Open Call: WFP Supports School Meals and Food Security in Khartoum (Sudan)
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In Khartoum, Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) is advancing a critical initiative aimed at enhancing education and food security through school meals and food assistance.
This programme is designed to address the nutritional needs of school children while strengthening local food systems and community resilience.
At the core of the initiative is the provision of food commodities to schools, either for preparing daily cooked meals or for distribution through take-home rations. These meals are essential in encouraging regular school attendance, reducing hunger in classrooms, and helping children concentrate and perform better in their studies.
To ensure effective implementation, parent-teacher associations are established in targeted schools and trained, along with relevant staff, in the management of school feeding operations. A school menu planner is introduced to guide the preparation of nutritious and cost-effective meals that meet dietary standards while considering locally available ingredients.
The programme also emphasizes education on nutrition. Students, teachers, cooks, and parents participate in learning sessions that improve their understanding of healthy diets. These efforts are supported by broader community engagement through Social and Behaviour Change Communication, which promotes better nutrition and health practices beyond the school setting.
WFP maintains a strong monitoring and reporting system to ensure accountability and ongoing improvement. These systems allow for timely data collection, helping inform strategic decisions and optimize programme effectiveness. Non-food items, including cooking tools and hygiene supplies, are also distributed to support the safe preparation and delivery of school meals.
An important component of the programme is the use of the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) model. By sourcing food from local smallholder farmers, the initiative stimulates the local economy, improves the freshness and cultural relevance of school meals, and creates new income-generating opportunities for producers and suppliers in the region.
The expected outcomes are far-reaching. The programme aims to stabilize school enrolment, improve attendance rates, and reduce gender disparities among primary school students. It also contributes to enhanced livelihoods for those involved in the food supply chain and supports the development of a more functional and resilient education sector in Khartoum.
Through this holistic approach, WFP is helping to create a stronger link between food, learning, and community development, ensuring that children are well-nourished and better equipped to succeed in school while supporting economic stability for families and farmers across Khartoum.
