Publications and resources

This report and case study explore how school meals may contribute to social cohesion in Mali. Drawing on field research conducted jointly by WFP and IDS in four schools in Bandiagara and Mopti, Mali, the report examines whether and how the pathways identified in the framing paper manifest in practice, and assesses the extent to which the school meals programme is grounded in a conflict-sensitive approach.

The report finds that school meals support important building blocks of social cohesion, while highlighting opportunities to strengthen conflict-sensitive programming and the intentional integration of secondary social cohesion outcomes into school meals programme design and monitoring.

This report explores how school meals may contribute to social cohesion in Somalia. Drawing on field research conducted jointly by WFP and IDS in five schools in Galkayo, Somalia, the report examines whether and how the pathways identified in the framing paper manifest in practice and assesses the extent to which the school meals programme is grounded in a conflict-sensitive approach. 

The findings suggest that school meals provide children with a sense of normality, stability and hope, support school attendance and retention, reduce risks associated with dropout and negative coping mechanisms, and foster positive interactions among children from different backgrounds.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW)’s report, Breaking Barriers: Understanding Educational Exclusion in Crises, finds 258 million school-aged children affected by crises. Of these, 93 million are out of school, while many enrolled children face conditions that limit learning and raise dropout risks. 

Early learning challenges are increasingly becoming access crises in adolescence. Evidence shows food insecurity (IPC Phase 2+) is linked to poorer learning outcomes, lower progression, and reduced secondary enrolment, especially in protracted crises. Evidence also shows that school feeding programmes help offset the effects of food insecurity, improving attendance and leading to measurable gains of 0.1–0.2 standard deviations in learning outcomes.

This brief highlights the role of school meals in emergencies in supporting learning, reducing dropout risks, strengthening local systems, and contributing to long‑term recovery and social cohesion in fragile settings.

This framing paper, developed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), outlines the key role of school meals programmes in fragile and conflict-affected settings, while investigating their contribution to peace and social cohesion.

It highlights the main risks and opportunities of school feeding in emergency contexts and identifies potential pathways through which school meals can not only achieve their primary objectives, but also foster peace and social cohesion, emphasizing the importance of conflict-sensitive programming and further evidence-generation. 

The State of School Feeding Worldwide is the United Nations’ official reporting mechanism on school meals, produced biennially by the World Food Programme, as a flagship publication, as secretariat of the School Meals Coalition. It presents the most comprehensive global assessment of how countries support their children through effective school meal programmes worldwide, highlighting trends in coverage, financing, policies and impact.

The 2024 edition reveals unprecedented expansion, with 466 million children now reached worldwide—80 million more since 2020. It highlights governments’ investments of US$84 billion annually, evidence of multisectoral impacts across education, health, nutrition, jobs and food systems, and the role of the School Meals Coalition in driving progress. This edition also highlights a clear shift: school meals are no longer just seen as a donor-driven priority but as a nationally owned and powerful policy lever. Around the world, governments are elevating school health and nutrition in their agendas—recognising school meals as a smart investment in children’s futures and stronger food systems.

The report draws on draws on the best available data sources to present a global picture of school meals coverage, implementation practices, emerging research and costs of school-based health and nutrition programmes from direct government reporting, global surveys, WFP estimates and World Bank data.

This case study documents the evolution of Bangladesh’s school meals programme, from emergency distribution of fortified biscuits to the introduction of diversified meals including cooked food. It explores the programme’s objectives, coverage, procurement models and monitoring systems, while outlining the challenges of scale-up, cost, and sustainability. The study highlights the 2019 national policy, multisectoral coordination efforts, and the upcoming government school feeding programme (2024–2027) aiming to reach 3.46 million children with a mixed menu model.

Fahmida Akter, Chowdhury Mufad Ahmed, Abu Ahmed Shamim.

This scoping review, published by the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) & UNICEF with support from the Governments of Ireland and Norway, examines the nutrition needs of school-age children and adolescents (ages 5–19) in humanitarian contexts. It identifies critical gaps in data, guidance, and programming, and outlines a recommended minimum package of interventions including school meals, micronutrient supplementation, and nutrition education. Drawing on interviews with key agencies and six case studies—from Bangladesh, Latin America, Gaza, Ukraine, Cameroon, and the Philippines—the report offers actionable recommendations for governments and partners to better support nutrition in emergencies.