Publications and resources

This working paper documents Kenya’s national school meals programme, detailing its organization, funding, and monitoring processes. It presents the country’s profile, outlines the design and implementation of school feeding programs, describes monitoring and evaluation processes, and highlights lessons learned, best practices, and challenges.

This report analyzes the costs and benefits of Ethiopia’s school feeding programme, highlighting its impact on education, health, and local agriculture. Findings show that school meals increase years of schooling, reduce anemia, and support smallholder farmers, delivering $4 in benefits for every $1 invested.

This working paper documents Burundi's national school meals program, detailing its organization, funding, and monitoring processes. It presents the country's profile, outlines the design and implementation of school feeding programs, describes monitoring and evaluation processes, and highlights lessons learned, best practices, and challenges.

This report explores the feasibility of allocating Africa’s oil and mineral revenues to fund sustainable school feeding programmes. It analyzes policy frameworks, financial mechanisms, and includes a case study of Senegal to illustrate how natural resource revenues can support social protection systems like school meals.​

This paper highlights the role of school meal programmes in global food system reform. It argues that expanding these programs can address hunger, improve education, and promote healthier diets. Prepared for the UN Food Systems Summit 2023, the paper emphasizes their potential to support sustainable development, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

This report examines the potential of debt swaps as a financing mechanism for school meals, analyzing opportunities, constraints, and policy implications for sustainable school feeding programmes. It includes detailed case studies of Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

This case study provides an in-depth look at the development, implementation, and challenges of school meal programs in Senegal. It focuses on local economies, food security, and the nutritional impact on students, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. It also discusses public policies, financing mechanisms, and collaboration with international partners.

This discussion paper examines the evolution and effectiveness of school meal programs in South Asia and beyond. It provides evidence on their role in improving educational outcomes, food security, and social protection. It also highlights the role of school meals in promoting gender equity and supporting local agriculture.

Bundy DAP, Gentilini U, Schultz L, et al. School Meals, Social Protection, and Human Development: Revisiting Trends, Evidence, and Practices in South Asia and Beyond. World Bank Discussion Paper; March 2024.