Rome, Italy - A Technical Mid-term Meeting for the project "Developing Capacity for Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Selected Countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia" was held on 29 March 2018 at FAO headquarters to present the results and achievements to date, share views on the project’s implementation, and guide it into the final stage.

During the mid-term meeting, which was attended by Steering Committee members, the national project coordinators, and internal and external experts, the approach and the different components of the project were discussed. The experts shared experiences and lessons learned to help guide further implementation of the project’s activities. Moreover, the meeting allowed the participants to strengthen and enhance their collaboration in achieving the objectives of the project.

A key point made was the importance of linking agriculture, food security, nutrition and social protection in order to deal with food insecurity in a comprehensive way. This kind of project approach has already been adopted in three countries: Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The different models used in each of the selected countries, as well as their progress in implementation, were thoroughly illustrated. Under the project pilot “School Food and Nutrition Programme linked to the Agricultural Sector”, FAO is currently supporting the three project countries in addressing their own unique challenges in the implementation of national school feeding programmes. The main goal is to improve the quality of the local diet, stimulate the local economy, and encourage the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. In Armenia, the project is setting up three different greenhouses in the Ararat Region, equipped with heating, ventilation and irrigation systems, for the benefit of a total of 1 386 students. In Kyrgyzstan, a centralized Logistic Centre for the supply of agricultural products is being established in the Kemin District; it will serve 30 schools and benefit an estimated 10 000–12 000 primary school students. In Tajikistan, the project has set up seedbeds for schools in the Vakhsh, Dusti and Nurek Districts, in addition to providing 20 schools with greenhouses. Approximately 3 400 students of selected primary schools have benefited from improved nutrition as a result of this innovation.

In addition, the successful experiences of the “National Programme for Attracting Remittances into the Economy in Moldova” (known as PARE 1+1) were shared by Ms Iulia Costin, General Secretary of the Ministry of Economy. This success inspired the pilot “Promoting Inclusive Economic Growth through Matching Grants” in Tajikistan. Indeed, the project has recently organized a study tour for Tajik Government officials to learn from Moldova’s experience. The main goal of the pilot is to mobilize human and financial resources of migrant workers and their families, with the aim of contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture and promoting broader rural development. The pilot will reach 40 beneficiaries in the Hissor and Jaloliddin Balkhii Districts. 

Finally, the meeting thoroughly discussed the implementation status of thepilot “Strengthening Food Systems with Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection” in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. This pilot adopts an integrated approach that links existing social protection programmes to nutrition-sensitive agricultural actions. In Armenia, it will be carried out in Shirak, Aragatsotn and Gegharkunik, with an estimated 130 beneficiaries, whereas in Kyrgyzstan it will reach 150 beneficiaries in the Suzak District.

The Fourth Steering Committee meeting, attended by the project staff at FAO headquarters and the donor of the project (the Russian Federation), was held on 30 March. During the meeting, the status and achievements of the project were discussed, new proposals were put forward, and the work plan for 2018–2019 was reviewed.