Healthy school meals remain one of the most tangible forms of support for families with children. For this reason, school lunches are increasingly the subject of serious and open public dialogue. On January 28, representatives of different ministries, experts, and development partners convened at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan for the year-end session of the Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on School Feeding to review the performance of the National School Feeding Programme in 2025 and to define priorities for the years ahead.
Putting children’s health first
Opening the meeting, Zoir Nabiev, Head of the Department for the Organization of Medical Care for Mothers and Children and Family Planning at the Ministry, emphasized that children’s health begins with nutrition. What children eat and how regularly they eat directly affect concentration, stamina, physical well-being, and engagement in learning. A balanced hot meal at school helps children stay focused, energized, and confident, enabling them to fully engage in their studies throughout the day.
Today, school feeding is widely recognized as one of the most reliable tools for supporting primary school children and ensuring equal learning conditions regardless of a family’s income. Over the long term, it is an investment that contributes to broader social stability and sustainable development.
The School Feeding Programme today
The National School Feeding Programme has now been in operation for four years. During this time, it has become more structured, resilient, and systematic. The focus extends beyond simply providing food to ensuring its quality, safety, and nutritional value for children.
Every aspect of the system is carefully managed: which products are procured, how meals are prepared, who is responsible for delivery, and how to ensure the consistent functioning of school canteens.
In 2025, more than 36,000 children in 94 schools nationwide — from Khatlon and Sughd to Dushanbe and GBAO — received daily hot meals funded by the state. This support is set to expand further. Funding for school feeding is increasing, and allocations for 2026 are expected to nearly double compared to the previous year.
Shared effort for the future
Participants used the meeting to exchange ideas on how to further strengthen the Programme. They discussed operational challenges, explored practical solutions, and reached a common conclusion: the initiative must continue to grow, as it directly impacts the health and well-being of children.
School feeding is more than a line in the budget. It is a daily commitment to every child. The more thoughtfully it is designed and implemented today, the brighter and healthier tomorrow will be for the next generation.
Putting children’s health first
Opening the meeting, Zoir Nabiev, Head of the Department for the Organization of Medical Care for Mothers and Children and Family Planning at the Ministry, emphasized that children’s health begins with nutrition. What children eat and how regularly they eat directly affect concentration, stamina, physical well-being, and engagement in learning. A balanced hot meal at school helps children stay focused, energized, and confident, enabling them to fully engage in their studies throughout the day.
Today, school feeding is widely recognized as one of the most reliable tools for supporting primary school children and ensuring equal learning conditions regardless of a family’s income. Over the long term, it is an investment that contributes to broader social stability and sustainable development.
The School Feeding Programme today
The National School Feeding Programme has now been in operation for four years. During this time, it has become more structured, resilient, and systematic. The focus extends beyond simply providing food to ensuring its quality, safety, and nutritional value for children.
Every aspect of the system is carefully managed: which products are procured, how meals are prepared, who is responsible for delivery, and how to ensure the consistent functioning of school canteens.
In 2025, more than 36,000 children in 94 schools nationwide — from Khatlon and Sughd to Dushanbe and GBAO — received daily hot meals funded by the state. This support is set to expand further. Funding for school feeding is increasing, and allocations for 2026 are expected to nearly double compared to the previous year.
Shared effort for the future
Participants used the meeting to exchange ideas on how to further strengthen the Programme. They discussed operational challenges, explored practical solutions, and reached a common conclusion: the initiative must continue to grow, as it directly impacts the health and well-being of children.
School feeding is more than a line in the budget. It is a daily commitment to every child. The more thoughtfully it is designed and implemented today, the brighter and healthier tomorrow will be for the next generation.