Education & Learning
Emergency Response & Recovery
Supporting Families

School Meals Country Insight Report: Somalia

Rachel Sabates-Wheeler (IDS), Becky Carter (IDS), Guhad Adan (IDS) and Carolina Botter (WFP)
Somalia report
Report

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.