ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

The agreement signed between KOICA Bangladesh Country Director, Mr. Jihoon Kim and ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Country Director and Representative in Bhutan, Peter Rodrigues, marks a major step forward in supporting Bhutan¡¯s National school feeding and nutritional status through locally sourced food, thereby increasing the income of farmers.

Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, the Central Monastic Body and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the project will reach over 100,000 schoolchildren in both government and monastic schools, while also supporting farmers, Cooperatives and government institutions. Overall, the initiative is expected to positively impact more than 175,000 people across Bhutan. 

The KOICA and ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ partnership will support the construction and refurbishment of school kitchens in government and monastic schools and rolling out agriculture initiatives across 13 districts. More than 100,000 schoolchildren will receive improved, nutritious meals alongside education on balanced diets, hygiene, food safety, and the basics food production skills. 

More than 2,000 farming households will be supported with tools, training and skills required to be better producers, farm business owners, and rural entrepreneurs. At least 60 percent of the people supported will be women, strengthening their income opportunities through linkages with schools. 

¡°This partnership demonstrates how school feeding can deliver multiple benefits ¨C improving children¡¯s nutrition while strengthening local food systems and rural livelihoods,¡± said Mr. Jihoon Kim, Country Director KOICA Bangladesh. ¡°By investing in local agriculture, we are supporting long?term, community?driven development outcomes.¡±

The project responds to concerns over micronutrient deficiencies among Bhutan¡¯s school age children, and aims to improve dietary diversity, food quality and consumption of nutrient-rich foods in schools.

¡°With KOICA and the Royal Government of Bhutan, we are transforming school meals into a driver of better nutrition, greener school kitchens, and stronger farm-to-school partnerships,¡± said Peter Rodrigues, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Country Director and Representative in Bhutan. ¡°This partnership helps ensure that children eat better today, while farming communities build more secure livelihoods for the future.¡± 

# # # 

About ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ 

The United Nations ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ 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.