The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a resolution ‘On Amendments to the Procedure and Conditions for Providing Subsidies from the State Budget to Local Budgets for the Implementation of a Public Investment Project for the Purchase of Equipment, Creation and Modernisation (Reconstruction and Overhaul) of Canteens (Kitchen Units) of Educational Institutions, in particular Military (Naval, Military-Sports) Lyceums, Lyceums with Enhanced Military-Physical Training’. The resolution was developed with the expert support of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI).

This year, UAH 1 billion is allocated for the modernisation of kitchen units. The update to the Procedure is aimed to make the mechanism for the allocation of funds more transparent and practical for communities. The document clarifies the requirements for investment projects and allows for the completion of those projects that were started in 2025 and are already at least 60 per cent complete. Projects from previous years with a lower level of readiness can be resubmitted for selection on general terms along with other applicants.

The subsidy will be used to implement public investment projects included in the state’s sectoral project portfolio that correspond to the programme ‘Purchase of Equipment, Creation and Modernisation of Canteens (Kitchen Units) in Educational Institutions’. The funds may be used to implement comprehensive projects, which must include:

• purchase of modern kitchen equipment;
• reconstruction and major repairs of canteens (kitchen units) in community-owned general secondary education institutions;
• completion of projects financed in 2025, provided that at least 60 per cent of their total cost is ready.

Who can participate?

• military (naval, military-sports) lyceums, lyceums with enhanced military-physical training;
• specialised educational institutions;
• educational institutions with 200 or more students;
• educational institutions with fewer than 200 students in total, but not less than 100 students if such an institution is the only one in the community where the educational process can be carried out in a full-time/mixed format and where transportation of students from two or more educational institutions will be provided, or where the educational process for two or more educational institutions will be organised on its premises.

Projects may be submitted according to three technological models of food service organisation: ‘basic kitchen’, ‘hub kitchen’, and ‘factory kitchen’. Requirements for each of these models have also been defined, taking into account the number of students and the type of community.

Projects will be financed on a co-financing basis from local budgets, depending on the community’s tax capacity index. The state subsidy will cover between 70% and 95% of the project cost. A prerequisite is the prior provision of co-financing from the local budget.

How will projects be selected?

Investment projects will be selected by a commission formed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The announcement of the selection process will be published on the official website of the Ministry of Education and Science. Project applications will be accepted for no more than 20 calendar days from the date of the announcement. Projects will be prioritised using a scoring system, taking into account the number of children covered by the nutrition programme, the availability of bomb shelters in educational institutions, and the level of co-financing from communities.

On school nutrition reform

The provision of subsidies from the state budget to local budgets for the purchase of equipment and the creation and modernisation of canteens (kitchen units) is a meaningful support for communities in the implementation of the school nutrition reform initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska to provide children with high-quality, nutritious meals in educational institutions, as well as to foster a culture of healthy eating and spread it among Ukrainian families.