WFP launches cook book for tasty school meals in Kyrgyzstan

This is a joint effort of WFP, the Russian Federation’s Social and Industrial Food Service Institute (SIFI), and the Kyrgyz Government.

The book features over 150 delicious and nutritious recipes that honour fresh produce from Kyrgyz gardens and are inspired by the country’s rich culinary traditions.

The recipes will add spice to the National School Meals Optimization programme which currently provides high-quality, nutritious meals for around 200,000 primary school children in 640 schools across the country with financial support from the Russian Federation – the single largest donor to the WFP’s school feeding programme in the country.

“Through school meals, WFP invests in children’s learning and ultimately in their future and in that of their country,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in the Kyrgyz Republic Andrea Bagnoli. “Primary school students are the most important ingredient in building the bright future of the country.”

The launch ceremony included a presentation of the book, a cooking competition with participation of school children and cooks, and a tasting of school meals from the book.

Kyrgyzstan’s Vice Prime Minister for Social Affairs, members of the Kyrgyz Parliament, the Russian Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, the Head of the International Partnership Department of the Ministry of Finance and representatives from the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute attended the launch ceremony.

School Meals Optimization in the Kyrgyz Republic is a widely recognized initiative that has been receiving critical support from national and local authorities, communities and donors. School feeding is also an integral part of the national policy under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science. By 2022, WFP and the Kyrgyz Government plan to reach all schools in the country with nutritious hot meals, based on the Law No. 111 of the Kyrgyz Republic "On school feeding in general education schools of the Kyrgyz Republic" – a critical breakthrough in boosting the school meals development in the country.

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