Collective action to improve nutrition in Timor-Leste

Hamutuk is an innovative, multi-sector program bringing more than 20 organisations together with one goal: to reduce the prevalence of stunting in children under two.

Stunting is the outcome of chronic nutritional deficiency over time, causing irreversible damage to a child’s development. It’s visible when a child’s height is too low for their age. It often starts before birth and is perpetuated by poor food quality, inadequate child feeding practices, frequent infections and poor maternal health and nutrition.

On average, kids who are stunted complete 4.6 fewer grades in school than kids who aren’t.

Adults who were stunted as kids earn 21% less in adult wages than kids who weren’t.

Stunted kids face increased risk of developing chronic diseases, such as hypertension or diabetes, later in life.

In Timor-Leste, despite improvements, malnutrition remains widespread in rural and urban communities and across a range of household incomes. Nationally, around 46% of children under five are stunted — one of the highest rates in the world.

Preventing stunting has inter-generational human, social, and economic benefits for individuals, households and the nation. But to make a sustained impact for healthy future generations, we need to work better together. Evidence tells us we need to boost efforts in multiple sectors—including water, sanitation, education, family planning, agriculture, dietary diversity, child feeding and social inclusion.

A framework for multi-sector collaboration

Capacity building

We’re working together with our partners in diverse fields to build understanding of nutrition. Our goal is to encourage collaboration, strengthen their ability to tackle stunting, and help partners share information with communities that isn’t traditionally part of their sector.

Collaborative technology

Hamutuk’s mobile app and online platform are designed to help partners communicate, collect data and access shared information. The app guides our many community-based partners through registering and interacting with Hamutuk families, while the online platform provides a shared dashboard.

Behaviour change

We’re exploring creative ways to share information via our mobile app and nudge families toward behaviours that improve nutrition. These include washing hands with soap, growing nutritious foods and keeping girls in school for longer. Our approach is grounded in research and evidence.

Targeted messaging

Using the app, our partners collect information from families that helps us learn about their needs. Our software can then identify the best messages to share, such as a video about breastfeeding if infants are around. We’re also exploring the use of machine learning in future to better understand what works in changing behaviours, and recommend similar content for families with similar characteristics.

Hamutuk partners

The Government of Timor-Leste

F.A.S

WaterAid

"Protecting, promoting, and supporting maternal, infant and young child feeding practices through mother supports groups prevents stunting. "

Alola Foundation

"Promoting male engagement facilitates better health and nutrition outcomes for households."

Cooperativa Café Timor

"Health and hygiene facilities provided to adolescent girls in school increases rates of female secondary education."

Feto Asaun ba Sustenabilidade

"Living in a safe and inclusive environment supports the health and nutrition outcomes of all people."

Luta ba Futuru

"Ensuring all children have access to education and a year round supply of quality foods will ensure good nutrition and healthy lives. "

Luta ba Mudansa

Cooperativa Café Timor

Marie Stopes

RHTO

"Family planning prevents early pregnancy and allows for healthy pregnancy timing, leading to better nutritional outcomes for mothers and their children. "

Marie Stopes International

"Using multi-sector approaches, including nutrition education, small scale agriculture, and savings and loans schemes can combat malnutrition at the community level."

Grupu Kilbur Feto Malu

"Disability and nutrition are closely linked. Poor nutrition, especially among children, can lead to developmental delays and impairments which can lead to long-term disability."

Ra'es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO)

"Adequate sanitation, access to safe water and good hygiene practices help prevent undernutrition, 25% of stunting is caused by repeated diarrhoea in early life."

WaterAID

"Behavior change SMS messages for mothers and their families promoting antenatal care, access to skilled birth attendants, and in facility births improves maternal and child health outcomes."

Health Alliance International

"Reducing poverty and hunger by improving fisheries and aquaculture. "

World Fish

Government Partners
Manufahi - Municipal Administration
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Public Works
Ministry of Social Solidarity
National Council for Food Security, Sovereignty and Nutrition in Timor-Leste (KONSSANTIL)

Non-Governmental Organisations
Alola Foundation
Cooperativa Café Timor (CCT)
Feto Asaun ba Sustentabilidade (FAS)
Health Alliance International (HAI)
Luta ba Mudansa (LBM)
Luta ba Futuru (LBF)
Grupu Klibur Feto Malu (GKFM)

Non-Governmental Organisations
Marie Stopes International
Mercy Corps
Ra'es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO)
TOMAK - Farming for Prosperity
World Fish
WaterAid

Our objectives

Increasing collaboration and coordination between partners in fields relevant to nutrition
Improving family nutrition practices at the household level
Working closely with the Government of Timor-Leste for a sustained reduction in the prevalence of stunting

Where we’re working

We’re getting started on our multi-sector initiative in Holarua, Manufahi, a mountainous village with many geographically isolated hamlets and a large overlap of projects that can help improve nutrition.