African nations expand school feeding programs to boost nutrition and education

African nations are leveraging school feeding programs to improve student nutrition, school attendance, and local agricultural support.

In Togo’s Kara region, women play a central role in the school canteen program supported by the government and the World Food Programme (WFP). These women manage the entire process from sourcing ingredients to preparing and distributing diverse meals, such as rice with peanut sauce and bean dishes, to students. This initiative aims to bolster child nutrition and support local producers.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Minister of National Education Raïssa Malu highlighted the importance of school feeding in enhancing education access and learning quality. Speaking at the World Food Forum in Rome, Malu noted the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) support for developing school gardens. This effort accompanies the rollout of 78 pilot school canteens planned for the 2026-2027 academic year, aligning with the national vision to improve student retention through improved food security.