Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A significant stakeholder meeting in Tashkent has brought together key experts to discuss the progress and future strategies for strengthening school meal programs in Uzbekistan. The meeting focused on advancing food and nutritional security through comprehensive improvements to existing initiatives, particularly the pilot free school feeding program currently operating in the Karakalpakstan Republic and Khorezm region.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently completed an extensive assessment of Uzbekistan's school feeding program, revealing both promising foundations and areas needing improvement. The initiative, "Support to enhance food security and nutrition through School Meal Programs" (TCP/UZB/3907) launched in 2024, aims to leverage existing best practices while addressing capability gaps in the country's school meal programs.

"Uzbekistan has made significant strides in prioritizing school meal programs as a key strategy for food security and child nutrition. However, to ensure long-term impact, we must address critical gaps such as financial sustainability, infrastructure limitations, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. Strengthening intersectoral coordination, integrating food and nutrition education, and linking school meals with local agricultural production will be essential in building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable school feeding system that benefits both children and communities. FAO remains committed to supporting Uzbekistan in this transformative journey," stated Flavia Schwartzman.

The pilot program currently provides free meals to all students in grades 1-4 in target regions, demonstrating strong government commitment through dedicated funding. This support is anchored in the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan (2022-2026), providing a solid political foundation for further expansion.

Despite these positive developments, the assessment identified several challenges. The current allocation of 5,660 soums per child per day has proven insufficient to ensure high-quality, nutritious meals. Infrastructure remains a significant obstacle, with 42% of school canteens requiring repairs and 31.4% of schools lacking canteens entirely. Additionally, the program suffers from fragmented intersectoral collaboration and incomplete regulatory frameworks for nutrition and food safety standards.

"Uzbekistan's school meal program has a strong foundation, with clear government support and strategic policy backing. However, our SWOT analysis highlights key areas that need urgent attention. The lack of a structured intersectoral mechanism has led to fragmented coordination, while financial constraints continue to limit meal quality and accessibility. Additionally, infrastructure gaps—where over 40% of school canteens require repairs—pose a challenge to program expansion. To create a truly sustainable school feeding system, we must strengthen governance, secure long-term financial investment, and integrate school meals with local agricultural supply chains. A comprehensive approach will ensure that every child receives nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate meals, improving both health and education outcomes across the country," said Lola Isakova, FAO National Expert on nutrition.

The meeting presented a comprehensive set of recommendations addressing ten critical areas for strengthening school meal programs throughout Uzbekistan. A key priority is establishing a national intersectoral coordination mechanism involving the Ministries of Preschool and School Education, Health, Agriculture, and Finance to align policies and reduce inefficiencies. Experts called for redesigning school meals to integrate health, education, social development, and agricultural objectives, defining clear goals based on regional dietary habits, nutritional needs, and food security challenges.

The stakeholders emphasized the need to establish national guidelines for nutrition and food safety in compliance with Sanitary rules and norms 0017-21 standards, along with quality criteria for meal providers. They also highlighted the importance of integrating food and nutrition education as a mandatory school subject, teaching about food security, sustainability, and waste reduction through experiential learning activities like school gardens and farm visits.

Infrastructure improvements were identified as crucial, with recommendations to upgrade school kitchens through public-private partnerships and prioritize investment in schools with the greatest needs. For areas lacking proper facilities, mobile or shared kitchens could help maintain food quality and safety standards.

Creating connections to local agriculture emerged as a significant opportunity. Mapping local farmers to assess their ability to supply schools with fresh food and establishing liaison systems between farmers, schools, and meal providers could ensure consistent supply while supporting local economies. Developing an electronic monitoring system would improve tracking of meal distribution, attendance, and quality, while a national database could centralize data on program outcomes and resource use.

During the sessions, international FAO experts shared valuable experiences from school feeding programs in other regions, highlighting successful models that could be adapted to Uzbekistan's context and emphasizing the importance of healthy food systems and standardized approaches to nutrition guidelines.

The stakeholder meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for advancing these initiatives, marking an important step toward ensuring that all of Uzbekistan's schoolchildren have access to nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate meals that support their health and academic success.