Publications and resources

This report presents an analysis of the financial landscape for school meal programmes in light of the learning crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses the fiscal challenges governments face and explores the role of school feeding programmes in addressing education, poverty, and malnutrition issues. The report includes seven case studies and emphasizes multi-sectoral benefits, fiscal space limitations, and donor funding challenges.

This case study discusses Ukraine’s school meals program, focusing on reforms led by the First Lady, Olena Zelenska, and the government's efforts to modernize school canteens and improve food quality. It highlights how the war and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted school meal access, with significant international support for rebuilding infrastructure and providing free meals to displaced and vulnerable children.

This discussion paper examines the evolution and effectiveness of school meal programs in South Asia and beyond. It provides evidence on their role in improving educational outcomes, food security, and social protection. It also highlights the role of school meals in promoting gender equity and supporting local agriculture.

Bundy DAP, Gentilini U, Schultz L, et al. School Meals, Social Protection, and Human Development: Revisiting Trends, Evidence, and Practices in South Asia and Beyond. World Bank Discussion Paper; March 2024.

This report highlights the role of school meals in promoting sustainable food systems within urban food policies. It showcases how school meals address food security, health, and environmental sustainability. It includes case studies from various cities and discusses the challenges and benefits of different school meal programs, including their role in education, social equity, and food system transformation.

The operational principles of the School Meals Coalition for 2024. It highlights the Coalition’s objectives, including restoring, reaching, and improving school meal programs globally, with an emphasis on multisectoral collaboration, evidence-based action, and sustainable financing.

The key priorities for the School Meals Coalition in 2024. The priorities include advancing country implementation, promoting sustainable financing, establishing the Coalition’s data monitoring database, and supporting regional networks. It also emphasizes private sector engagement, regional dialogues, and preparations for key events such as the 2024 Task Force Ministerial Meeting in Kenya.

This article proposes a comprehensive value-for-money framework for investments in school systems, highlighting the multisectoral returns—such as improvements in education, health, nutrition, and social protection—that emerge from implementing school-based programmes. It emphasizes the benefits of harmonizing interventions across sectors using schools as a common delivery platform.

This case study explores the evolution of school meal policies across the four devolved nations of the UK. It examines different approaches to free school meals (FSM) and universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), highlighting key differences in eligibility criteria, nutritional standards, and uptake rates. The study emphasizes the multi-sectoral benefits of school meal programs, including their role in improving food security, nutrition, and educational outcomes.