Open Call: Implement School Feeding and Agricultural Support in Aweil East (South Sudan)

The World Food Programme (WFP) is accepting applications for a multi-sector initiative in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan, targeting education, food security, and livelihoods. The program combines school meals, cash and food assistance, and smallholder agriculture support to improve learning outcomes, strengthen community resilience, and enhance sustainable agricultural practices.

Overview

The WFP program in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan, is designed to provide immediate relief to vulnerable populations while fostering long-term resilience. It integrates education, food security, and livelihood interventions to create sustainable benefits for rural households.

Key Focus Areas

1. Education Sector: School Meals

• Provides school feeding programs to combat short-term hunger.

• Increases enrolment, attendance, retention, and progression of school-going children.

• Links smallholder farmers to local schools, boosting local food production.

• Improves overall child nutrition and health to enhance learning capacity.

2. Food Security: Cash and Food Assistance

• Provides direct food and cash support to vulnerable households.

• Implements Food Assistance for Assets (ACL) activities to build community infrastructure.

• Strengthens the capacity of communities to withstand future shocks.

3. Livelihoods: Smallholder Agriculture Market Support (SAMS)

• Enhances smallholder farmers’ production, aggregation, and marketing abilities.

• Promotes sustainable agriculture and income-generating opportunities.

• Improves food security at the household and community level.

Who is Eligible?

• Local organizations, community-based groups, and government bodies in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

• Partners capable of implementing multi-sector interventions in education, food security, and livelihoods.

• Entities experienced in school feeding, cash/food assistance programs, or agricultural development.

Why It Matters

• Supports Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and broader SDGs including quality education, sustainable agriculture, and community resilience.

• Addresses both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term development goals.

• Links education and nutrition, improving cognitive and physical outcomes for children.

• Strengthens rural livelihoods and builds resilient local food systems.

How It Works / How to Apply

1. Project Planning: Identify target schools, communities, and smallholder farmers.

2. Needs Assessment: Conduct registration and vulnerability assessments to ensure support reaches those most in need.

3. Implementation:

   • Deliver school meals to improve attendance and learning.

   • Provide cash or food assistance and ACL activities for community resilience.

   • Strengthen smallholder agriculture through SAMS programs.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation: Track enrolment, nutrition indicators, food security outcomes, and farmer productivity.

5. Partnership and Reporting: Maintain compliance with WFP standards and reporting requirements.

Common Mistakes / Tips

• Failing to clearly define target beneficiaries and geographic focus.

• Weak integration between education, food security, and livelihood interventions.

• Inadequate monitoring and reporting systems.

• Limited engagement with local communities and stakeholders.

• Ignoring long-term sustainability in favor of short-term assistance.

FAQ

1. Which region is targeted by this initiative?
Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan.

2. What sectors are included in the WFP program?
Education (school meals), food security (cash and food assistance), and livelihoods (smallholder agriculture support).

3. Who can apply to implement the program?
Local organizations, government agencies, and community-based groups with relevant experience.

4. How does school feeding link to local agriculture?
School feeding purchases food from smallholder farmers, creating sustainable markets and improving local food production.

5. What are ACL activities?
Food Assistance for Assets (ACL) combines immediate food/cash support with community infrastructure projects to strengthen resilience.

6. How does the initiative promote long-term resilience?
By improving agricultural practices, market access for farmers, and community infrastructure, the program helps communities withstand future shocks.

7. Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does this initiative support?
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Conclusion

WFP’s multi-sector initiative in Northern Bahr el Ghazal integrates education, food security, and livelihoods to address immediate humanitarian needs while fostering long-term resilience. By linking school meals with agricultural support and community infrastructure development, the program strengthens rural households, enhances child nutrition, and promotes sustainable development in South Sudan.