030 was officially launched at the City-8 Hall, in Dili, by Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, and accompanied by the Minister of Social Solidarity, and Inclusion (MoSSI), Armanda Berta, the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs (CMoEA), Joaquim Amaral, Chargé d’Affaires of Australia in Timor-Leste, Suzanne Wilson-Uilelea, the Ambassador of Portugal to Timor-Leste, José Machado Vieira, the representative of the UN World Food Program, Dagen Liu, the Representative of UNICEF, Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani and other government members.
“It is with great pride and satisfaction that we are gathered here, today, to mark the launching of the National Strategy for Social Protection, between 2021 and 2030, a document that aims to contribute with practical, effective, and concrete measures to fulfill the various commitments made to our People and our national and international development partners,” Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak made the comments in his opening remarks, at the launching ceremony of the NSSP at the City-8 Hall, in Dili, on friday.
Ruak said the NSSP was important to implement the Government’s vision of placing the citizens at the center of government activity, creating conditions for all people to be benefited from the national growth and development, with having adequate access to basic, essential, and social protection services to ensure equal opportunity for all with leaving no one behind.
He said the NSSP goals align with Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan (2011-2030): “It’s to eradicate hunger and poverty, improve nutrition and human development, promote access to quality basic services in health, education, housing, electricity, water, and sanitation with adequate social protection for the neediest, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, voiceless, the forgotten and those facing greater risk of social exclusion.”
Ruak said that NSSP was needed to be implemented quickly, not only mobilizing the State’s resources and officials but also ensuring a transversal and integrated collaboration of all relevant entities, including donors, development partners, civil society, and NGOs who had been supporting the nation through various programs for children, mothers, the elderly persons, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
At the same place, the Minister of Social, Solidarity, and Inclusion, Armanda Berta said that the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MoSSI) led the elaboration of the NSSP with the technical and specialized support of Timor-Leste’s Development Partners, through the Action Program of the International Labor Organization (ILO), funded by the Government of Portugal.
“NSSP is the first strategic document which outlines the social protection policy and programs to be implemented in the coming decade. NSSP was approved by the Council of Ministers at the Palace of the Government on november 11, 2021,” said Minister Berta.
Social protection plays a key role in the sustainable development of Timor-Leste, providing the country’s progress at social, economic, and environmental levels while contributing to the accomplishment of the Agenda 2030 and SDGs intention to “Leave No One Behind.”
The existence of a social protection floor, and corresponding social protection programs, is key to preventing and combating poverty, reducing inequalities, improving well-being, mitigating shocks, strengthening social cohesion and peace, promoting social stability, and fostering an inclusive economic growth.
In Timor-Leste, social protection is a right enshrined in the national Constitution, particularly in Article 56, which states that “Every citizen is entitled to social assistance and security in accordance with the law.”
Social protection is also internationally recognized as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in several international policy instruments, including ILO conventions.
The ILO’s Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) provides guidance to the member States in building comprehensive social security systems and extending social security coverage by prioritizing the establishment of national floors of social protection accessible to all in need.
Thus, NSSP builds on Timor-Leste’s commitments over the years to move forward with the vision of social protection for the next decade, guided by the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation.
Timor-Leste Social Protection Programs under the scope of MoSSI and INSS include Old-age Pension (Retirement Pension), Invalidity Pension, Survivor’s Pension, Death Benefit, Maternity Allowance, Paternity Allowance, Adoption Allowance, Clinical Risk During Pregnancy Allowance, Pregnancy Interruption (Abortion) Allowance, Allowance for the Support of the Elderly and Invalids, Mother’s Allowance, Support to Individuals and Families Invulnerability, Recovery of Victims of Natural Disaster and Social Conflicts, Children in Conflict with the Law, Support to Victims of Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, Social Integration of Previously Incarcerated Persons and Funeral Services.
In addition, under the scope of other ministries, the social protection programs include School Feeding in Pre-school and Primary School, Scholarship for the Children of the National Liberation Combatants and Martyrs, National Health Care System, Essential Newborn Care, Reduction of Child Mortality and Morbidity, Child Nutrition, Vulnerable Patients, Integrated Community Health Services (SISCA), Health in the Family, Health Care for the National Liberation Combatants, Immunization Program, Rural Employment and Roads for Development.
According to the analysis carried out by MSS/ILO/UN (2018), the social protection programs referred to in the previous section amounted to an investment of approximately US$212 million in 2015 equivalent to 15.5% of non-oil GDP or 8% of oil GDP. This also represented an average investment of US$179.45 USD per capita.
According to the estimates and projections of the full implementation of the NSSP (2021-30) , the number of beneficiaries of social protection would increase to 828.071 by 2030, compared to 823.351 in 2021, which would cost around US$138 million.
“The introduction of all the changes proposed in the present NSSP from the first year of implementation would represent an increase in the number of beneficiaries above 22%. This would mean that 150.000 more individuals would benefit from different social protection programs each year. In 2030, this would result in almost 830.000 beneficiaries, a significant increase compared to the expected 676.740 beneficiaries if none of the proposed reforms are implemented,” said NSSP (2021-30).
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
