The Government of Timor-Leste, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), and the National Institute of Statistics of Timor-Leste (INETL), has launched a major data-driven initiative to modernize the country’s social protection system and improve maternal and child nutrition outcomes. In 2026, INETL will conduct a household census across Covalima, Ermera, and Oecusse municipalities, collecting detailed socio-economic and vulnerability data from nearly 60,000 households. The data will support the establishment of a national social registry and help target beneficiaries for the Bolsa da Mãe Kondisionál ba Saúde NutrisaunInan no Oan (BdMK‑SANUTRIO) program.
This census serves as a pilot for Timor-Leste’s long-term goal of creating an integrated national social registry capable of supporting adaptive, shock-responsive social protection during crises. A key feature of the initiative is the introduction of a machine learning–enhanced Proxy Means Test (PMT), developed by WFP and INETL with MSSI and supported by the Asian Development Bank. By leveraging machine learning for social-protection targeting, Timor-Leste becomes one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to modernize its national data systems in this way.
Government leaders emphasize the national significance of the initiative. Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Veronica das Dores, highlighted that the partnership strengthens Timor-Leste’s commitment to fair and resilient social protection while advancing efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition and reduce stunting. INETL President Elias dos Santos Ferreira stressed that reliable data forms the foundation for sound policy, noting that the census will enhance program targeting and lay the groundwork for a future national social registry.
WFP Country Representative Jacqueline de Groot described the collaboration as a milestone in ensuring that assistance reaches the families who need it most. By combining high-quality data, advanced analytics, and strong national leadership, the initiative aligns with government priorities and strengthens the social protection landscape.
Through this initiative, Timor-Leste demonstrates a strong commitment to data-driven public policy and the modernization of its social protection systems, contributing to healthier families and greater national resilience. The BdMK-SANUTRIO program specifically targets pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under three from vulnerable families, supporting the government’s broader vision of an integrated, adaptive, and shock-responsive national social protection system.
The WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, supports this effort by providing expertise in using data and food assistance to build stability, resilience, and human capital for populations affected by conflict, disasters, and climate change.
