In Bhutan, dietary insufficiency and affordability remain pressing challenges, with 86 percent of citizens not consuming enough fruits and vegetables and 27 percent of households unable to afford nutrient‑adequate diets. To address these issues, the World Food Programme (WFP) deepened its support in 2025, focusing on strengthening food systems, nutrition, and emergency preparedness through partnerships aligned with national priorities. The government has invested significantly in school food programmes, doubling stipends and connecting local farmers to schools to provide more nutritious meals.
WFP’s work in 2025 included developing strategic investment plans for high‑value products and livestock, while also supporting emergency preparedness in a country prone to seismic risks. Logistical capacity assessments and preparedness planning were carried out to strengthen resilience. These efforts form part of Bhutan’s 13th Five‑Year Plan, with long‑term goals of increasing farmer incomes, improving market access, and enhancing school nutrition through gardens and meal planning tools.
Future priorities include mobilising resources for index‑based insurance, emergency response, and the construction of green school kitchens. WFP remains committed to delivering its Country Strategic Plan (2024–2028) despite funding constraints. Strategic Investment Plans in agriculture and livestock have already attracted new investment, boosting incomes, creating jobs for women and youth, and improving food security.
Nutrition outcomes remain a concern, with child stunting at 17.9 percent, anaemia widespread, and obesity affecting 33.3 percent of the population. WFP has supported nutrition education, school‑based programmes, and established 25 nutrition model gardens linking farmers to schools and markets.
Aligned with Bhutan’s 21st Century Economic Roadmap, WFP has supported value chain development in dairy, poultry, piggery, spices, and coffee, engaging 300 value chain actors and 100 farmer groups in climate‑resilient, nutrition‑sensitive farming. In Trongsa, a dairy platform identified the need for central milk processing facilities and improved collection networks.
Emergency preparedness has also been strengthened, with logistics assessments, manuals, and training for government agencies and De‑Suung volunteers. In 2025, 45 partners received training in logistics, coordination, and data management.
Partnerships have been central, with over 1,400 stakeholders benefiting from capacity‑building initiatives. Projects such as BRECSA, implemented with IFAD and funded by GAFSP, have supported food and nutrition security, particularly for women farmers and vulnerable rural households. However, Bhutan’s transition to lower‑middle‑income status has reduced donor support, leaving funding gaps. WFP mobilised just over half of its Country Strategic Plan requirements in 2025, with delays limiting utilisation of planned resources.
Despite these constraints, WFP’s integrated approach—supporting farmers, improving school meals, and strengthening emergency preparedness—continues to lay the foundation for long‑term resilience and improved nutrition outcomes in Bhutan.
