AU sells Nigeria’s school feeding programme to other African countries

The African Union (AU) has called on African leaders to emulate Nigeria by shifting its school feeding programme from federal government to state government ownership.

This is exactly what the AU claims: at least 65.4 million children in 51 countries now benefit from school meals in Africa.

The Project Manager for Nutrition and Food Security of the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), Ms. Kefilwe Rhoba Moalosi, who made this known, said commended Nigeria for the implementation of the school feeding programme.

She spoke at the strategic meeting of school feeding stakeholders, the theme of which was: “Encouraging state implementation and best practices in school feeding in favor of the food supply chain. local agricultural value, community engagement and economic development. »

Moalosi said data compiled by the AU in 2019 indicates that the figure drawn from 51 countries represents a massive increase from 38.4 million in 2013.

She also said that this development should not be considered surprising since African leaders, at the Conference of Heads of State and Government in 2016, recognized the contribution of school feeding to the development of human resources and capital in Africa and approved local school feeding which will be commemorated every year on March 1st.

Moalosi, however, said statistics indicate that only 27 percent of children in sub-Saharan Africa have access to a school meal, which affects learning outcomes.

The report says that home-grown school feeding reaches 66 million children in 54 African countries, accounting for 84 percent of funding provided by national budgets.

She added: “Recent disruptions in African economies reinforce the movement and need to think locally – especially on a continent where agriculture remains a major source of income and employment, especially for women. By working together, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to develop comprehensive programs that address the multifaceted needs of our children, from nutrition and health to education and economic empowerment. Funding for school meal programs coming directly from governments can vary widely.

“Investing in local school feeding programs is not without its challenges, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. As we embark on this journey, let us reaffirm our commitment to the well-being of our children and the prosperity of our communities.”

“Together we can build a better future for generations to come. We will only reach our goal of zero hunger if we all walk together – we must run towards our goal together! With these remarks, once again, many thanks to the Federal Government of Nigeria Office for Sub-Saharan Africa, to the President who challenged us to collaborate with AUDA-NEPAD to domesticate the continental guidelines on school feeding through the engagement of school feeding implementers, particularly at the community level, to contribute to food and nutrition security outcomes.

“Personally, I believe that encouraging implementation and best practices in school feeding by the state can significantly improve investments and promote the local agricultural value chain, community engagement and economic development in the school feeding programs in Nigeria.

“School feeding programs play a crucial role in combating malnutrition and improving children’s health and educational outcomes. Promoting local agriculture and investing in local school feeding programs is not just an expense; it is an investment in our collective future.

“By leveraging the resources and capabilities of state actors, we can transform the lives of millions of children across our country.

“However, by providing daily meals from local farmers and producers, we ensure our children receive the essential nutrients they need to thrive in school and beyond. Each stakeholder brings unique resources and expertise.

“The government can also allocate part of its budget or seek support from donors for sustainable financing, formation of partnerships and facilitate partnerships between government agencies, food suppliers, agricultural producers, financial institutions, technology providers and community organizations.

“Each partner can bring resources, expertise and networks to ensure the success and sustainability of the program. However, several challenges remain in the implementation and transition to the HGSF due to the need for coordinated and systematic implementation approaches.

“Many African countries are now seeking technical assistance to design, implement, manage, monitor and evaluate HGSF programs. In addition, more and more countries are seeking to improve the quality of meals in terms of nutrition and increase the scale of their HGSF programs.