After the collapse of the Soviet Union, primary school students in Kyrgyzstan lost access to free school meals. The turning point came when the UN World Food Programme (WFP) launched a special initiative to revive this vital service: the “School Meals Optimization” project. The CIS Basic Organization for School Feeding, the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), has provided technical assistance throughout.
Looking back
In Soviet times, school meals were well thought-out and nutritious: hot soups, cutlets, porridge, and vitamin-rich drinks, all carefully designed to meet the needs of a growing child. But in the tough 1990s and beyond, the situation changed dramatically. Hot lunches were replaced with meager snacks.
Until just a few years ago, the government allocated only 7 Kyrgyz soms (about 8 cents) per day to feed one child. That could buy nothing more than a bun or a cookie with tea. In 2012, the government of Kyrgyzstan turned to international experts for help.
By 2013 Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education, WFP, and SIFI began a large-scale effort to improve school meals for more than 400,000 primary schoolchildren.
“First, we work with local authorities to improve school infrastructure and regulations. Sewage systems need repair, three-phase power must be installed, and schools need access to running water. Only after that do we equip kitchens with electric stoves, vegetable cutters, dough mixers, refrigerators, cutting tables, and much more,” explains WFP school meals specialist Aida Aftandilova.
The work continues to this day. Thanks to support of the partners, more than 920 schools (86% of those in the programme) can now provide children with hot meals, fresh baked goods, and fruit compotes.
“Our task is not just to bring back cutlets and compotes to schools. We are laying the foundation for an entire generation’s health. Every bowl of soup is a building block for strong immunity, an investment in growth and development. We want healthy food to be tasty, and tasty food to be safe. This is a challenging but critically important journey, and together we have already made significant progress,” emphasizes Vladimir Chernigov, SIFI President.
Children’s health comes first
Doctors also stress the importance of proper school meals. Tursun Mamyrbaeva, professor of pediatrics at KRSU and nutrition specialist, explains:
“A child must receive all the necessary nutrients every day. Unfortunately, not every family can provide the right diet. That’s why government support is so important. Well-organized school meals can cover up to 25% of a child’s daily energy and nutrient needs.”
How meals are organized today
By joint effort, in 2023 the daily food budget per primary school student increased from 7 to 14 soms. In Bishkek, city funding brings this amount to 22 soms, and in Osh — 15 soms.
But money alone is not enough. Food preparation also matters. “Together with our partners, above all our key partner SIFI, we carry out educational work. For example, we published a cookbook with over 100 recipes: soups, drinks, baked goods,” says Aida.
In November 2022, in partnership of SIFI, WFP, and the Ministry of Education, Kyrgyzstan opened its first Republican Competency Center at the Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University. The center trains and retrains school cooks and kitchen staff.
“More than 300 specialists have been certified, and 18 graduates became professional chefs of the third rank. They studied theory and practiced food preparation, raw material safety, and product quality,” explains Center Director Aynura Kulenbekova. She adds that the center aims to improve school meals further by introducing modern technologies, new equipment, and global best practices. Training is conducted by university professors, food industry experts, and practicing chefs.
The center’s success has been so great that a branch is already planned in Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan, at the local lyceum of Osh State University.
Quality сontrol: Every parent’s concern
Parents have the right to see the menu and check how food is used. A special quality control commission oversees meals in schools.
“Its job is to check the quality of dishes. Members taste the food, assess its flavor, appearance, aroma, consistency, and doneness, and record the results in a logbook,” says Aida Aftandilova.
What still needs work
A proper school menu must provide protein, vitamins, and calories essential for growth and development. Yet challenges remain. WFP implementing partner Elena Mikhailidi explains:
“A school breakfast should make up 25% of the daily diet. Analysis shows that calories are often sufficient, even exceeded, but there is a shortage of animal protein — vital for muscle growth, metabolism, and strong immunity. Its lack leads to anemia.”
The problem is that meat is the most expensive part of the diet. Experts also recommend reducing sugar in compotes and porridge to prevent diabetes and hypertension among children.
Parent co-financing could diversify school meals, but recent legislation makes this difficult for now.
Looking ahead: Gardens, solar Panels, and competitions
The programme goes beyond food alone. One innovative step is installing solar panels to reduce school expenses, with funding from Russia’s Ministry of Finance. Pilot schools in Chuy and Osh regions, as well as Bishkek and Osh, have already been selected. Savings on electricity will allow schools to invest more in better meals for children.
Another important area is school gardens and farms. These projects achieve several goals: fresh fruits and vegetables enrich the diet, while children and parents learn agriculture, gain practical skills, and even develop entrepreneurship by selling surplus produce at local markets.
The professional community is also growing. For three years in a row, SIFI has held a national competition for school cooks. It has become a true celebration of culinary skills, where the best chefs from across Kyrgyzstan share recipes, exchange experience, and present menus that are not only healthy and balanced, but also fit within the school budget. Thanks to this contest, new delicious and nutritious dishes make their way into school canteens.
Together toward the goal
Since 2013, SIFI has consistently supported the school meals programme for Kyrgyzstan’s youngest students. This support is an investment in children’s health, in the country’s future generations, and therefore in a stable and prosperous future for all of Kyrgyzstan.