Deadline: 23-Sep-2025
In Sudan’s River Nile State, the World Food Programme (WFP) is leading a transformative initiative aimed at improving child nutrition and strengthening the education system through a school meals and food assistance programme.
Designed to address both immediate hunger and long-term development needs, the initiative supports students, teachers, families, and local food producers in a coordinated and impactful way.
At the heart of the programme is the provision of food commodities to schools, enabling the distribution of either freshly cooked meals or take-home rations for students. These meals not only meet children’s daily nutritional requirements but also serve as a critical incentive for regular school attendance, especially in vulnerable and food-insecure communities.
WFP supports the formation of parent-teacher associations in participating schools and provides training to staff on effective school feeding management. With a focus on sustainability and efficiency, schools are equipped with a menu planner to create balanced, cost-effective meals that use locally available ingredients. This helps ensure that meals are both nutritious and culturally appropriate.
The programme also delivers nutrition education to students, teachers, parents, and school cooks. These sessions increase awareness of healthy eating habits and reinforce the importance of proper nutrition in childhood development. Broader community engagement is achieved through Social and Behaviour Change Communication strategies, which spread key messages about food, health, and education across the population.
Regular monitoring and reporting mechanisms are built into the programme, providing up-to-date insights that help improve operations and ensure accountability. In addition to food assistance, WFP provides non-food items such as cooking supplies and hygiene materials to help schools deliver meals in a safe and supportive environment.
A major strength of the initiative lies in the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) model, which sources food from local smallholder farmers. This approach not only ensures the freshness and relevance of school meals but also strengthens the local economy by creating consistent demand and income opportunities for agricultural producers and suppliers.
The expected outcomes include stabilized enrolment rates, improved school attendance, and a significant reduction in gender disparities among primary school students. At the same time, the programme fosters improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers and contributes to a more functional and resilient education sector across River Nile State.
WFP’s work in the region demonstrates how school feeding can go beyond meals—becoming a catalyst for education, health, and economic empowerment. Through this initiative, the agency is helping build stronger communities and a better future for the children of River Nile.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.