DILI, 17 March 2025 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste allocated US$34 million to the School Lunch Program to improve nutrition, education, and health for children, said the Minister of State Administration, Tomás Cabral.
“We have made US$34 million available for the School Lunch Program, of which about five million are allocated to the municipality of Dili,” said Tomás Cabral in Ataúro.
Cabral explained that the municipal authorities would be responsible for implementing the program, while the government would monitor its execution.
On March 7, the Council of Ministers approved the government decree on the conditions for awarding the School Lunch Program Subsidy
The Government recognizes the importance of adequate nutrition for healthy growth, effective learning, and the reduction of inequalities. The School Meals Program has emerged as a strategic initiative to guarantee universal and equitable access to nutritious meals in the country’s preschool and basic education establishments.
This program aims not only to tackle food insecurity and improve school performance, but also to promote the sustainable development of local communities by encouraging the production and consumption of food from local agriculture.
“The implementation of the School Meals Program is thus a commitment by the state to the well-being and future of children, contributing to the eradication of hunger, the strengthening of the local economy, and the development of Timorese human capital,” said in a statement.
TATOLI
