Govt launches new system to monitor measures to tackle malnutrition and stunting
DÍLI, 31 August 2026 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste has launched a national multisectoral nutrition dashboard and knowledge management repository to improve the monitoring, planning and evaluation of programmes aimed at reducing stunting and malnutrition.
The platform was launched in Dili on August 28 by the Government’s Mission Unit to Combat Stunting (UNMICS), in partnership with UNICEF, as part of the 2024–2030 National Multisectoral Action Plan to Combat Stunting (PANKOS).
The dashboard provides a central system for tracking nutrition indicators and monitoring the implementation of interventions across government sectors involved in addressing malnutrition.
It enables authorities to track targets, implementation progress, budget allocations and expenditure, data gaps and required follow-up actions.
UNMICS Executive Director Joel Maria Pereira said tackling malnutrition required coordinated action across government and other sectors.
“Global trends indicate that efforts to reduce malnutrition are more effective when implemented through integrated and multisectoral interventions rather than fragmented approaches,” Pereira said.
He said each sector needed to identify its priorities, allocate sufficient resources and monitor investments designed to reduce malnutrition.
The PANKOS dashboard is intended to strengthen the use of reliable data in planning, monitoring and evaluating nutrition programmes, while helping authorities identify areas where implementation is progressing and where further action is needed.
The National Multisectoral Action Plan to Combat Stunting for 2024–2030 was approved by the Council of Ministers in November 2025.
UNMICS plans to gradually roll out the PANKOS nutrition dashboard at municipal level as part of the Government’s decentralisation programme.
The system is expected to help municipal authorities identify nutrition priorities, develop programmes, allocate resources and monitor interventions targeting malnutrition.
Vice-Minister for Hospital Operationalisation Flávio Brandão, who represented Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing Mariano Assanami Sabino at the launch, said the dashboard would strengthen coordination among government ministries, public institutions, development organisations and the private sector.
“The launch of the PANKOS Dashboard reaffirms the commitment of the Government, UNICEF and partners to strengthening monitoring and accountability systems,” Brandão said.
He said the initiative would help ensure that nutrition interventions were effective and guided by reliable data, creating better conditions for children to grow, develop and reach their full potential without the burden of stunting and malnutrition.
UNICEF Representative in Timor-Leste Patrizia DiGiovanni also underscored the importance of the platform in improving coordination, monitoring and evaluation of nutrition policies and programmes.
UNICEF supported the development of the dashboard in cooperation with UNMICS, CONSSAN-TL and relevant government ministries and institutions.
The support included technical assistance, harmonisation of nutrition indicators, data organisation and capacity-building.
Representatives of government ministries and public institutions, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector attended the launch ceremony.
The Government expects regular use and updating of the PANKOS dashboard to improve oversight of the 2024–2030 action plan and help identify progress, gaps and priorities in efforts to reduce stunting and other forms of malnutrition across Timor-Leste.
TATOLI
