Timor-Leste suffers from high levels of chronic food insecurity and child and maternal malnutrition, particularly in rural areas.Over one third of the population regularly experiences food shortages that are particularly severe for four months each year. According to the 2011 State of the World's Children Report by UNICEF, 49% of under-5 children are underweight (moderate and severe), 54% of under-5 children in Timor-Leste are stunted (moderate and severe) which is the indicator for chronic malnutrition. Globally, malnutrition is only worse in Afghanistan and Yemen.
World Vision Timor-Leste (WVTL) began its first project in Timor-Leste in 1995 with an Area Development Program (ADP) in Aileu District under the auspices of World Vision Indonesia. After the independence referendum and the emergency period in 1999, World Vision opened its Dili office in September 1999.
With a special focus on children, WVTL is currently implementing 3 Area Programs in the districts Aileu, Baucau and Bobonaro focusing on the ministry priorities: Health (including Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Education and Community Economic Development (including Food Security).
In order to support communities to improve their lives, WVTL builds on strong partnerships. Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a reliable partner enabling WVTL to work more efficiently and closer to the communities. While the trip to Bobonaro Area Program Office in Maliana takes about 5 hours by car on a windy road along the coast with many potholes and which is sometimes closed for construction works without prior notice, MAF's transportation service allows WVTL staff to get there in just 20 minutes.
WVTL accommodates visitors like consultants who have only limited time on a regular basis. MAF has proven to be a professional partner that makes WVTL's work in remote communities easier and even cheaper, as WVTL get offered a special NGO discount. Time consuming road trips can so be avoided and work in the field can be done much more efficiently. Usually, WVTL would use MAF's transportation service once a month.
In many cases MAF have shown their flexibility by flying on the weekend or changing their routes to meet WVTL's needs. This commitment is highly appreciated, as Antonio Goncalves, WVTL General Services Manager, points out: "Without MAF, we would have been in trouble many times". And strong partnerships provide mutual benefits to both sides. When once the grass on the Maliana airstrip was too high for the MAF plane to land, WVTL just contacted the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries - another partner of WVTL. After they cut the grass on the airstrip, MAF could offer flights to Bobonaro again and WVTL was one of the first to take this opportunity.