Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – A groundbreaking evaluation of The Gambia’s Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSF) highlights its transformative impact on child nutrition, education, and mental well-being, especially among girls. Conducted jointly by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Bank’s Development Impact Department (DIME), the study underscores the programme’s role in enhancing food security and dietary diversity, while reducing school dropout rates and improving student mental health.

Presented in Banjul, the findings reveal that school meals significantly bolster education outcomes by attracting and retaining students, particularly from vulnerable communities. Prof. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, who oversees the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, emphasized the programme’s critical importance.

“As a government, we understand that education is the bedrock of national development. However, we also recognize that children cannot learn effectively on an empty stomach,” Prof. Gomez remarked. “The provision of school meals has shown to increase school attendance, improve concentration, and reduce dropout rates—particularly among the most vulnerable segments of our population.”

Addressing Hunger and Fostering Growth

The HGSF programme, a collaborative initiative between The Gambian government and WFP, combines local agriculture with school feeding efforts. It sources food from local farmers, ensuring a supply of nutritious meals for students while simultaneously supporting the nation’s agricultural economy.

“The results of this evaluation underscore the critical role home-grown school meals play in supporting children’s education and health, as well as its potential to stimulate local economies,” said Miranda Sende, WFP’s Representative and Country Director in The Gambia. “This evaluation provides a solid foundation for scaling up the programme and refining it to maximize its impact on future generations.”

The study, which covered the North Bank and Upper River regions from January to October 2023, revealed measurable benefits for children’s health and education. Among key outcomes were improved mental well-being, with reductions in stress and depression rates, particularly among girls. Increased school attendance, dietary diversity, and reduced dropouts also featured prominently in the findings.

Globally, school meals serve as one of the most effective social safety nets, benefiting an estimated 418 million children. In The Gambia, WFP provides daily school meals to over 150,000 students across 400 primary schools.

The programme’s success highlights its multifaceted benefits, including fostering social cohesion and incentivizing families to keep children, particularly girls, in school. It has become a lifeline for many families facing food insecurity and economic challenges, ensuring children remain nourished and ready to learn.

With plans to expand and optimize the programme, The Gambia is setting a model for how school feeding initiatives can address hunger, improve education outcomes, and bolster local economies. The findings are expected to inform future policies and inspire similar initiatives in other nations.