Call for EOIs: School Feeding Program Across Multiple Provinces (Afghanistan)

The World Food Programme (WFP) is implementing school feeding interventions in Afghanistan to improve educational participation, household well-being, and poverty reduction. Targeting provinces including Jowzjan, Paktika, Ghor, Samangan, Uruzgan, Zabul, and Nurestan, the programme provides school meals that motivate enrolment, support household stability, and deliver long-term intergenerational benefits.

Programme Overview

The World Food Programme (WFP) aims to improve educational outcomes and household welfare through school feeding initiatives across selected provinces in Afghanistan. By providing nutritious meals at school, the programme seeks to:

• Increase school enrolment, attendance, and retention

• Reduce household food pressure, particularly for impoverished families

• Support long-term child growth and development

• Promote intergenerational benefits by enhancing parental and child well-being

Target Locations

• Wilayat-e Jowzjan

• Wilayat-e Paktika

• Wilayat-e Ghor

• Samangan

• Uruzgan

• Wilayat-e Zabul

• Velayat-e Nurestan

Sectoral Focus

• Education – strengthening overall educational outcomes

• General education support – improving school access and resources

• School meals – providing nutritious food to support learning and retention

Key Objectives

The WFP school feeding programme addresses both educational and household challenges:

1. Enhancing Educational Participation

   • Increases enrolment and attendance for girls and boys

   • Improves completion rates for primary and secondary education

   • Serves as a motivating factor for families to keep children in school

2. Supporting Household Well-Being

   • Reduces the daily food burden on families

   • Allows households to redirect time and resources to other essential needs

   • Contributes to greater household stability

3. Poverty Reduction and Economic Benefits

   • Meals provided can account for approximately 10% of household income

   • Families with multiple children enrolled save substantial financial resources

   • Boosts community-level economic resilience

4. Long-Term Intergenerational Benefits

   • Regular school attendance is linked to improved child growth and reduced stunting

   • Strengthens parental education, positively affecting the next generation

Why This Programme Matters

School feeding programmes in Afghanistan are more than just meals – they act as a critical incentive for education, particularly in vulnerable communities. Key benefits include:

• Encouraging gender equality in education by retaining girls in school

• Reducing child malnutrition through nutritious meals

• Supporting poverty reduction by saving household resources

• Strengthening future generations’ well-being through education and nutrition

How the Programme Works

1. Identification of Target Schools: Focus on schools in economically vulnerable and high-need areas across the seven provinces

2. Provision of School Meals: Daily nutritious meals provided to enrolled children

3. Monitoring Educational Outcomes: Tracking enrolment, attendance, and completion rates

4. Household and Community Support: Monitoring household savings and improved food security

5. Evaluation of Long-Term Impact: Assessing intergenerational benefits and reduction in stunting

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Focusing only on food provision without tracking educational outcomes

• Ignoring gender-specific challenges in school participation

• Neglecting household-level monitoring of economic impact

• Failing to align school feeding with broader community education initiatives

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Which provinces are covered under the programme?

Jowzjan, Paktika, Ghor, Samangan, Uruzgan, Zabul, and Nurestan.

2. Who benefits from the programme?

Primary beneficiaries are school-aged children, particularly in impoverished households, along with their families and the broader community.

3. How does school feeding impact education?

Meals act as a strong incentive for enrolment, attendance, and retention, improving overall educational outcomes.

4. What are the household-level benefits?

Reduces the food burden, provides financial savings (up to 10% of household income), and allows families to allocate resources elsewhere.

5. Does the programme support gender equality?

Yes. By incentivizing school attendance, girls are more likely to enrol and complete education, contributing to gender equity.

6. Are there broader long-term impacts?

Yes. Improved parental education and child nutrition promote intergenerational well-being and reduced stunting.

7. How is the programme monitored?

Through tracking school attendance, enrolment, completion rates, and household well-being indicators.

Conclusion

The WFP School Feeding Programme in Afghanistan is a vital intervention that enhances educational participation, reduces household food insecurity, and promotes long-term well-being. By providing nutritious meals to children, the initiative supports both immediate humanitarian needs and sustainable educational and economic development, benefiting families and communities across the targeted provinces.