BISHKEK – The Kyrgyz Republic has joined the School Meals Coalition, a global initiative launched by France and Finland in 2021, to offer every child in the world daily access to a school meal by 2030.
The announcement made at the Global Child Nutrition Forum (GCNF) in Osaka, Japan, by the Minister of Education and Science, Ms. Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva. It came as the country grapples with micronutrient deficiencies.
Nearly half of children aged 6 to 59 months and adolescent girls suffer from deficiencies in iron and other micronutrients. According to a recent national survey, any are affected by multiple deficiencies, including folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin A, and iron,
“These issues impose significant social and economic costs on households, communities, and the nation as a whole,” said Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva, the Minister of Education and Science. Recognising the transformative power of a balanced diet, the Government has implemented the National School Meals Programme since 2006, improving both the health and academic outcomes of our students,” she added.
“As a new member of the School Meals Coalition, the Kyrgyz Republic plans to incorporate climate-smart practices into its National School Meals Programme, with an emphasis on Home-Grown School Feeding. This approach not only provides students with nutritious meals but also equips them with practical skills and knowledge. By partnering with international organizations such as WFP, the government aims to create a sustainable, locally sourced school meal programme that benefits students and supports communities.”
To strengthen the National School Meals Programme, the Kyrgyz Republic has enacted legislations and established sustainable policies to uphold every child's right to a balanced, age-appropriate diet. In 2024, the government increased the budget for school meals by 200 percent and pledged to train all school cooks by the end of 2025.
“The school meals programmes are among the most effective social protection measures, filling the children’s nutritional gaps while letting them focus on study, contributing to human capital development for future,” said Kojiro Nakai, WFP Representative and Country Director in the Kyrgyz Republic.
“WFP is working with the Government since 2013 to optimise the National School Meals Programme and strengthen its sustainability. Beyond providing modern equipment and training for cooks and school administration, we actively engage parents and communities to promote the importance of nutritious meals and healthy lifestyles.”
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Science and with WFP’s support, the Kyrgyz Republic’s National School Meals Programme now provides nutritious meals to over 920 schools, benefiting around 250,000 primary school children. Each year, besides food supply, WFP improves school canteen facilities, providing essential equipment, and training cooks and school staff to ensure safe, healthy meals for students.
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**About the School Meals Coalition**
The School Meals Coalition, a global alliance of 105 aims to improve child nutrition, education, and well-being through comprehensive school meal programmes. It supports countries to expand meal coverage, promote local sourcing, and build sustainable school feeding systems that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
**About WFP**
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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