Food systems transformation for better nutrition in Tajikistan

The Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations in Tajikistan convened the second Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting of the Joint Programme “Transforming Food Systems for Better Nutrition in Tajikistan” funded by the Joint SDG Fund and  implemented by FAO, UNICEF,  WFP and WHO.  The meeting was convened with participation of senior government officials, UN Agencies and development partners to review implementation progress, validate key achievements, opportunities for the second programme year.

Co-chaired by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Food Security under the Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the meeting reaffirmed the partners' shared commitment to transforming Tajikistan's food systems to improve nutrition, strengthen food security and accelerate progress towards the SDGs 2030.

Mr. Shirinjonzoda Mahmud, the First Deputy of the Committee for Food Security under the Government of Tajikistan in his opening remarks, underlined the importance of food systems transformation as one of the Government priorities and added: "Building sustainable food systems requires a wholistic approach. The Joint Programme is helping us to establish this collaborative approach, creating a stronger foundation for policies that improve nutrition, strengthen food security and support the country's long-term development." 

Ms. Parvathy Ramaswami commended the Government of Tajikistan for advancing food systems in partnership with the United Nations and other development partners. She added: “Food systems transformation is about people. We need to invest in community-based nutrition education, engage girls, boys, women and men to influence food habits, enlist community elders and leaders as champions of healthy diets, integrate nutrition into school curricula, and use digital and social media to advocate for healthy and sustainable living."

Since its launch, the programme is  supported in drafting the  State Programme on Improving Nutrition of the Population for 2026–2030,  development of Tajikistan's National Food Systems-Based Dietary Guidelines (FSBDG),  advancing a pilot initiative on locally sourced school meals, continues to supporting the analytical work on sugar-sweetened beverage taxation and the ENHANCE study on the affordability of healthy diets to inform nutrition-sensitive fiscal policies and public investment decisions. 

During the meeting, Joint Steering Committee members reviewed programme implementation, assessed progress against expected results and agreed on strategic recommendations to strengthen multi-sectoral coordination, address emerging challenges and ensure continued alignment with national development priorities.

The Joint Programme Transforming Food Systems for Better Nutrition in Tajikistan is funded by the UN Joint SDG Fund, a catalytic financing mechanism that supports integrated actions to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Tajikistan, the programme is jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the in close partnership with the Government of Tajikistan.

The Joint Programme is supporting Tajikistan in strengthening institutional capacities, improving policy coherence and promoting innovative, evidence-based solutions that place nutrition at the centre of food systems development. By fostering collaboration across sectors, including health, agriculture, education, finance and economic development, the programme is advancing a whole-of-government approach to food systems transformation.