The Rockefeller Foundation’s Food Initiative in Africa
The recent Ministerial Meeting of the School Meals Coalition in Nairobi highlighted the urgent need to bolster support for School Meal Programs (SMPs) and illustrate Kenya’s leadership in climate-resilient initiatives.
For 20 percent of children in Kenya, a school meal may be their only nutritious meal of the day, making access to these programs essential for combating hunger and promoting educational equity across the African continent.
Currently, there are 145 million children who are malnourished globally. But it was clear last week at the School Meals Ministerial Meeting that addressing malnutrition through school meal programs is increasingly becoming a global priority.
As countries expand their programs, there is an opportunity to prioritise climate resilience and food system transformation to ensure that the food that feeds the world’s most vulnerable people is more sustainable to climate and economic shocks.
School meals can unlock a litany of benefits even beyond nutrition – they can support resilient agriculture, improve markets and livelihoods, and facilitate climate resilience and sustainable development.
Additionally, they have been shown to increase school attendance, reducing drop out rates - especially for girls - and improve learning outcomes.
In addition, they can also be good for the environment. With an estimated 7.5 million metric tons of firewood burned annually, transitioning school meal programs to clean cooking can help to reduce GHG emissions. School meal programs can also be part of country’s transitions to more resilient food systems.
For example, school-aged children make up more than 20 percent of the population in low- and middle-income countries and SMPs account for 70 percent of public food procurement. They can be meaningful demand drivers, for example for local produce that is regeneratively produced.
By prioritising good food procurement, these programs can reduce emissions and strengthen local economies, significantly improving small holder farmers’ resiliency on a continent facing challenges like drought and soil erosion.
To date there are more than 100 governments who have joined the School Meals Coalition, committing to developing or expanding their school meal programs and there is much to be learned from non-governmental organisations’ innovations.
For example, Food for Education has developed a model to mainstream school feeding across Africa with efficient delivery and centralised kitchens, they aim to reach one million learners in Kenya and two million in other countries by 2030. Cup of Uji focuses on using locally sourced ingredients to create an affordable meal model.
Collecting data, evidence, and insights from these initiatives on effective delivery, monitoring innovations, and financing, can support the government’s goal of reaching 10 million learners, ensuring a clear understanding of nutritional and educational outcomes.
Despite contributing the least to climate change, Africans face its most severe impacts. However, expanding SMPs offers substantial benefits, as school-aged children represent a significant portion of the continent's population. Supporting these children with a nutritious start to life will help them thrive into adulthood.
As we approach the G20 Heads of State Summit in Brazil, the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty is a crucial opportunity for partners across sectors to unite in supporting resilient food systems that feed the most vulnerable people.
Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, healthier future for millions of children across the continent and beyond.
