Geneva: Nearly 80 million more children worldwide are now receiving school meals through government-led programmes than in 2020, marking a 20 percent increase and bringing the total to at least 466 million children. This information comes from the latest edition of “The State of School Feeding Worldwide,” a flagship biennial report released by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
According to EMM, progress is most evident in low-income countries, which have seen a 60 percent rise in the number of children receiving school meals over the past two years. Africa leads this surge, with 20 million additional children benefiting from national school meal programmes, particularly in countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.
This development success is primarily driven by governments worldwide, who are leveraging evidence that domestic school meal programmes not only enhance children’s well-being but also offer extensive benefits for small-holder farmers, local employment, and the promotion of planet-friendly diets. These programmes contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
The expansion of school meal programmes is most rapid in countries that are part of the School Meals Coalition. This global network is led by over 100 governments and six regional bodies, with WFP serving as its secretariat. It is supported by over 140 partners across various sectors. The report highlights that two-thirds of the newly reached children with school meals are in Coalition member countries. The Coalition is being celebrated as a model of modern multilateralism, as the number of countries with national school meals policies has nearly doubled since 2020, from 56 to 107.
Governments are demonstrating leadership through the School Meals Coalition, chaired by Brazil, Finland, and France, and hosted by WFP. Carmen Burbano, Director of School Meals and Social Protection at WFP, emphasized the significance of the surge in nationally funded school meal programmes, even during challenging times. However, in low-income countries where needs are most pressing, progress remains vulnerable due to shifting global aid and limited domestic resources.
The report’s release precedes the second School Meals Coalition Global Summit in Brazil, scheduled for September 18-19, where leaders will assess progress and mobilize further action.
Emerging evidence published for the first time in the report indicates that school meals can address the current Learning Crisis by enhancing learning and cognitive skills, contributing to gains in math and literacy. While strong evidence already exists on how school meals boost school enrollment and retention, this new field of study shows that school meals are a cost-effective way to improve education quality, often outperforming traditional interventions like teacher training or technology inputs.
Beyond education, the report highlights the extensive cross-sectoral impact of school meal programmes. These programmes are the largest social safety net globally, helping countries absorb shocks from climate change, pandemics, and conflicts while reaching the most vulnerable children.
School meal programmes are cost-effective, delivering returns across sectors such as education, health, social protection, and agriculture. For every $1 invested, they generate between $7 and $35 in economic benefits. These programmes also create an estimated 7.4 million cooking jobs globally, with additional employment opportunities in logistics, farming, and supply chains.
Sustainable school meal models, like home-grown feeding programmes, promote healthier, eco-friendly diets and support the development of locally rooted food systems that boost local and national economies. Girls benefit more than boys in terms of education and health outcomes, and these programmes empower women economically by expanding their roles in food supply chains and community-based employment.
The report also details WFP’s transformative role in school meals, showcasing its long-term solutions that build national capacity and resilience. WFP currently supports governments to reach 139 million children and delivers school meals directly to 21 million children. Additionally, WFP uses its expertise as a frontline emergency responder to strengthen national systems, as seen in Haiti, Armenia, Benin, and Iraq, where WFP has facilitated the transition to full national ownership of school meal programmes.