Timor-Leste extend social protection and improve the management and sustainability of social protection systems, including social protection floors in order to prevent and reduce poverty and achieve inclusive growth and social justice.

The work to be developed in this new phase of the ACTION/Portugal project will be based on the framework of the Strategic Project for Implementing the Social Security Law, and will always be in strict alignment with the intervention of the Portuguese Government, contributing to:

Extension of the Non-Contributory Measures of Social Protection

• Support the creation of an inter-ministerial oversight and coordination body for the implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy (ENPS), which should be approved before the end of 2018, by drawing up an Action Plan for the implementation of the ENPS, including the creation of mechanisms for coordinating activities, monitoring and evaluating results.
• Capacity building and institutional development, which is not restricted to the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS), for the development of a more integrated and efficient system of social protection, supporting the preparation of studies to improve the adequacy of benefits, and the revision and adjustment of existing benefit indexing mechanisms.
• Provide technical assistance for programme evaluations, including support to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, capacity building and the design of new non-contributory social protection measures or reforms of existing programmes - including designing a universal component for the Mother’s Grant (Bolsa da Mãe), targeted for early childhood and children with disabilities;
• Improve the regularity and reliability of the delivery/payment of social benefits, including measures to facilitate and increase the frequency of payments.

Within the Contibutory Social Security System

• Develop supervisory and technical coordination mechanisms between national and local operations, including decentralised structures across the territory and efforts to increase coverage and performance in rural areas.
• Support stabilisation and strengthen the processes for registering employers, workers and dependents, remunerations and contributions records, evaluation of benefit applications, and benefit payments, financial management, accounting and reporting.
• Assist in the establishment of processes for internal and external audit, the production of statistical information, debt management, inspection and execution of collections, definition and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems for operational procedures and social security management, providing transparency, accountability and support for decision-making.
• Provide training and capacity building for staff at all institutional levels within the social security system (including management, administrative and technical staff) and assistance to social partners in developing their social security responsibilities.
• Assist with the creation and implementation of an ongoing national awareness-raising plan, involving social partners and other relevant actors, in the development of a strategic communication plan (internal and external) for social security and in the production of communication materials, including graphic and audio-visual instruments for raising awareness of the rights and responsibilities of social security and increase public trust.

Timor-Leste National Social Protection Strategy 2017-2030 approved and implemented, which include the extension of contributory and non-contributory measures of Social Protection for all.