The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education, has launched a new initiative aimed at improving health and nutrition in schools by incorporating locally produced agricultural products into school meals.
According to KOICA’s Kyrgyzstan office, the project will directly benefit approximately 16,000 students and local farmers across the regions of Osh, Jalal-Abad, Chui, Naryn, and Batken.
The project aims to enhance children’s health through fortified school meals, upgraded school infrastructure, and capacity-building programs for school personnel.
With a total budget of $10 million, the program will run until 2028. It will support the renovation of kitchens and dining areas, the construction of toilets, the installation of handwashing stations, and the delivery of educational programs on healthy eating, meal procurement, health, and hygiene in approximately 40 schools.
In addition, the project includes training for local agricultural cooperatives on crop cultivation, post-harvest handling, and operational management, alongside the development of model farms.
A key component of the initiative is expanding access to clean water and ensuring that hygiene and sanitation services are adequate, inclusive, and gender-sensitive.
This is not KOICA’s first investment in Kyrgyzstan’s development. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported on a separate $10 million project launched by KOICA to improve air quality in the country, with a particular focus on Bishkek.
