Press Release

WFP renovates school canteens to boost school feeding in Dushanbe

09 October 2024

Dushanbe – The Government of Tajikistan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI) inaugurated a renovated canteen in school number 30 in Dushanbe, alongside the handover of kitchen equipment to boost the city’s school feeding programme. With USD 800,000 in funding from the Russian Federation, 55 school canteens in 31 districts across Tajikistan have been upgraded. This initiative improves the quality, safety, and efficiency of meal preparation, directly enhancing student nutrition and well-being.

The ceremony was attended by WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan Adham Musallam, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Tajikistan Jurazoda Jamshed, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan Zulfiya Abdusamatzoda and Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Semyon Grigoryev.

“Ensuring sufficient, diverse and nutritious food contributes to strengthening children’s immune system and increases their capacities to cope with other diseases. School feeding can also advocate for healthy diets, foster public-private partnerships and support local food systems. We are collaborating closely with government partners, local communities, parents, and teachers to ensure the long-term success of the school feeding programme,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan Adham Musallam.

The School Feeding Programme is WFP’s largest operation in Tajikistan, providing 430,000 students with regular nutritious meals in grades 1-4 across 2,000 schools in 52 districts and towns.

In 2022, the Government of Tajikistan approved the 2022-2027 State Programme on School Feeding Development,which marks a transition toward national ownership of the programme, with government funding. To support this shift, WFP is supporting schools to strengthen capacity through initiatives like connecting schools to local agricultural producers and bakeries, introducing cash transfers, and renovating school canteens. WFP also launched a microgrant project, which includes a diverse range of income-generating activities for the schools that would supplement the schools’ finances, train staff and students and introduce more diverse food options in school meals.

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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.

For more information please contact: nasrullo.ramazonov@wfp.org

Nasrullo Ramazonov, WFP/ Dushanbe, Mob. +992 900092987

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