| Overview : The Survey on Social Cohesion (SSC) will serve as a baseline and planning tool for the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the National Directorate for Assistance and Social Cohesion. The SSC will assist Ministry staff to analyze and assess the impact of the government’s efforts to improve social cohesion. Baseline data and rigorous analysis is essential for planning and measuring the appropriateness and effectiveness of government interventions to improve social cohesion that decrease the potential for interpersonal, community and national conflict. This survey aims to understand the programs, policies, and local institutions that contribute to increased social cohesion in Timor-Leste. The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) would like to better understand the way that government programs impact local populations and the risks and challenges that may exist in improving access to specific programs. It is hoped that information from this survey will assist policy makers within MSS to plan programs that are more conflict sensitive for vulnerable groups by funding interventions that increase social cohesion at the local and national level. The survey is meant to analyze and identify perceptions and priorities as identified by respondents that contribute to social cohesion and/ or limit social inclusion. It is meant to address potential issues at the community and national level that may contribute to social conflicts. The survey must be detailed and analysis must be comprehensive, with geographic, gender, and status information (i.e. socio-economic, employment status, etc.) disaggregated. This survey will support the work of MSS and other Ministries working on programs that impact social cohesion in Timor-Leste. It is anticipated that this survey will also contribute important information for the RDTL planning process and ensure that programs designed in the future understand better the perceptions and protection needs of targeted populations. | 
