EU, Government and UN Agencies Join Forces to Strengthen Agriculture, Nutrition and Social Protection in Covalima

Suai, 12 August 2026: [Tetun below] The Government of Timor-Leste, the European Union (EU), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and UNICEF launched a farmer training initiative in Covalima Municipality aimed at strengthening local food systems, improving nutrition, and expanding access to social protection.

The event brought together Thorsten Bargfrede, Ambassador of the European Union to Timor-Leste, alongside representatives of the EU Delegation, the Ministries of Education, State Administration and Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Fisheries, municipal authorities, technical experts, and representatives of WFP, ILO and UNICEF.

The training supports selected farmer groups and cooperatives to become reliable suppliers for Timor-Leste's National School Feeding Programme through the Home-Grown School Feeding approach. By connecting local farmers with schools, the initiative promotes access to nutritious meals for children while creating market opportunities for rural communities.

Farmers received training on sustainable agricultural production, post-harvest handling, financial literacy, and were introduced to the Social Security Contributory Scheme, helping strengthen both their livelihoods and access to social protection. The training was facilitated by experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Fisheries (MALFF), the Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECoop), and the National Social Security Institute (INSS).

"The European Union is proud to collaborate with the Government of Timor-Leste and United Nations agencies to promote inclusive rural development. Through investment in farmers’ skills, social protection, and local food systems, we are empowering rural communities, improving nutrition, and strengthening local economies," said Thorsten Bargfrede, Ambassador of the European Union to Timor-Leste.

During her remarks, Jacqueline de Groot, WFP Representative and Country Director in Timor-Leste, highlighted the importance of strengthening the link between local farmers and schools through the Home-Grown School Feeding approach:

“When local farmers are empowered with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to supply schools, the benefits extend well beyond the classroom. Through the Home-Grown School Feeding approach, we are creating reliable markets for farmers, supporting healthier diets for children, and strengthening food systems that contribute to community resilience and sustainable development.”

Participants also took part in a field demonstration in Suai Loro Administrative Post, where they learned practical techniques such as compost production, crop rotation, seedling management, and other sustainable agricultural practices.

The delegation also visited the Suai Villa Community Health Centre to observe nutrition services supported by UNICEF, including growth monitoring, micronutrient supplementation, and community-based efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition. The visit highlighted the importance of linking food systems, nutrition services and social protection to improve the well-being of children and families.

The initiative showcased the strong partnership between the Government of Timor-Leste, the European Union and United Nations agencies in advancing food security, nutrition, rural development and social protection, with a $10 million contribution from the European Union supporting efforts to build more resilient communities across Timor-Leste.

UE, Governu no Ajénsia ONU Sira Hamutuk Hodi Hametin Agrikultura, Nutrisaun no Protesaun Sosiál iha Munisípiu Covalima

Suai, 12 Agostu 2026: Governu Timor-Leste, Uniaun Europeia (UE), Programa Ai-han Mundiál (WFP), Organizasaun Internasionál Trabalhador (ILO), no UNICEF halo lansamentu ba inisiativa formasaun ba agrikultór sira iha Munisípiu Covalima ho objetivu atu hametin sistema ai-han lokál, hadi’a nutrisaun, no habelar asesu ba protesaun sosiál.

Eventu ne’e halibur hamutuk Thorsten Bargfrede, Embaixadór Uniaun Europeia ba Timor-Leste, ho reprezentante sira husi Delegasaun UE, Ministériu Edukasaun, Ministériu Administrasaun Estatal no Ministériu Agrikultura, Pekuária, Floresta no Peskas, autoridade munisipál sira, peritu tékniku sira, no reprezentante husi WFP, ILO no UNICEF.

Formasaun ne’e apoia grupu agrikultór no koperativa sira ne’ebé selesionadu atu sai forneseór konfiável ba Programa Merenda Eskolár Nasionál Timor-Leste liuhosi abordagem Toos Uma Hun ba Merenda Eskolár (HGSF). Liu husi ligasaun agrikultór ho eskola sira, inisiativa ne’e promove asesu ba ai-han nutritivu ba labarik sira nune'e mos kria oportunidade merkadu ba komunidade rurál sira.

Agrikultór sira hetan formasaun kona-ba produsaun agríkola sustentável, jestaun pós-kolleita, literasia finanseira, no introdús ona ba Eskema Kontribuitivu Seguransa Sosiál, atu hametin sira-nia moris no asesu ba protesaun sosiál. Formasaun ne’e fasilita husi peritu sira husi Ministériu Agrikultura, Pekuária, Floresta no Peskas (MAPPF), Sekretaria Estadu Kooperativa (SECoop), no Institutu Nasionál Seguransa Sosiál (INSS).

“Uniaun Europeia orgullu atu kolabora ho Governu Timor-Leste no ajénsia Nasoens Unidas sira hodi promove dezenvolvimentu rurál inkluzivu. Liu husi investimentu iha kapasidade agrikultór sira, protesaun sosiál no sistema ai-han lokál, ami fó empoderamentu ba komunidade rurál sira, hadi’a nutrisaun no hametin ekonomia lokál sira,” hatete husi Thorsten Bargfrede, Embaixadór Uniaun Europeia ba Timor-Leste.

Iha nia intervensaun, Jacqueline de Groot, Reprezentante no Diretóra WFP iha Timor-Leste, destaka importánsia atu hametin ligasaun entre agrikultór lokál sira no eskola sira liuhosi abordagem Toos Uma Hun ba Merenda Eskolár:

“Bainhira agrikultór lokál sira hetan kapasidade ho koñesimentu, abilidade no oportunidade atu fornese ba eskola sira, benefísiu sira la'o liu duké iha de’it aula laran. Liu husi aprosimasaun Toos

Uma Hun ba Merenda Eskolár ami kria merkadu ne’ebé fiável ba agrikultór sira, apoia dieta ne’ebé saudavel liu ba labarik sira, no hametin sistema ai-han ne’ebé kontribui ba reziliénsia komunidade no dezenvolvimentu sustentável.”

Partisipante sira mos partisipa iha demonstrasaun prátiku iha Postu Administrativu Suai Loro, ne’ebé sira aprende téknika prátiku hanesan produsaun kompostu, rotasaun ai-horis, jestaun fini no prátika agríkola sustentável seluk.

Delegasaun ne’e mos vizita Sentru Saúde Komunitáriu Suai Vila hodi observa servisu nutrisaun sira ne’ebé UNICEF apoia, inklui monitorizasaun kresimentu, suplementasaun mikronutriente no esforsu bazeia ba komunidade hodi prevene no trata malnutrisaun. Vizita ne’e hatudu importánsia atu liga sistema ai-han, servisu nutrisaun no protesaun sosiál hodi hadi’a bem-estar labarik no família sira.

Inisiativa ne’e hatudu parseria forte entre Governu Timor-Leste, Uniaun Europeia no ajénsia Nasoens Unidas sira iha atu promove seguransa ai-han, nutrisaun, dezenvolvimentu rurál no protesaun sosiál, ho kontribuisaun millaun $10 husi Uniaun Europeia hodi apoia esforsu sira atu harii komunidade ne’ebé reziliente liu iha Timor-Leste laran tomak.

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Media Contacts 
EU in Timor-Leste, Press and Information Officer, Akito Ximenes, +67078101309 
WFP Communication Officer, Mariano Redondo, +670779438827 
UNICEF Communications Specialist, Lisa Hill, [email protected]