Well-fed schoolchildren are key to fuelling economic growth

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) joins the African Union (AU) and countries across Africa to celebrate the Africa Day of School Feeding on 01 March 2020, taking the occasion to underscore that investments in human capital through school health and nutrition programmes can garner huge pay-offs that extend far beyond the schoolyard.
“Investing in the next generation is an investment in our common future. We see how school feeding programmes are changing the lives of millions of people across Africa and the world – especially girls – and unlocking their potential,” said David Beasley, WFP’s Executive Director.
Across Africa, more and more countries have made school feeding a national priority, and over 30 million children now benefit from school feeding programmes across the continent. Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Zimbabwe all feed over one million children, while South Africa and Nigeria each feed more than nine million children every day of the school year. In West Africa alone, governments are investing US$ 500 million a year on school feeding.
Ethiopia’s school feeding programme is implemented by the Ministry of Education and its regional bureaus and operates in six regions: Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, Somalia and Tigray. WFP assists the Government, increasing access and equity for primary school children by alleviating short-term hunger and increasing attentiveness through daily school meals; increasing farmer incomes and marketing opportunities through local procurement and processing; and capacity strengthening.