Investing in school systems: Conceptualising returns on investment across the health, education and social protection sectors

Public policies aim to enhance welfare and reduce inequality across sectors like social protection, labor, health, and education. Schools, serving hundreds of millions globally, are a key platform for integrated interventions. For instance, school meals improve nutrition, attendance, and support local farmers. We propose a value-for-money framework to evaluate school system investments, assessing their broader impacts and identifying cost-effective ways to boost human capital, crucial for rebuilding after COVID-19.