Publications and resources

This report analyses procurement models and financing strategies for home-grown school feeding (HGSF) programmes, drawing on four case studies from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Bolivia, Brazil, and Cambodia. It examines how these programmes are structured, financed, and implemented at national and municipal levels, and explores their role in improving nutrition, supporting smallholder farmers, strengthening local food systems, and advancing climate-friendly agri-food policies. Prepared by the Sustainable Financing Initiative (SFI) of the School Meals Coalition, the report highlights context-specific challenges and lessons learned to inform policy dialogue and future programme design.

This advocacy brief positions school meals as a proven cross-sectoral solution that improves child nutrition, supports education, strengthens local economies, and promotes climate-smart food systems. It includes key messages, facts and figures, examples of government leadership, and clear recommendations for action at different platforms. 

A new joint report by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) examines school meal programmes in Guatemala and Peru, showing how they lower the cost of nutritious diets, improve nutritional quality, strengthen local food systems against extreme weather shocks, and boost child development and public health. It also stresses the need for community engagement, integrated policies, and action to tackle ultra-processed foods and the triple burden of malnutrition.

This case study explores the structure and diversity of Mexico’s school meals programmes, implemented by the National System for Integral Family Development (DIF). It highlights two modalities—cold and hot rations—managed at the state level, and analyses nutrition criteria, food procurement practices, and programme financing. The study also examines intersectoral coordination, programme reach, monitoring and evaluation tools, and ongoing efforts to improve food quality and sustainability.

Andrea Graciela Granja Castro, Edgar Emilio Nava López, Erika E. Alcántara García, Citlalit C. Espinosa Matus, Francisco J. Jiménez Sánchez, Adriana M. Ramírez Zenteno.

The National School Feeding Program (NSFP) in Namibia is designed to provide nutritious meals to children attending primary school. In this report, we quantify all the costs and benefits incurred by the NSFP and compute its multisectoral impact on education, health and nutrition, social protection, and local agricultural economy. 

By comparing the costs and benefits of the program, this study assesses its value for money. Additionally, it assesses the value for money of the homegrown school feeding (HGSF) pilot currently implemented in Namibia to further evaluate its broader potential in terms of increased benefits to the local economy. 

This case study examines Morocco's school feeding programs, detailing their historical context, objectives, coverage, targeting strategies, nutritional standards, food procurement processes, legal frameworks, implementation costs, funding mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation practices, lessons learned, best practices, and challenges. ​

This case study presents Ecuador’s national school meals programme, highlighting how it is legislated, financed and delivered across the country. It outlines the two programme modalities—centralised industrial rations and territorial meals sourced from smallholder farmers—and examines institutional arrangements, monitoring systems, and equity considerations. It also reflects on key lessons and persistent implementation gaps, including in sustainability and local procurement.

José Andrés Ocaña Navas, Yolanda Jacqueline Contreras Díaz, Rene Larenas, Grace Piedad Guerrero Zurita, Carolina Elizabeth Sinchiguano Almeida, María Gabriela Zurita, Andrea Carolina Estrella Proaño, Jessica Pamela Pinto Delgado, Jose Julio Villalba Vásquez, Angelica Ochoa Avilés, María Cecilia Vintimilla Álvarez.

The Final Communiqué from the III International Seminar on Best Practices in School Feeding within CPLP summarizes discussions and outcomes from the event held on December 3-4, 2024, in São Tomé. It highlights shared strategies for sustainable school feeding programmes, capacity-building, local sourcing, and multilateral cooperation, aligning with CPLP’s Food and Nutrition Security Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.