Deadline: 23-Dec-2025
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a call for expression of interest to support education-focused school meal programs in Unity, South Sudan, in 2026. The initiative aims to improve school attendance, retention, and learning outcomes while addressing child hunger, supporting smallholder farmers, and enhancing local food production and markets.
Overview of the Initiative
The World Food Programme (WFP) is launching a program to strengthen education-focused school meal initiatives across Unity State, South Sudan. The program targets school-going children to improve nutrition, health, and learning outcomes while simultaneously linking smallholder farmers to school feeding systems to boost local food production and markets. Key objectives include:
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Reducing short-term hunger among schoolchildren.
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Improving school enrolment, attendance, retention, and progression.
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Linking smallholder farmers to school meal programs to create sustainable markets.
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Enhancing health and nutrition outcomes for children.
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Ensuring vulnerable populations are targeted through registration and assessment of General Food Distribution (GFD) beneficiaries.
Why the Initiative Matters
Child hunger and irregular meals negatively impact learning, concentration, and school attendance. By providing regular school meals, the program aims to:
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Promote consistent school attendance and academic progression.
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Reduce malnutrition and related health issues among children.
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Strengthen local agriculture and smallholder farmer livelihoods.
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Foster sustainable food systems and community resilience.
Who is Eligible?
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Schools and educational institutions within Unity State.
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Organizations working on school feeding programs, education, nutrition, or local agriculture development.
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Smallholder farmers and cooperatives that can supply agricultural produce for school meals.
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Vulnerable children who meet GFD targeting and registration criteria.
How the Program Works
1. School Meal Provision
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Provide regular meals to enrolled children to reduce hunger and improve concentration.
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Monitor attendance and retention to evaluate program effectiveness.
2. Linking Farmers to School Meals
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Connect smallholder farmers to schools as suppliers of agricultural produce.
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Promote local market development and increase food production capacity.
3. Nutrition and Health Monitoring
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Assess children’s health and nutrition status periodically.
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Integrate nutrition education and community awareness campaigns to improve dietary practices.
4. Targeting and Registration
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Identify and register vulnerable beneficiaries based on GFD criteria and vulnerability assessments.
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Ensure equitable distribution of meals to those most in need.
Common Mistakes and Tips
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Mistake: Not linking school meals to local farmers. Tip: Establish contracts and supply chains to support community livelihoods.
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Mistake: Ignoring beneficiary registration. Tip: Conduct thorough assessments to target the most vulnerable children.
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Mistake: Poor monitoring of attendance and retention. Tip: Implement regular tracking to measure education outcomes.
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Mistake: Inconsistent meal quality or frequency. Tip: Maintain reliable meal schedules and nutrition standards.
FAQ
1. What is the main goal of this WFP initiative?
To improve school attendance, retention, learning outcomes, and child nutrition through school meal programs.
2. Who benefits from the program?
School-going children, smallholder farmers, local communities, and schools in Unity State.
3. How are farmers involved in the program?
Smallholder farmers supply agricultural produce for school meals, supporting local markets and livelihoods.
4. How does the program improve education?
Regular meals enhance concentration, attendance, retention, and overall learning outcomes.
5. How are vulnerable children identified?
Through GFD beneficiary registration and vulnerability assessments conducted in targeted schools.
6. What types of monitoring are implemented?
Health and nutrition status assessments, school attendance tracking, and supply chain monitoring for farmers.
7. Why is linking farmers to school meals important?
It boosts local food production, market development, and community resilience, creating a sustainable impact beyond immediate child nutrition.
Conclusion
The WFP 2026 school meal initiative in Unity State offers a holistic approach to education, nutrition, and community development. By providing regular meals to children, linking school feeding programs with smallholder farmers, and targeting vulnerable populations, the program supports improved learning outcomes, better health, and strengthened local food systems, creating lasting impact for communities in South Sudan.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
