DILI, 14 April 2026 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste and South Korea have signed two grant agreements worth a combined US$13.2 million through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), aimed at supporting the School Feeding Programme and the Integrated Forest Restoration Project.
The agreements were signed in Dili by the Minister of Finance, Santina Viegas Cardoso, and KOICA Country Director Youn Hwa Kang, in the presence of government officials, the South Korean Ambassador to Timor-Leste, representatives of the World Food Programme (WFP), and other development partners at the Ministry of Finance hall in Dili today.
The new initiatives focus on strengthening environmental resilience and human capital development through integrated support in forestry, health, education, and food security.
Minister of Finance Santina Viegas Cardoso said the agreements reflect expanded cooperation between the two countries, with projects aligned with national priorities in forestry, health, and education.
“Today, this already rich cooperation portfolio will further expand with the signing of two important projects that speak directly to our national priorities in the forestry, health, and education sectors,” she said.
She added that the initiatives represent long-term investments in people and development. “These initiatives are not only financial investments; they are investments in our environment, in our communities, and in the future of our children,” she said.
The first project, Forest Restoration and Sustainable Management Capacity Development in Timor-Leste, will support the rehabilitation of degraded forest areas in Baucau and Manatuto through reforestation activities, community engagement, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building for government institutions.
A key component of the project includes the construction of a nursery facility to support seedling production and distribution, as well as serve as an agroforestry training hub for local communities.
Valued at around US$6 million, the project is expected to support forest recovery efforts and benefit about 1,000 households in targeted areas.
The project will reforest around 250 hectares in both municipalities and establish a modern nursery and a Forest Information Center in Manatuto.
The second project, Strengthening Nutrition and Food Security in Timor-Leste, builds on existing cooperation with Korea and expands school feeding programmes through integrated home-grown food systems, rice fortification, and school infrastructure improvements.
It will be implemented in partnership with the World Food Programme and run until 2030, with a total budget of US$7.2 million.
The programme will target schools in Baucau, Bobonaro, Manufahi, and Viqueque, aiming to reduce malnutrition, strengthen local agricultural supply chains, and improve school kitchen facilities.
South Korean Ambassador to Timor-Leste Chang Hayeon said the initiatives reflect the strong partnership and shared development goals between the two countries. “These two initiatives reflect our shared commitment to building a healthier and more resilient future for Timor-Leste,” he said.
He noted that the school feeding programme supports both nutrition and local economic development by sourcing food from Timorese farmers.
By linking farmers to school meal supply chains, the initiative aims to improve nutrition while strengthening local production capacity.
On the forestry project, He said it would help restore degraded landscapes and improve climate resilience through modern nursery systems and community participation.
Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares welcomed the programme, highlighting its direct impact on student learning conditions.
She said the project will provide 30 additional school kitchens and strengthen ongoing school feeding efforts.
“A hungry child is a child who cannot learn,” she said, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in education outcomes.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring effective implementation of the programme.
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry Marcos da Cruz said the forestry project comes at a critical time as Timor-Leste continues to face environmental degradation.
He noted that forest loss in Timor-Leste is estimated at 1.7 percent annually, posing a threat to ecosystems and rural livelihoods.
“Forests play a vital role in protecting biodiversity, conserving soil and water resources, supporting agricultural productivity, mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration, and sustaining the well-being of rural communities,” he said.
The combined initiatives demonstrate growing cooperation between Timor-Leste and South Korea in addressing climate resilience, food security, and human development challenges.
The programmes are expected to contribute to long-term sustainable development by integrating environmental protection with social and economic growth.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
