This country study provides updated information and data on social protection arrangements, legislation, and institutions and calculates the Social Protection Index (SPI) for Timor-Leste in view of the revised SPI methodology. The SPI can be updated periodically to assess progress in social protection arrangements in the country and analyse deeper aspects of targeting, coverage and expenditures on various social protection programs; for example, on the breadth (coverage) of social insurance versus social assistance or labour market programs, or on the depth (size of benefit) of various categories of social protection. The revised SPI methodology also provides scope to measure the gender responsiveness of programs, and poverty targeting of programs.

The primary objective of the Timor-Leste Country Report is to present the results of the research on social protection programs and policies in Timor-Leste from all related ministries, particularly Social, Health, Education and State Secretariat for Employment and Vocational Training; and, summarize quantitative information on these activities to enable the formulation of a national Social Protection Index (SPI). This is the first study to gather information on social policy and programs in Timor-Leste in the formulation of a social protection index.