WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by country | Page 830

Standard Project Report 2016
Country Resources and Results
Resources for Results
WFP's two largest donors in Timor-Leste in 2016 were the European Union and the Korea International Cooperation
Agency (KOICA). Funding from these two sources for 2016 was sufficient to run the treatment of moderate acute
malnutrition programme in 6 out of 13 municipalities, particularly as production of the locally produced Super Cereal
(Timor Vita) was delayed. In addition, delays in the implementation of some partner activities meant that there were
sufficient funds for partners to continue their operation of mother support groups into the first quarter in 2017. WFP
received an extension until June 2017 from both donors, and is actively seeking other funding sources, whilst
support from WFP has also been extended until 2017.
WFP Timor-Leste managed to attract additional funds for its emergency response programme for malnutrition
prevention in the areas most strongly affected by El Niño. Funding was sufficient to purchase specialised
ready-to-eat foods for children, and Timor Vita, the locally-produced specialised nutritious food (SNF) for women.
WFP Timor-Leste also advocated for increased budgeting for nutrition programming by the Government of
Timor-Leste, particularly to fund food purchases. While government funding to implement the nutrition programme in
2016 was small, lobbying of both the Ministry of Health and national parliament by WFP resulted in a significant
budget increase for 2017.
There were no financial risks related to food purchases in 2016. However, due to high global demand for
Plumpy'Doz, the SNF for children, and the slow local production of Timor Vita for women, there were delays of 3-4
months in delivery, which affected programme implementation and the uptake of nutrition treatment. Anticipating
this risk, the country office requested permission from the Ministry of Health to import Super Cereal as an alternative
to Timor Vita.
WFP Timor-Leste worked with the United Nations Resident Coordinator's office to install solar panels above the
United Nations car park, in order to offset carbon emissions produced by WFP in-country and to reduce electricity
costs.
In 2016, in order to reduce costs and time delays in hiring local staff, which can lead to increased programme costs
particularly in emergency programming, the country office established a roster so that staffing gaps could be filled
more quickly with qualified staff. The country office also prioritised the recruitment of female field staff.
Achievements at Country Level
Throughout 2016, WFP worked with its major partners—the Ministry of Health, the Department of Pharmaceutical
Medicines and Supplies, non-governmental organizations Alola, and World Vision—to improve the capacity of the
Ministry of Health at the national and municipal levels to implement a moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) treatment
programme, as well as to improve the performance and sustainability of the supply chain management system by
introducing the online supply chain management system, mSupply.
The results of these partnerships included greater uptake by the community of the nutrition treatment programme,
as well as strong participation at municipal and national levels. The mother and child health and nutrition (MCHN)
programme showed significant improvements, for instance an increase in children's enrolment in the programme
from 18 percent in 2015 to an average of 60.7 percent nationally in 2016. Similarly, pregnant and lactating women's
(PLW) enrolment in the programme increased from 17.4 percent in 2015 to 162 percent in 2016, with more PLW
reached than planned.
In 2016, Timor-Leste became one of the first countries in the world to begin using the mSupply Mobile. This
Android-based native application has been implemented in all health facilities in the capital, allowing staff to enter
stocktakes, issue stock to patients and other customers, and place orders. As a result of the resulting cost savings
in minimising expired stock and other efficiency gains in using this system, the Ministry of Health has requested
further support for the online supply chain tracking system, mSupply, as well as ongoing support for the Medical and
Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (SAMES). WFP was able to confirm further financial support for the first quarter of
2017, and is seeking new funding from the Global Fund to expand the programme nationwide.
At the national level, WFP lobbied stakeholders and influencers to increase support for initiatives to reduce
malnutrition and improve food security. WFP jointly organized a seminar on nutrition, together with the Parliament
Speaker, to raise awareness amongst parliamentarians on the importance of investing in nutrition and to agree on a
Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of (TL)
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