The success of the School Feeding Programme is the result of daily work of all people involved in its implementation: cooks in school kitchens, school headmasters, employees responsible for the provision of school meals, representatives of authorities, and donor organizations. How can we understand that things are heading in the right direction? The answer is thorough analysis and control over the programme implementation.
To that end, an Interagency Coordination Council on School Feeding was formed in Tajikistan. Council members – representatives of ministries and governmental agencies – meet regularly to discuss ongoing processes and resolve urgent issues. Traditionally, meetings were held in Dushanbe. However, the format was changed last year because analyzing the situation on the spot is more expedient.
Thus, 2022 has become the year of on-site meetings of the Coordination Council on School Feeding. The experts visited Khatlon, Sughd, and Rasht regions.
In May 2023, the meeting was held in the country’s largest region - Badakhshan Mountainous Autonomous Region (GBAO).
Situation in schools
First, the delegation members visited local schools. They supervised catering in schools №1 and №4 in Rushon district and consulted headmasters on improving school meals.
This year, the government of Tajikistan allocated 5,5 million somonis for the organization of meals in pilot schools covered by the World Food Programme. School №4 received 71 thousand somonis to feed 199 children in grades 1-4. With the funds provided by the government, the school purchases products for cooking hot dishes.
The delegation also visited schools in the Shugnon district: №36, №38, №40, and №54. Three of them are pilot schools that received additional financing for the provision of meals. The amount of funding depends on the number of children. Thus, school №36 was allocated 37,9 thousand somonis for feeding 106 children. School №38 received 24,3 thousand somonis for 68 children. School №40, which has 105 children in grades 1-4, was given 37,5 somoni.
In the Roshtkala district, the Coordination Council members paid visits to schools №30, №31 и №35.
Summing-up
On May 18, the meeting on school feeding took place in the Gorno-Badakhshan administrative center — city of Khorog — with the participation of GBAO deputy chairman, Abdulnazar Abdulnazarzoda, heads of educational departments, GBAO-based members of the Coordination Council, representatives of Ministries of Health and Social Protection, Education and Science, Trade and Economic Development, Finance, and Agriculture, Sanitary and Epidemiological Service (SES), UN WFP office in Tajikistan, and SIFI.
In addition to standards issues, the officials referred to funding distribution in the pilot schools of Gorno-Badakhshan and possibilities of alternative financing. They also discussed the activity of the newly opened School Feeding Center at the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan. In conclusion, the participants made suggestions regarding the development and improvement of school feeding in the region.
GBAO has become the final destination of the Coordination Council’s on-site tour. Now, the experts clearly understand how the School Feeding Programme is implemented in different corners of the country. In addition, each region received recommendations on improving school meals for little ones. Another milestone is achieved in making school feeding in Tajikistan better.
To that end, an Interagency Coordination Council on School Feeding was formed in Tajikistan. Council members – representatives of ministries and governmental agencies – meet regularly to discuss ongoing processes and resolve urgent issues. Traditionally, meetings were held in Dushanbe. However, the format was changed last year because analyzing the situation on the spot is more expedient.
Thus, 2022 has become the year of on-site meetings of the Coordination Council on School Feeding. The experts visited Khatlon, Sughd, and Rasht regions.
In May 2023, the meeting was held in the country’s largest region - Badakhshan Mountainous Autonomous Region (GBAO).
Situation in schools
First, the delegation members visited local schools. They supervised catering in schools №1 and №4 in Rushon district and consulted headmasters on improving school meals.
This year, the government of Tajikistan allocated 5,5 million somonis for the organization of meals in pilot schools covered by the World Food Programme. School №4 received 71 thousand somonis to feed 199 children in grades 1-4. With the funds provided by the government, the school purchases products for cooking hot dishes.
The delegation also visited schools in the Shugnon district: №36, №38, №40, and №54. Three of them are pilot schools that received additional financing for the provision of meals. The amount of funding depends on the number of children. Thus, school №36 was allocated 37,9 thousand somonis for feeding 106 children. School №38 received 24,3 thousand somonis for 68 children. School №40, which has 105 children in grades 1-4, was given 37,5 somoni.
In the Roshtkala district, the Coordination Council members paid visits to schools №30, №31 и №35.
Summing-up
On May 18, the meeting on school feeding took place in the Gorno-Badakhshan administrative center — city of Khorog — with the participation of GBAO deputy chairman, Abdulnazar Abdulnazarzoda, heads of educational departments, GBAO-based members of the Coordination Council, representatives of Ministries of Health and Social Protection, Education and Science, Trade and Economic Development, Finance, and Agriculture, Sanitary and Epidemiological Service (SES), UN WFP office in Tajikistan, and SIFI.
In addition to standards issues, the officials referred to funding distribution in the pilot schools of Gorno-Badakhshan and possibilities of alternative financing. They also discussed the activity of the newly opened School Feeding Center at the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan. In conclusion, the participants made suggestions regarding the development and improvement of school feeding in the region.
GBAO has become the final destination of the Coordination Council’s on-site tour. Now, the experts clearly understand how the School Feeding Programme is implemented in different corners of the country. In addition, each region received recommendations on improving school meals for little ones. Another milestone is achieved in making school feeding in Tajikistan better.