Nutrition of schoolchildren is our common concern: Highlights from School Feeding Coordination Council meeting in Dushanbe
Did you know that a school lunch can impact your child’s academic performance and mood even more than a perfect homework assignment? It’s simple: nutritious meals provide the energy and focus children need to succeed. On the contrary, hunger or a quick snack like packaged croutons during the breaks, can leave a child irritable and distracted in class.
Ensuring quality, balanced school meals is more complex than it might seem. Behind the scenes is a whole system involving many people and organizations. A recent high-level meeting in Dushanbe focused precisely on this important issue.
On April 16, representatives from various ministries, government agencies, and international organizations gathered at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population to hold an interdepartmental Coordination Council session dedicated to key matters around school feeding. It wasn’t just about meals—it was about the health and future of our children.
The meeting was opened by Zoir Nabiev, Head of Department at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and Badriddin Muzaffarzoda, Deputy Minister of Education and Science. The atmosphere was frienly, but everyone in the room was serious and committed.
Education Code, forum, and monitoring: what was discussed?
One of the central topics was the new draft of the Education Code of the Republic of Tajikistan. Consultant Nazrullo Mahmudov, who is involved in developing the Code, explained that school and preschool nutrition clauses now more clearly defined within the document. Still, participants noted that there’s much more work ahead.
Another key point on the agenda was the upcoming International Forum of CIS Countries on School Feeding, which will be held in Dushanbe at the end of 2025. Ministry representatives and development partners engaged in lively discussions about how to make the event as impactful and memorable as possible.
Also noteworthy was the presentation by Mahbuba Rasulova from the UN World Food Programme. She shared WFP’s plans for monitoring school feeding—backed by numbers, timelines, and goals. However, beyond the data lies a genuine concern for every child’s well-being.
What has been achieved and what lies ahead
Over the years of implementing the Programme, a great deal has already been accomplished. Out of 33 action plan points, 10 have been fully completed, and 21 are currently underway. Of course, there are still challenges—for example, a centralized food processing facility has yet to be established—but official requests have already been sent to relevant ministries and executive agencies. There are still two more years of active work ahead!
In 2025, the state budget allocated 18.8 million somoni to support the School Feeding Programme. And that’s not all: the UN World Food Programme has committed an additional USD 9 million for 2024–2025. This effort is made possible thanks to the valuable support of the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI) and local government authorities. We extend gratitude to all our development partners.
The Programme’s main goal is not just to feed children, but to fundamentally transform the entire approach to school meals. Every aspect matters: technology, logistics, management, staffing—and of course, financing. While much progress has been made, the legal framework still needs to be reinforced. The Ministry of Education is now addressing this issue by developing the Education Code, which will become the key document governing school meals in the country.
“School feeding is a shared responsibility,” noted Deputy Minister of Education Badriddin Muzaffarzoda. And he couldn’t be more right.
Parents can rest assured—their children are in good hands. In Tajikistan, school feeding is monitored by officials and international experts who are fully committed to doing everything possible for the health and happiness of every schoolchild.
Did you know that a school lunch can impact your child’s academic performance and mood even more than a perfect homework assignment? It’s simple: nutritious meals provide the energy and focus children need to succeed. On the contrary, hunger or a quick snack like packaged croutons during the breaks, can leave a child irritable and distracted in class.
Ensuring quality, balanced school meals is more complex than it might seem. Behind the scenes is a whole system involving many people and organizations. A recent high-level meeting in Dushanbe focused precisely on this important issue.
On April 16, representatives from various ministries, government agencies, and international organizations gathered at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population to hold an interdepartmental Coordination Council session dedicated to key matters around school feeding. It wasn’t just about meals—it was about the health and future of our children.
The meeting was opened by Zoir Nabiev, Head of Department at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and Badriddin Muzaffarzoda, Deputy Minister of Education and Science. The atmosphere was frienly, but everyone in the room was serious and committed.
Education Code, forum, and monitoring: what was discussed?
One of the central topics was the new draft of the Education Code of the Republic of Tajikistan. Consultant Nazrullo Mahmudov, who is involved in developing the Code, explained that school and preschool nutrition clauses now more clearly defined within the document. Still, participants noted that there’s much more work ahead.
Another key point on the agenda was the upcoming International Forum of CIS Countries on School Feeding, which will be held in Dushanbe at the end of 2025. Ministry representatives and development partners engaged in lively discussions about how to make the event as impactful and memorable as possible.
Also noteworthy was the presentation by Mahbuba Rasulova from the UN World Food Programme. She shared WFP’s plans for monitoring school feeding—backed by numbers, timelines, and goals. However, beyond the data lies a genuine concern for every child’s well-being.
What has been achieved and what lies ahead
Over the years of implementing the Programme, a great deal has already been accomplished. Out of 33 action plan points, 10 have been fully completed, and 21 are currently underway. Of course, there are still challenges—for example, a centralized food processing facility has yet to be established—but official requests have already been sent to relevant ministries and executive agencies. There are still two more years of active work ahead!
In 2025, the state budget allocated 18.8 million somoni to support the School Feeding Programme. And that’s not all: the UN World Food Programme has committed an additional USD 9 million for 2024–2025. This effort is made possible thanks to the valuable support of the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI) and local government authorities. We extend gratitude to all our development partners.
The Programme’s main goal is not just to feed children, but to fundamentally transform the entire approach to school meals. Every aspect matters: technology, logistics, management, staffing—and of course, financing. While much progress has been made, the legal framework still needs to be reinforced. The Ministry of Education is now addressing this issue by developing the Education Code, which will become the key document governing school meals in the country.
“School feeding is a shared responsibility,” noted Deputy Minister of Education Badriddin Muzaffarzoda. And he couldn’t be more right.
Parents can rest assured—their children are in good hands. In Tajikistan, school feeding is monitored by officials and international experts who are fully committed to doing everything possible for the health and happiness of every schoolchild.