PROJECT TITLE

Food Systems Transformation in Timor-Leste

Timor Leste’s National Pathway focuses on game-changing solutions across value chains, from diversified production to reduced food loss and increased food safety at the storage phase. At the processing phase, greater involvement of the private sector is envisioned to stimulate investments in innovative facilities. At the distribution level the focus is on farmers’ markets and shops to facilitate access to local production and the consumption phase is tackled through behavioral change priorities. The country’s Pathway is aligned with the Consolidated National Action Plan for Nutrition and Food Security, which presents a cross-sector common results framework, prioritizing high-impact interventions to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity. The Action Plan is validated through a wide stakeholders’ consultation and later submitted to the Council of Ministries for approval.

The country’s food systems governance directly falls under the Vice Prime Minister, organized into an Interministerial Task Force for food security and a second one for food and nutrition issues. The Vice Prime Minister Office coordinates Ministries of Health, Education, Social and Solidarity and Gender on the national inter-ministerial mechanisms on food systems, food security and nutrition.

• The programme will establish a partnership platform with the Government of Timor-Leste, development partners, the private sector, and farmer cooperatives to drive investment in climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable land management while addressing policy and regulatory bottlenecks. 
• A national innovation hub and two municipal resource centres will promote agricultural innovation, capacity building, and financial access for farmers, cooperatives, and MSMEs, unlocking further investment. 
• To strengthen food security and health outcomes, the programme will also deliver nutritional education to improve dietary behaviors among pregnant and lactating mothers and enhance feeding practices for children aged 0 to 23 months.

The Partnership Platform will be under the leadership of the Vice Prime Minister’s (VPM) and Coordinating Ministry for Social Affairs office, in close coordination with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investments, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Agriculture, including:

• Minister of Agriculture
• Municipal governments
• Convenors of the Inter-ministerial Coordination Task Force for Social Affairs (Nutrition and Food Security)

• The JP will facilitate the establishment of a partnership platform involving the Government of Timor-Leste, development partners, the private sector, international financial institutions, and farmer cooperatives to encourage and attract large-scale investments in transforming food systems and sustaining smallholders’ livelihoods.
• The national innovation hub and pilot municipal-level resource centers established by the JP will create a physical and technical infrastructure for innovation, capacity building, and financial access to strengthen a diverse and stable food supply in local markets, aiming to unlock additional investment from both public and private sectors.
• The JP will also drive improvements in the eating behaviors of pregnant and lactating mothers and in 0- to 23-month old child feeding practices through targeted interventions to reduce the risk of stunting among children.