Brasilia: Nearly 80 million more children worldwide are now benefiting from school meals provided through government-led programmes, marking a 20 percent increase since 2020. This brings the global total to at least 466 million children, as revealed in the latest edition of The State of School Feeding Worldwide, a biennial report released by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
According to EMM, progress is most significant in low-income countries, which have increased the number of children receiving school meals by 60% over the past two years. Africa is at the forefront of this expansion, with an additional 20 million children now being fed through national programmes. Notable advancements have been observed in Kenya, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.
Governments worldwide are spearheading this effort, motivated by evidence that school meal programmes not only enhance children's well-being but also provide extensive benefits for small-holder farmers, local employment, and environmental sustainability. The fastest growth in these programmes is seen in countries that are part of the School Meals Coalition, a global network led by over 100 governments and supported by over 140 partners across various sectors.
The Coalition, chaired by Brazil, Finland, and France and hosted by WFP, has nearly doubled the number of countries with national school meals policies since 2020, increasing from 56 to 107. Carmen Burbano, WFP's Director of School Meals and Social Protection, emphasized the importance of these programmes, particularly in low-income countries where resources are limited.
The report precedes the second School Meals Coalition Global Summit in Brazil, where global leaders will convene to assess progress and encourage further action. Emerging evidence suggests that school meals can address the Learning Crisis by enhancing learning and cognitive skills, offering a cost-effective method to improve education quality.
Beyond education, the report highlights the broad impact of school meal programmes across various sectors. As the largest social safety net globally, these programmes help absorb shocks from climate events, pandemics, and conflicts, reaching the most vulnerable children. For every $1 invested, school meal programmes generate between $7 and $35 in economic benefits, creating jobs and supporting local economies.
WFP's role in this expansion is significant, supporting governments to reach 139 million children and directly delivering meals to 21 million children. WFP's expertise aids in transitioning programmes to full national ownership, as seen in Armenia, Benin, and Iraq.