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How School Meal Programs Keep Girls in School

School Meal ProgramsAccording to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 122 million girls of primary and secondary school age are not enrolled in school worldwide. Many are pulled out to take on domestic roles or are married off as young as 14 to alleviate financial pressures on their families, such as food. Girls are particularly disadvantaged in impoverished countries and regions affected by fragility, conflict and violence (FCV), where they are 2.5 times more likely than boys to be out of school.

School Meal Programs

School meal programs in countries where girls face disproportionate barriers provide a strong incentive for families to send their daughters to school and keep them enrolled. This will, in turn, delay marriage and pregnancy as well as empower young women. A study conducted by the Frontiers of Public Health proved this, finding that completing ninth grade considerably increases the chances of girls delaying marriage until 18 and pregnancy until 20.

The strong correlation between education and child marriage stresses the urgency of prioritizing female education and enrollment in low- and middle-income countries. Implementing school meal programs is a sustainable and effective way to do so. It has been shown to cause a significant increase in female enrollment and school completion. Addressing the issue of child pregnancy is imperative, as the leading cause of death among adolescent girls is maternal mortality.

In developing countries where women and girls are often last to eat, many experience malnourishment, which is exacerbated by the intense physical and nutritional demands of breastfeeding and pregnancy. This malnutrition, combined with the fact that their bodies are not fully developed to endure the stress of pregnancy, puts pregnant adolescents at a higher risk of having low-birthweight babies and facing maternal mortality. However, this cycle can be broken by keeping girls in school and improving their nutrition through school meal programs.

Further Benefits

Moreover, students better focus in class when getting the nutrition they need; thus, eating at school boosts their academic performance and motivates them to go to school and participate. With the improvement of children’s physical health through school meal programs, they are less likely to miss school due to illness. A study in South Africa found that among the many positive spillover effects of school meal programs, families of students benefiting from them recorded less health spending than of the latter. In addition, the study found that the programs had a more pronounced impact on girls and rural communities.

School meal programs also stimulate local economies by creating business opportunities for smallholder farmers who source the meals and by creating jobs for those organizing and distributing them. They also reduce the financial stress on vulnerable families, allowing them to save about 10% of their income. In fact, according to an analysis done by the World Food Programme (WFP), communities saw a $9 economic return for every $1 allocated to school meals. Similarly, it found that 1,400 jobs were created with every 100,000 children fed, which translates to around four million jobs spanning 85 countries.

Solely through school meals, we can not only encourage families to prioritize education for their children, especially daughters but indirectly strengthen local economies and contribute to the fight against global poverty.

Progress

Figures from the WFP have shown that globally, school meal programs can boost enrollment rates by an average of 9%, with a 12% increase specifically for girls. These programs have also been linked to an 8% improvement in attendance. Notably, in Pakistan, before school meal programs were implemented, 48% of households did not send any girls to school. Five years after the program started, the WFP found that all households educated at least one daughter.

Currently, there are school meal programs in 161 countries and daily meals are provided to more than 418 million children worldwide. The WFP allocates $48 billion annually to support these programs and hopes to transition the ownership of such programs to national governments. To date, 50 countries have made this transition. More than 80% of all programs have been encompassed into national policies in some way and others are expected to follow.

With school meal programs operating in almost every country, the scale of impact varies by region. For instance, India has immense coverage, feeding 130 million children daily. Similarly, Brazil feeds 50 million. Even in impoverished countries with smaller budgets, these programs are making a meaningful difference by prioritizing children from the most vulnerable families.

Looking Forward

With 73 million children in 60 different countries still left vulnerable and with no access to school meals, there is still work to be done. The WFP continues to work with governments globally, especially in regions where girls are more vulnerable, to support school meal programs and reaffirm its commitments as per the School Meals Coalition. Its goal is for “every child to have access to a daily, healthy meal in school by 2030.”

– Rebecca Aziz

Rebecca is based in Middleton, WI, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Transforming Education: School Feeding Programs in Malawi

Transforming Education in Malawi: School Feeding ProgramsSchool feeding programs in Malawi, implemented by the World Food Program (WFP) in partnership with the Government of Malawi, have played a transformative role in improving educational outcomes, particularly in the country’s most food-insecure districts. Since its inception in 1999, the program has been targeting approximately 600,000 children across seven districts: Chikwawa, Dedza, Mangochi, Phalombe, Nsanje, Salima and Zomba.

Boosting School Enrollment and Attendance

Feeding programs have a clear and immediate effect on increasing school enrollment and attendance rates. In an environment where many families face food insecurity, the guarantee of a meal when children attend school provides a strong incentive for parents to send their children to school. Data from the WFP reveals that attendance rates in schools with feeding programs have improved from 77% to 92%, which is a drastic increase. Additionally, these programs have led to a 5% decline in absenteeism and a 2.9% reduction in dropout rates. 

Promoting Gender Equality

In Malawi, as in many developing countries, girls are generally disadvantaged when it comes to accessing education. Negative cultural practices, early marriages and domestic chores often make it difficult for girls to attend school. However, school feeding programs have made significant progress in bridging the gender gap in education. The implementation of the United Nations Joint Program on Girls’ Education, which includes the provision of varied school meals, has led to a notable decrease in girls’ dropout rates, from 15.6% to 5.2%. These programs help alleviate some of the economic burdens on families by ensuring that girls receive at least one meal a day, encouraging parents to support their daughters’ education. 

Enhancing Academic Performance

The benefits of school feeding programs extend beyond simply getting children to school—they also play a crucial role in enhancing students’ ability to learn and perform academically. Malnutrition, which affects cognitive development, is a significant barrier to learning. By providing nutritious meals, these programs help ensure that children are better able to focus, participate in class and retain information. 

Overcoming Challenges and Ensuring Sustainability

Since 1999, Malawi’s school meals programs have continued to grow but have not been able to reach all students. The home-grown school feeding strategy has been important in promoting education and increasing economic welfare by providing nutritious food to 605,000 children while supporting 35,000 smallholder farmers. Supported by Norway, the European Union (EU) and Iceland, this investment reveals an impressive 20:1 return on every dollar, demonstrating progress in education, nutrition and local economies.

These achievements have not been without challenges. In developing countries like Malawi, reliance on international grants could create instability and unpredictability in operations. Many schools also face infrastructural issues, such as inadequate cooking facilities, lack of water supply and insufficient electricity for meal preparation and serving. The use of wood as fuel contributes to deforestation and other environmental problems. Despite the benefits of these programs, food insecurity remains a major barrier to both school enrollment and completion. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including long-term funding, improved infrastructure and the adoption of less environmentally harmful fuel sources.

Looking Forward

School feeding programs in Malawi have significantly improved education, boosting enrollment, attendance and academic performance, particularly for girls. The home-grown initiative further benefits local economies by supporting smallholder farmers. However, challenges like funding instability, poor infrastructure and environmental concerns remain. Addressing these ongoing issues can potentially sustain and expand the program’s impact, ensuring a brighter future for Malawi’s children and communities.

– Aneela Agha

Aneela is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr