Deadline: 25-Jun-2026
The World Food Programme is expanding the School Feeding Programme and Home-Grown School Feeding model in Sierra Leone. The initiative strengthens education, nutrition, and local agriculture by providing daily school meals sourced from smallholder farmers. It operates across Eastern, North Western, and Southern regions and aims to improve learning outcomes, food security, and community resilience.
World Food Programme School Feeding Programme Overview
The World Food Programme (WFP) initiative in Sierra Leone focuses on scaling up school feeding as a core social protection mechanism. It integrates education, nutrition, and local economic development through a structured Home-Grown School Feeding model.
The programme ensures that children receive nutritious daily meals while strengthening local food systems and supporting community development.
Purpose and Objectives of the Programme
The initiative is designed to achieve multiple development outcomes:
- Improve access to education through consistent school meals
- Enhance learning outcomes and school attendance rates
- Strengthen child nutrition and reduce food insecurity
- Support livelihoods of smallholder farmers and local producers
- Promote community engagement and social cohesion
- Improve WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in schools
- Strengthen institutional capacity for national school feeding systems
- Promote gender inclusion in education and agriculture systems
The programme connects education outcomes directly with nutrition and local economic growth.
Geographic Coverage
The programme is implemented across Sierra Leone, specifically in:
- Eastern Region
- North Western Region
- Southern Region
It is led by the World Food Programme in collaboration with national government and local stakeholders.
Who Benefits From the Programme?
Key beneficiaries include:
- Primary school children receiving daily meals
- Smallholder farmers supplying food locally
- School communities in rural and food-insecure areas
- Teachers and school administrators
- Local agricultural cooperatives and suppliers
- Vulnerable households dependent on school nutrition support
The programme prioritises children in areas with high food insecurity and low school attendance.
Key Focus Areas
The Home-Grown School Feeding expansion focuses on:
Education and Learning Outcomes
- Increased school attendance and retention
- Improved cognitive performance through better nutrition
- Enhanced classroom engagement
Nutrition
- Daily provision of balanced, nutritious meals
- Reduction in child malnutrition
- Improved dietary diversity
Livelihoods and Local Agriculture
- Market access for smallholder farmers
- Stable demand for local food production
- Strengthening rural economies
Community Mobilisation
- Engagement of parents and local committees
- Strengthening ownership of school feeding programmes
- Encouraging community participation
WASH and Environment
- Improved sanitation in schools
- Access to clean water and hygiene facilities
- Healthier school environments
What is the Home-Grown School Feeding Model?
The Home-Grown School Feeding model is an approach where school meals are sourced locally from smallholder farmers instead of external suppliers.
Key features include:
- Local procurement of food
- Strengthening of agricultural value chains
- Integration of education, nutrition, and rural development
- Support for sustainable food systems
- Community-driven supply networks
This model ensures that school feeding programmes also contribute to local economic growth.
Expected Results and Outcomes
The programme aims to deliver measurable impact across multiple sectors:
- Improved school attendance and completion rates
- Better nutrition and reduced malnutrition among children
- Strengthened agricultural market systems
- Increased income opportunities for local farmers
- Enhanced gender inclusion in education and agriculture
- Improved institutional capacity for national school feeding systems
- Compliance with national school feeding standards
- Stronger community resilience and food security
How the Programme Works (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Identify Target Schools and Communities
Schools in food-insecure or underserved regions are selected.
Step 2: Engage Local Farmers and Suppliers
Smallholder farmers are linked to school procurement systems.
Step 3: Provide Daily School Meals
Children receive nutritious meals during school days.
Step 4: Strengthen Local Systems
Training and coordination improve procurement, storage, and delivery systems.
Step 5: Monitor Education and Nutrition Outcomes
Data is collected on attendance, learning performance, and nutrition indicators.
Step 6: Scale and Expand Coverage
Successful models are expanded to additional regions and schools.
Key Components of the Programme
- School feeding delivery systems
- Local agricultural procurement networks
- Nutrition-sensitive programming
- School infrastructure improvements (WASH facilities)
- Community participation mechanisms
- Monitoring and evaluation systems
- Capacity building for national institutions
Common Challenges Addressed
- Food insecurity among school-aged children
- Low school attendance in rural areas
- Weak agricultural market access for small farmers
- Poor nutrition and child development outcomes
- Limited sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in schools
- Fragmented community participation systems
Why This Programme Matters
The World Food Programme school feeding initiative is important because it:
- Links education with nutrition and health outcomes
- Strengthens local economies through agricultural procurement
- Improves long-term human capital development
- Reduces hunger-related barriers to education
- Builds resilient community food systems
- Supports national development and poverty reduction goals
It creates a sustainable cycle where education, agriculture, and nutrition reinforce each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of the programme?
To improve education outcomes, nutrition, and local agricultural systems through school feeding.
Where is the programme implemented?
Across Eastern, North Western, and Southern regions of Sierra Leone.
Who runs the programme?
The World Food Programme in collaboration with national stakeholders.
What is Home-Grown School Feeding?
It is a model that sources school meals from local smallholder farmers.
Who benefits from the programme?
Schoolchildren, local farmers, schools, and rural communities.
How does it support farmers?
By creating stable demand for locally produced food.
What long-term impact is expected?
Improved education, better nutrition, stronger economies, and reduced poverty.
Conclusion
The World Food Programme School Feeding Expansion in Sierra Leone strengthens education, nutrition, and rural livelihoods through a Home-Grown model that connects schools with local farmers. By improving access to meals and supporting community agriculture, it builds long-term human capital and more resilient food systems.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.