Riaz Lodhi

Women farmers = Transformed food systems 🌾 At @JPRWEE event led by @UN_Women with @FAO, @IFAD & @WFP_Nepal, marking the International Year of the Woman Farmers, we heard powerful stories of climate resilience, enterprise & leadership from rural women interacting with UN Women Deputy Executive Director Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda @vanyaradzayi and H.E. Petri Puhakka, @PetriPuhakka, Ambassador to @FinlandinNepal. 5,500+ women in Madhesh alone are moving into markets, boosting incomes & nutrition through the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE).

📍Humanitarian Staging Area, Nepal A pleasure to host H.E. Simon Ernst, Australian Ambassador to Nepal, @AusAmbNP, together with Ms. Lila Pieters Yahia, UN Resident Coordinator, @UN_Nepal, @UNFPANepal, @ILO_Nepal & @UNDPNepal at the Humanitarian Staging Area in Kathmandu. Australia’s partnership with @WFP_Nepal has been instrumental in building and strengthening Nepal’s preparedness and logistics capacity, ensuring that response is swift and effective when emergencies occur.

School meals = An engine for development! Across Nepal, mid-day meals are helping children stay in class, focus better, and dream bigger, while also supporting farmers in generating income and strengthening local food systems. Through a home-grown school feeding approach, supported by @WFP_Nepal in partnership with the Government of Nepal, school meals serve as a powerful engine for development: ✅Supporting Food Systems & Local Farmers ✅Improving Education & Child Well-being ✅Boosting Learning, Nutrition, and Health Thank you to the governments of @NorwayinNepal🇳🇴 and @finlandinnepal 🇫🇮 for your continued support and to the commitment of the government, communities, teachers, and farmers who make locally sourced school meals possible.

Remember - Honor - Endure! Eleven years ago, on 25 April 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Nepal to its core. Today, we remember those lost and honor the resilience, courage, and solidarity that carried the country forward. From the Kathmandu Humanitarian Staging Area (HSA) established together with the @NepalGov, @WFP_Nepal mobilized a response by road, air, and even pack animals to deliver lifesaving food to millions across the hardest‑hit areas.

I was pleased to meet with Hon. Minister Neesha Mehta, Ministry of Health and Population, @mohpnep alongside the @UN_Nepal team. @WFP_Nepal reaffirmed its commitment to working with @NepalGov, strengthen partnerships and drive coordinated action to improve health and nutrition for communities across Nepal.

You might be interested in my latest LinkedIn post covering the visit of a United States Congressional delegation organized through the @unfoundation to @WFP_Nepal’s Humanitarian Staging Area (HSA) at Kathmandu Airport. Take a look and share your thoughts. linkedin.com/posts/riazlodh…

📍Dailekh Stronger together for healthier communities! The Farmer Nutrition School (FNS) is a powerful platform for farmers, especially women, to learn, share & improve their families’ diets. Local authority in Dailekh noted how the FNS aligns with municipal food security priorities, reinforcing community-led progress. Deputy Mayor of Narayan Municipality, Tapta Kumari Khadka said, “The Farmer Nutrition School not only promotes nutrition but also focuses on women’s independence and economic prosperity.” With @ADB_HQ, @GAFSPfund, @MoALD_Nepal and through @WFP_Nepal’s technical partnership, FNS are helping families diversify meals, & improve household nutrition.

📍Kalikot Healthy mothers, healthy children! In an interaction with the Kalikot District Hospital management committee, Katak Bahadur Mahat, Nutrition and Immunization Focal Person, highlighted collaborative efforts with @WFP_Nepal in improving maternal diets, child growth and overall community health. Through technical support, WFP works with @NepalGov to: ☑️ Provide nutrition services for pregnant and breastfeeding women ☑️ Improve access to specialized nutritious foods ☑️ Strengthen data, counselling & outreach at community level ☑️ Support government- led efforts to reduce malnutrition in remote areas of Karnali Together, we are building a future where every mother and child in @KarnaliProvince has the nutrition they need to thrive.

📍Karnali Strengthening systems for better nutrition & food security! Productive discussion held with Honorable Minister Ghanshyam Bhandari, @mosdkarnali & Hon. Binod Kumar Shah, MoLMAC on boosting community resilience, nutrition services, food security and essential social services. Grateful for the shared commitment to improving lives across Karnali and looking forward to stronger collaboration ahead!

