Signing Ceremony of the School Meals Coalition Declaration: Nutrition, Health and Education for all children
The Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak and the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Timor-Leste, Roy Trivedy, signed the "School Meals Coalition Declaration: Nutrition, Health and Education for all children", on the July 14th, 2021, at the Government Palace, in Dili.
This agreement to support the School Meals Programme renews the shared commitment between the Government and UN agencies to reduce malnutrition, improve food security and move towards sustainable, healthy and safe food.
In his address, the Prime Minister considered that the School Meal "is an important instrument to provide at least one dignified, nutritious and healthy meal daily to all children and youths, improving their development and sustainable growth".
He also added that this "meal certainly contributes to encouraging school participation, reducing absenteeism or dropping out, as well as encouraging the national production of healthy, nutritious, organic and environmentally friendly food products".
During the ceremony, the UN Resident Coordinator in Timor-Leste and the representatives of the World Health Organization, Arvind Mathur, UNICEF, Bilal Durrani and the World Food Programme, Dageng Liu, reiterated their commitment to support the Government to end malnutrition.
