Collective action to break the cycle of malnutrition

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Hamutuk is an innovative, multi-sector program bringing more than 20 diverse organisations together to improve nutrition in Timor-Leste.

Our goal

To reduce the prevalence of stunting in children under two and create developmental, social and economic benefits for present and future generations in Timor-Leste.

To achieve our goal, we’re enhancing collaboration, using mobile technology to collect household data, finding creative ways to promote behaviour change, and training partners to address nutrition through programs in many different sectors.

What is stunting?

Stunting is when a child’s height is too low for their age and negatively affects education, earning potential, and likelihood of disease. It’s a sign of chronic undernutrition and restricts human potential.

On average, stunted kids complete 4.6 fewer grades in school compared to children who aren't stunted.

Adults who were stunted kids earn 21% less in adult wages compared to adults who weren't.

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

In Timor-Leste, despite progress in recent decades, 50% of children under five years suffer from stunting – one of the highest rates in the world.

The causes of stunting are complex, diverse and not just the responsibility of one sector. Evidence shows the following factors can significantly reduce stunting:

Maintaining adequate dietary energy supply

Washing hands

Breastfeeding and complementary feeding

Keeping girls in school for longer

Spacing births by at least two years

Drinking safe water

The global evidence is clear: breaking the inter-generational cycle of stunting requires collective action targeting all causes of stunting.

To make a sustained impact on stunting, we need to work better together.

So, what are we doing?

Through our pilot project, we’re creating an environment where our partners can help address the causes of stunting through their own programs in WASH, education, agriculture, health and social inclusion. Here’s how.

We’re increasing collaboration between partners through multi-sector coordination, a mobile app and an online platform to track and share household progress.

We’re training our partners in multi-sector nutrition, to help them share messages with households in the community about the behaviours that lead to better nutrition outcomes.

We’re using participatory video to tell stories that create social and behavioural change.

We’re collecting and analysing data through our app and using it to tell us the best videos to play for a household, such as a video about maternal health if a pregnant woman lives there, and to tell us what’s working.

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

Where are we working?

We are getting started in Holarua, Manufahi.

Hamutuk is commencing work in Holarua. The village of Holarua is located in a mountainous area in the municipality of Manufahi. Holarua consists of 13 hamlets, half of which are not accessible from the main road. The total population is approximately 7,000 people.

Holarua was selected as the first project site because it is geographically isolated and there is a large overlap of partners implementing nutrition promoting interventions. Over the next five years, Hamutuk plans to expand to other villages in Timor-Leste.