Publications and resources

The first-ever School Meal Programs Around the World report presents the global results from the inaugural year of the Global Survey of School Meal Programs.  The first survey round was conducted by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) from January 2019 to December 2020, gathering information on the school year beginning in 2017. The survey saw participation from 103 countries. The Global Survey collects the most comprehensive data to date on national and large-scale school feeding programs, and provides detailed global data on school meal coverage, financing, food baskets, laws and policies, home-grown school feeding, and more, serving as a resource for monitoring global progress over time. This report contributed to the State of School Feeding 2020 report, which presents the official global data on school meals.

This paper outlines the importance of scaling up school health and nutrition programs post-COVID-19, highlighting how they contribute to education, health, social protection, and local economies. The document stresses multisectoral coordination and the need for innovative financing solutions, calling for global advocacy to restore and expand school health services.

The Global Education Forum (GEF) was established in 2019 to address challenges in the education financing architecture and develop greater collaboration between and coordination of education donors, and to advocate for investment and the acceleration of progress towards SDG4.

This report analyzes the costs and benefits of Malawi’s school feeding programme, assessing its impact on education, health, and local agriculture. Findings show that school meals increase years of schooling, reduce anemia, and support smallholder farmers, generating up to $8 in benefits for every $1 invested.

This policy brief advocates for the G20 to champion planet-friendly school meal programs (SMPs) as a strategy to address multiple crises affecting children, including poverty, hunger, and climate change. It highlights the multifaceted benefits of SMPs, such as improving attendance, nutrition, health, and fostering systemic changes in food systems. It features Brazil’s leadership and South Korea’s approach to eco-friendly food markets, urging greater global investment in school meals.

Outcome statement from the School Meals Coalition Task Force’s 3rd ministerial meeting, outlining the Coalition’s priorities for 2027–2028. The statement reaffirms the shared goal of ensuring every child has access to a healthy, nutritious meal at school and sets out actions to accelerate country delivery, strengthen local and global partnerships, advance sustainable financing, and deepen advocacy for school meals worldwide.

This report examines how climate finance can support sustainable school feeding programs. It explores various financing mechanisms, policy frameworks, and includes case studies from Brazil and Italy to assess how climate-related funds can enhance the sustainability and resilience of school feeding initiatives.

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.