FAO, Tajikistan launch initiative to promote locally relevant dietary guidelines

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), partnering with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan, today set in motion a new project to develop locally relevant recommendations to ensure healthy diets from sustainable food systems in Tajikistan.

The project was launched today at a national inception workshop that raised awareness about the potential for food systems-based dietary guidelines (FSBDGs) to contribute to the country’s development goals and national priorities. The workshop also introduced FAO’s new methodology for FSBDGs, encouraged the sharing of international experiences, and outlined the actions needed to move forward with the initiative.

“Today’s workshop represents a significant milestone for Tajikistan as it moves towards developing a national framework for healthy diets from sustainable food systems,” said Aghasi Harutyunyan, FAO Representative ad interim in Tajikistan. “The project is based on FAO’s methodology for developing dietary guidelines, where we recognize that promotion of good eating habits goes beyond the health sector: All actors in the food system have a responsibility to ensure that consumers are able to have healthy diets that are good for people and good for the planet. Through close collaboration between multiple sectors, we can create policies that not only improve nutrition but also strengthen the entire agrifood system in Tajikistan.”

Despite impressive progress in socioeconomic development over the past two decades, Tajikistan continues to face challenges in achieving its development goals, the Sustainable Development Goals and global nutrition targets. Food insecurity remains an issue for many in the population, and malnutrition – among both children and adults – continues to be a concern.

The initiative is part of FAO’s ongoing regional project Multisectoral Policy Recommendations for Addressing Malnutrition from an Agrifood System Perspective, which aims to accelerate progress in transforming food systems in Central Asia, focusing on developing capacity and strengthening collaboration on nutrition.

The guidelines will play a key role in engaging stakeholders across such sectors as agriculture, health, trade and environment, fostering multisectoral action for the improvement of food systems and nutrition in Tajikistan. In attendance at the kickoff workshop were representatives from various government entities, including ministries, agencies and institutions responsible for food, nutrition, education and communication for healthy diets. Experts on agriculture, trade, marketing, statistics, environment, culture, gender and social protection also took part, along with academia, scientific and civil society organizations.