The National Strategy for Social Protection (NSSP) 2021-2030 materializes the Five-Year Programme 2018-2023 of the VIII Constitutional Government through interventions that contribute to reduce poverty and vulnerability, ensuring that the results of economic growth benefit all citizens and contribute to inclusive and sustainable social development with a gender perspective. The Strategy builds on the targets set out in Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which propose to Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable . The Strategy is also part of the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion recently approved for the incoming five years, from 2021 to 2025.
This NSSP aims to continue the efforts undertaken since the independence of Timor-Leste to promote citizens rights to social security and social assistance, duly enshrined in the country s Constitution in 2002. In turn, strengthening the social protection system effectively and efficiently will increase protection against the various risks and vulnerabilities people may face throughout their lives, including those resulting from emergency situations, ensuring that they overcome the vulnerability with a long-term and sustainable perspective. By 2030, Timor-Leste aims to achieve the end of poverty, promote peace, ensure access to healthcare, education and other essential services, ensure adequate care for children, the elderly and the disabled, and protect the population from social and economic risks, thereby ensuring a decent living standard for all Timorese citizens. Its Objectives are: The NSSP is the first strategic document of its kind developed in the country. The strategy takes into account the living conditions of the population, the social protection framework and programmes already underway in the country, as well as the commitments and responsibilities of the Timorese State to achieve its vision for social protection in Timor-Leste by 2030.
The preparation of the NSSP 2021-2030 was based on the country s risk of poverty and vulnerability profile, socioeconomic context, social protection framework, existing social protection programs and key outcomes. Accordingly, the Strategy presents three objectives: Objective 1. Reduce poverty; Objective 2. Improve and expand social security for workers; Objective 3. Institutional development. Each objective contains priority areas of intervention, which include activities contributing to the achievement of the different priorities. The Strategy foresees the establishment of a National Council for Social Protection (CNPS) and an Executive Secretariat for Social Protection (ESSP) to strengthen intersectoral coordination and ensure the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy by 2030.