Publications and resources

This report explores how school meals may contribute to social cohesion in Somalia. Drawing on field research conducted jointly by WFP and IDS in five schools in Galkayo, Somalia, the report examines whether and how the pathways identified in the framing paper manifest in practice and assesses the extent to which the school meals programme is grounded in a conflict-sensitive approach. 

The findings suggest that school meals provide children with a sense of normality, stability and hope, support school attendance and retention, reduce risks associated with dropout and negative coping mechanisms, and foster positive interactions among children from different backgrounds.

This report quantifies the multi-sectoral costs and benefits of Namibia’s National School Feeding Programme (NSFP), including its home-grown pilot model. Findings show NSFP beneficiaries complete 0.8 more years of education and experience improved health, with around 700 anaemia cases averted per 1,000 children over seven years. The programme yields a high return: every NAD 1 invested generates NAD 10–14 in long-term benefits. The HGSF model further supports local farmers and vendors, offering an added transfer of NAD 285 per child per year.

The National School Meal Program (PRONAE) was adopted by the Mozambican government in 2013, as a multi-sectoral program with the objective to “reduce the impacts of food insecurity and malnutrition on the education sector, particularly the weak access to education, dropout, absenteeism and failure rates” (Republic of Mozambique, 2013). The program encompasses the provision of diversified meals to students with food procured locally, alongside other interventions such as nutrition education, school gardens and deworming. 

This report analyzes the costs of the national school feeding program (SFP) and attempts to quantify its impact on education, health and nutrition, social protection, and local agricultural economy. By comparing the costs and benefits of the SFP, it aims at assessing its value for money. It contributes to the evidence that the school feeding program in Mozambique presents high value for money when looking at the effect over 7 years of primary education, and can serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, providing insights to inform strategic decisions aimed at strengthening and expanding the national SFP. 

This report presents a cost-benefit analysis of Burundi’s National School Feeding Programme (PNAS), quantifying its multi-sectoral impact. Recipients are shown to complete an average of 1.8 more years of schooling and have improved health outcomes, including reduced anaemia and 55 additional healthy life years per 1,000 students. The study also estimates a strong financial return: for every 1 Fbu invested, 6 Fbu in long-term benefits are generated.

This report updates estimates on the number of vulnerable children in low- and middle-income countries needing school meals, highlighting an increase to 101 million post-COVID. It identifies priority populations based on school feeding coverage, malnutrition, and poverty, with a strong focus on India and Sub-Saharan Africa.

This journal article examines how school feeding programmes in low and middle-income countries can address health and socio-economic disparities. It discusses the impact of these programmes on child nutrition, educational outcomes, and social protection, highlighting their role in promoting equity and well-being among vulnerable populations.

This report highlights the vital role of school meal programmes in tackling global challenges, detailing their impact on nutrition, learning, and rural livelihoods, and their contribution to the SDGs. It also presents scenarios for expanding school feeding in low- and middle-income countries and addresses financial and policy needs to achieve universal access by 2030.

This research paper provides an analysis of the SABER (Systems Approach for Better Education Results) School Feeding policy tool, used over 10 years by 59 countries to design, strengthen, and track their school meals programs. It highlights findings from 51 comparable SABER surveys, emphasizing policy developments in school meal implementation and financial challenges in low-income countries.