Timor-Leste's participation in the Global Working Group Meeting on Social Protection for Nutrition in Islamabad
The Vice Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Céu Brites, represented Timor-Leste at the Global Working Group on Social Protection for Nutrition meeting, held from December 2nd to 4th, 2025, in Islamabad, Pakistan. The meeting, co-organised by the Governments of Pakistan and Timor-Leste, brought together delegations from seven countries to strengthen the integration of nutrition into national social protection systems. 
Throughout the proceedings, government representatives and international partners reviewed evidence, shared experiences, and discussed approaches to making social protection policies more effective in combating malnutrition. The sessions included technical presentations and discussions on beneficiary targeting, implementation mechanisms, and practices developed in participating countries. 
At the opening session, Vice Minister Céu Brites, representing the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, expressed her appreciation to the Government of Pakistan for hosting the event and for its leadership in promoting nutrition-sensitive social protection, emphasising the importance of joint action. “Let us move from ideas to impact — from commitment to collective action. Together, we can build a world where no mother, no child, and no family is left behind”, she said. 
Timor-Leste participated in thematic discussions, bilateral meetings, and technical visits. On December 2nd, the Vice Minister met with the Chair of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Rubina Khalid, and with a delegation from Niger, in a meeting dedicated to sharing information on national social protection programmes. She presented the development of the Conditional Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Subsidy (Bolsa da Mãe Kondisional ba Saúde Nutrisaun Inan no Oan – BdMK-SANUTRIO). She highlighted the influence of BISP on its design. 
On the same day, the Vice Minister delivered the opening speech for the Global Working Group, in which she presented the national vision for combating malnutrition, based on the principle that all people should have access to dignity, food security, and good nutrition throughout their lives. She also referred to the ongoing preparations for the implementation of BdMK-SANUTRIO, scheduled for 2026, with technical support from the World Food Programme (WFP) and budgetary support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
On the second day, December 3rd, Timor-Leste participated in discussion groups that examined progress and challenges in implementing nutrition-sensitive social protection programmes. There was also a technical presentation on targeting approaches, including the use of the Proxy Means Test (PMT) to identify vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under three years of age.
On December 4th, the Vice Minister visited the BISP One-Window Facilitation Centre in Rawalpindi, where she observed how the service system operates, the procedures implemented, and the verification mechanisms used to ensure beneficiaries access cash transfers. The visit allowed her to gather relevant information for potential adaptations suitable for the context of Timor-Leste.
At the closing session, the Vice Minister expressed gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and the organising team for hosting the event, emphasising the importance of learning and exchanging experiences between nations. She also stated that she would convey the main outcomes of the meeting to the President of the Republic.
The Global Task Force on Social Protection for Nutrition concluded on December 4, reaffirming the commitment of participating countries to develop social protection systems that help reduce malnutrition and strengthen food security, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
