The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a three-year, US$10 million project aimed at improving the health and nutrition of school-aged children. The initiative will directly benefit 15,000 children, half of whom are girls, across 40 schools in Batken, Jalal-Abad, Osh, Chuy, and Naryn provinces. In addition, 1,000 smallholder farmers will benefit through the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which supplies schools with fresh, locally produced food.
The project includes upgrading school kitchens and sanitation facilities to foster healthier habits among children, enhance their learning capacity, and provide long-term benefits to local farmers and communities. According to So Yeon Lim, Country Director of KOICA in Kyrgyzstan, the partnership not only improves children’s health and nutrition but also strengthens rural communities by connecting local farmers with schools and investing in modern infrastructure to support inclusive development.
While the Kyrgyz Republic has made progress in education and nutrition, challenges persist—particularly in food security, nutrition, and access to safe, inclusive school facilities, especially in rural and mountainous regions. Building on the successes of earlier WFP and KOICA collaborations, this new project aligns with the country’s national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on improving education, nutrition, and rural livelihoods.
Kojiro Nakai, WFP Representative and Country Director, emphasized that the partnership is a crucial step toward ensuring all children in the Kyrgyz Republic have access to nutritious meals and inclusive learning environments. By empowering smallholder farmers—particularly women—and strengthening local food systems, the project aims to promote resilience and sustainable community development.
Beyond enhancing school meals, the project will also build institutional capacity at multiple levels. It will train government officials, local authorities, and communities to manage and sustain the program effectively. The initiative will further help farmers engage in government procurement processes, while strengthening the Ministry of Education’s ability to oversee and expand the program—ensuring long-term quality, sustainability, and impact for generations to come.
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