KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday launched two reports showcasing the country’s progress in strengthening food security, nutrition, education, climate resilience and social protection through national leadership and partnerships.
The publications titled “The Journey of the National Mid-Day Meals Programme in Nepal and WFP’s Annual Country Report 2025″ highlight Nepal’s transition from partner-supported initiatives to nationally led systems benefiting millions of people.
WFP Nepal Representative and Country Director Riaz Lodhi said the achievements reflected the strength of collaboration between the government, development partners and local communities.
“Together with the Government of Nepal, development partners and communities, WFP has helped advance solutions that strengthen food security, improve nutrition, build resilience and support human capital development,” he said.
The report on the National Mid-Day Meals Programme traces the initiative’s evolution from a small classroom hunger intervention launched in 1967 into one of Nepal’s largest social protection programmes. The scheme now reaches nearly three million children in all 77 districts and became fully financed by the Government of Nepal in 2025.
According to the report, the programme has improved school enrolment, attendance, retention and nutrition while strengthening local food systems through the Home-Grown School Feeding approach, which links schools with smallholder farmers through cooperatives.
Finnish Ambassador to Nepal Petri Puhakka said Finland remained committed to supporting Nepal’s education sector through the School Sector Education Plan and the Home-Grown School Feeding programme.
“School meals in Nepal are not just about feeding children. They bring together schools, local governments, parents and farmer groups, creating a shared commitment to children’s wellbeing and education,” he said.
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Scott Urbom said school meals generate benefits beyond education by creating reliable markets for Nepali farmers, cooperatives and local businesses.
He noted that the US Department of Agriculture has partnered with Nepal on the initiative since 2005, supporting a healthier and more prosperous Nepal while creating opportunities for trade, investment and cooperation.
National Planning Commission Vice-Chair Dr Gunakar Bhatta described investment in children as a national priority, saying school meals strengthen education, nutrition, agriculture and local economic development while contributing to long-term human capital development.
Sudurpaschim Province Minister for Social Development Bel Bahadur Rana Magar said the nationalisation of the Mid-Day Meals Programme demonstrated the impact of strong government leadership, sustained partnerships and innovation. He also highlighted WFP’s role in strengthening local food systems and creating market opportunities for women and local farmers.
The report states that Nepal plans to expand the programme to cover students up to Grade 8 and increase its reach to as many as 4.5 million children in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the WFP Annual Country Report 2025 says the agency supported more than 438,000 people through programmes focused on emergency preparedness and response, school meals, nutrition, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods and food systems transformation.
It also notes that more than 208,000 students benefited from the Home-Grown School Feeding programme, strengthening connections between schools, farmers and local markets across Nepal.
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