📢 Hiring! Join our global team! Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition & Fortification) #⃣ One, SC L9 📍Kathmandu, Nepal 🔗tinyurl.com/3wcjdvje Programme Policy Officer (Programme Coordinator) #⃣ One, SC L8 📍Surkhet, Nepal 🔗tinyurl.com/2zn76w4a 🗓️Apply by: 8 April 2026

School meals aren’t just food. School meals are an investment. 📚 Watch how Asia Development Bank and WFP are powering the next generation through nutrition and learning. WFP's @RaniabtBakhita explains👇 #SchoolMeals @ADB_HQ

As we mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid al‑Fitr, we express our solidarity with the millions of people facing acute hunger worldwide - not knowing when, or if, they will eat again! May this Eid bring hope, peace, and well‑being to all.❤️ Wishing a very happy and blessed Eid-al-Fitr to everyone celebrating in the world! 🌙✨ EID MUBARAK! linkedin.com/posts/riazlodh…

Equipped to serve, Inspired to lead! 📍Bajhang, Nepal Suna Kumari leads Farmer Nutrition Schools (FNS) in her community. She supports field activities, shares information, motivates farmers to apply for grants, and facilitates forward contracts and payment processes. After completing a 14-day facilitator training from @WFP_Nepal, she now coordinates confidently with local government & guides FNS sessions. Thanks to generous support from @GAFSP & @ADB_HQ, @WFP in partnership with @NepalGov is empowering communities to increase vegetable production and improve the food consumption habits through group-level Farmer Nutrition Schools under the NAFHA project.

Partnerships for lasting impact On International School Meals Day, we celebrate partnership with @NepGov, partners & communities to strengthen & scale school meal systems- ensuring children receive safe, nutritious meals every🏫day Watch⤵️what sustainable partnerships look like

It was a pleasure meeting H.E. Simon Ernst, @AusAmbNP 🇦🇺 to Nepal. Australia has been a longstanding partner in Nepal’s humanitarian response, resilience building, and food security efforts. From health and emergency preparedness to food security and logistics, Australia’s support has been truly instrumental. We greatly appreciate Australia’s continued partnership with @WFP_Nepal and look forward to further strengthening it to advance resilient food systems, bolster emergency preparedness, and support stronger communities across Nepal.

A nutritious school meal does more than providing energy to learn - it gives children the opportunity to reach their full potential! On International School Meals Day, we recognize how healthy meals help students learn, grow, and thrive. With support from @norwayinnepal and @finlandinNepal, and in partnership with @UNDPNepal, @WFP_Nepal is strengthening the Home‑Grown School Feeding (HGSF) approach through the Renewable Energy for Resilient Agri‑Food Systems (RERAS) project. 🌱 7,262 students across 81 schools in Jumla and Bajura are now receiving fresh, nutritious school meals sourced from local farmers and cooperatives - ensuring locally grown food reaches students’ plates. 🏫 At the same time, three local governments have endorsed customized school meal menus across all participating schools, boosting nutrition outcomes through stronger policy support. Linking local agriculture to school meals uplifts farmers, improves child nutrition, and contributes to more resilient food systems for Nepal.

Nepal reached a major milestone in late 2024 by approving its first national Home-Grown School Feeding Framework, paving the way for a stronger, government led Mid-day Meals Programme. @WFP_Nepal partners with @NepalGov to update guidelines and roll out a model that strengthens local supply chains, improves food quality, and keeps investments within communities, linking farmers to schools. This homegrown approach ensures school meal investments stay in the community - supporting smallholder farmers, traders, transporters, and women-led cooperatives. Ahead of International School Meals Day, we highlight the power of school feeding programmes and collaborative efforts in building sustainable and resilient communities.

Empowered women, enhanced food systems! From women farmers to community leaders to women staff working on the frontlines of programme delivery, women are central to building resilient food systems and improving nutrition. Empowering women isn’t just equality; it’s a smart investment in food security. @WFP_Nepal partners with @NepalGov to strengthen food systems so every woman, including those in remote areas, can access safe and nutritious food. By advancing social protection, nutrition policies and school feeding frameworks, WFP Nepal helps create environments where women and girls can realize their right to food, opportunity and leadership - both in their communities and within the teams driving this work forward. Happy Women’s Day!

From traditional to smoke-free smart kitchens! 📍Jumla “I have been working at this school for 19 years and compromised my health cooking on traditional stoves that filled the room with smoke”, shares Krishna, a long-serving staff in one of the schools. Over 2,200 students in 20 schools in Jumla benefit from energy efficient stoves. Openfire kitchens expose students and staff to smoke. With electric and energy efficient improved cookstoves, @WFP_Nepal is helping schools create healthy environment. Thanks to the generous support from @NorwayinNepal, Krishna now cooks in an improved smoke-free kitchen with reduced carbon emission; creating a healthier environment for himself and 120+ schoolchildren.

Greener kitchens - stronger communities - brighter futures. 🌱 Jumla: Through @WFP_Nepal's Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) approach under the National Mid-Day meal programme, local women and men trained in the construction process are building resilient, smoke-free school kitchens - cutting carbon footprint, creating jobs & benefiting 2,000+ children while improving working conditions for school cooks 👩‍🍳. Thanks to @NorwayinNepal and @FinlandinNepal.