Annual Country Report 2019: Bhutan. Country Strategic Plan 2019-2023

Rome (Italy): World Food Programme, 2019.

English

31 p.

ELR1780

After more than 40 years of direct programme implementation in Bhutan, WFP is now responding to the Government’s request for support in travelling the “last mile” to graduate to lower middle-income country status. The change was in recognition of the Government’s achievements and plans for assuming full ownership of the school feeding programme by the end of 2019. WFP shifted focus to assume the role of an enabler, working towards the following two strategic outcomes: 1. School-age children, women and vulnerable groups in Bhutan have improved nutrition in line with national targets by 2023. 2. Government has strengthened capability to address food security and nutrition challenges and prepare for and respond to crises, including those resulting from climate change, by 2023. In its first year of the transitional phase, WFP made progress towards Strategic Outcome 1 by supporting the Ministry of Education in scaling-up and transitioning to a national school nutrition programme which addresses malnutrition and its root causes. WFP’s capacity strengthening activities aimed to ensure that children have access to quality meals in school, accompanied by a broader integrated package of health and nutrition services at a policy level and on the ground. In parallel, WFP engaged in initiatives to link local farmers to the school feeding programme, which not only enables school children to consume local fresh food items, but also provides income to farmers in rural areas where unemployment is often very high. WFP also provided the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests with technical and policy advice for the establishment of a regulatory and compliance framework for fortified foods. This initiative will enable the wider population to benefit safely from fortified foods, which are a proven way to mitigate micronutrient deficiencies.

Electronic ed.

ELR 1780

eng

MON-127355