DILI, 06 May 2026 (TATOLI) – President and Nobel Peace Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, Chair of the Global Task Force on Social Protection for Nutrition,hosted the national launch of the publication “Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition: A Business Case” at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace.
The event brought together government representatives, development partners, and key stakeholders to reflect on how nutrition sensitive social protection can advance Timor-Leste’s priorities in food security, nutrition, human capital development, and resilience.
Developed with technical support from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Institute of Development Studies, the Business Case provides an evidence based rationale for investing in social protection systems that prioritize food security and nutrition. The publication includes a foreword by President Ramos-Horta, in which he emphasizes that investing in nutrition-sensitive social protection is not a cost, but one of the smartest and most just investments societies can make.
“Investing in the health and nutrition of our children is the foundation of a nation’s future prosperity and dignity. No country can develop sustainably while leaving its most vulnerable behind,” stated President J. Ramos-Horta.
The report highlights that hunger and malnutrition remain urgent global challenges, disproportionately affecting children, women, and vulnerable communities. It also notes that food security alone is insufficient: nutrition security requires access to diverse, safe, and nutritious diets, alongside essential health, water, sanitation, and care services.
The Business Case makes a compelling economic argument, showing that the global cost of inaction on child and maternal nutrition reaches trillions of dollars, while well-designed investments in nutrition and social protection generate substantial returns through healthier populations, stronger local economies, and improved productivity.
During the launch, Timor-Leste showcased its national leadership and progress in nutrition-sensitive social protection, including the Bolsa da Mãe Kondisionál – SANUTRIO pilot. The Business Case features Timor-Leste’s experience in Box 6, “Building on Political Will to Advance Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection in Timor-Leste,” presenting SANUTRIO as a pioneering initiative to prevent stunting among children under three by linking conditional cash transfers to maternal and child health services and specialized nutritious foods.
Led by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, with technical support from WFP and partners, SANUTRIO demonstrates how political commitment, donor support, and strategic partnerships can transform social protection into a driver of improved nutrition, resilience, and human capital. The initiative also highlights evidence-based targeting approaches, including Proxy Means Tests, reflecting Timor-Leste’s efforts to strengthen national systems for the most nutritionally vulnerable households.
The event further reflected on recent milestones under the Global Task Force on Social Protection for Nutrition, including the World Social Summit side event in Doha and the peer-to-peer learning exchange in Pakistan, where participating countries shared experiences on linking social protection with maternal and child nutrition, programme monitoring, and service delivery.
Through the Global Task Force on Social Protection for Nutrition, Timor-Leste promotes country-led advocacy, peer learning, and South-South cooperation, especially for Least Developed Countries, fragile contexts, and vulnerable states. The national launch marks an important milestone in linking national implementation, global evidence, and collective action in support of Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
