A ROBUST SOLUTION FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

A recent report reveals the significant impact of school meals as a robust solution for vulnerable children amidst the global food crisis. With nearly 420 million children worldwide benefiting from school meals, governments worldwide recognise the cost-effectiveness and power of these programs.

According to the State of SchoolFeeding Worldwide report by the UN World Food Programme, school meals are a critical safety net for vulnerable children and households, especially when 345 million people face hunger, including 153 million children and young individuals.

The report emphasises the potential of the school meal industry, valued at nearly US$50 billion, in securing a better future for children worldwide. As evidence of progress, 75 governments have joined a coalition aiming to provide a daily nutritious meal to every child in school by 2030.

Notably, following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, concerted efforts by governments to reinstate free lunch programs have led to a 30 million increase in the number of children receiving meals globally compared to 2020, encompassing around 41 percent of all schoolchildren.

Carmen Burbano, Head of School-

Based Programs at the WFP, commended governments for prioritising the wellbeing of children and investing in their future. School meals play a crucial role in tackling the global food crisis, serving as the only meal many children receive in several countries where the WFP operates.

The report acknowledges the support provided by the government-led School Meals Coalition, established in 2020, to address pandemic-related challenges. However, it also highlights disparities between high-income and low-income countries, with 60 percent of schoolchildren in rich nations benefiting from meals compared to only 18 percent in low-income countries.

Although recovery has been swift in most countries, low-income nations still experience a 4 percent decline in the number of children receiving school meals compared to pre-COVID levels, particularly in Africa. Despite a 15 percent increase in domestic financing for school meals in low-income countries since 2020, some national programs require further assistance.

The report calls for more significant support to help low-income countries establish sustainable funding mechanisms for school meal programs. Such efforts would require time-bound assistance from donor countries and increased domestic investment. The report highlights the advantages of school meal programmes, emphasising how free lunches attract more children to attend school, improving their learning outcomes and overall health.

Additionally, the combination of health and education offers children in low-income countries a pathway out of poverty and malnutrition.

Research demonstrates that school meal programmes can increase enrollment rates by nine percent and attendance by eight percent.

Furthermore, school feeding initiatives positively affect agriculture, education, health and nutrition, and social protection, resulting in a return on investment of US$9 for every US$1 spent. For every 100,000 children benefiting from a school meal programme, approximately 1,400 jobs are created, contributing to around 4 million jobs across 85 countries. H