With over 33 per cent of children in Lao PDR still suffering from chronic malnutrition - affecting their cognitive development and academic performance - the government is committed to expanding its school meal initiatives. Currently, the national programme covers 25 per cent of primary schools around the country, providing meals to 250,000 children.
"Joining the School Meals Coalition is a critical step forward in our national strategy to improve child health and education. Nutritious school meals are essential not only for student health but also for their academic success, in order to become qualified human capital for a more developed country. We look forward to working with regional and global partners to build a brighter future for our children," said H.E. Associate Prof. Dr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports in Laos.
As a new member of the School Meals Coalition, Lao PDR will strengthen collaboration with local and international partners to address child malnutrition and leverage international expertise and resources to continue developing a sustainable, locally sourced school meal programme that supports both student health and local agriculture.
"I am all the more delighted with the accession of Lao PDR to the Coalition as France was one of its earliest promoters. Lao PDR is a priority country for France's nutrition roadmap, since Lao authorities prioritize school meals as a condition to the development of the country and its people. To underline this, France has been supporting efforts to counter food insecurity and malnutrition in Laos through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), since 2019, with contributions amounting to EUR 3.3 million", said the French Ambassador to Laos, H.E. Siv-Leng Chhuor.
Lao PDR has been developing a national system for school nutrition since 2000, together with partners such as WFP, Catholic Relief Services and the World Bank, supported by a range of donors. A national programme was officially launched in 2010, prioritizing regions with high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition. In 2020, a portion of the domestic budget was allocated for the programme, and in 2022 the Government of Lao PDR endorsed a Decree for Promoting School Lunch.
By joining the School Meals Coalition, Lao PDR stands with 100 countries that are committed to expanding and improving school meal programmes as a critical investment in their children's futures.
