In West Africa the country of Benin is struggling with high food prices. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reports that "thirty percent of the population is rated poor while sixteen percent are reported to live in
extreme poverty." WFP's top priority in Benin is the school feeding program.

In the following interview with Jacques Roy, WFP country director for Benin, we will look at school feeding and its role in reducing hunger and poverty.

How many children are benefiting from the WFP school feeding programs within the country?

The WFP School Feeding Program in Benin is currently assisting 70,000 pupils all over the country in 10 departments and 400 public primary schools. School meals are prepared from a food basket of maize, pulses, vegetable oil, and fish.

In addition to school cafeterias, WFP is assisting local beneficiaries through take-home dry rations of 15 litres of oil per year. These are issued to each girl attending the highest three grade levels in the primary education system. This activity is targeting 35,000 additional beneficiaries in order to close the gender gap within the Beninese society.

Discuss what effect the meals have on the children in terms of school attendance, performance, and nutrition.

The school feeding program in Benin is critical in order to improve the educational and nutritional status of students. By receiving a meal every day at school, children are encouraged not to go back home during lunch break and are more likely to remain at school for afternoon class. Many students in rural areas of the country walk miles from home every day to get to school, so the presence of a cafeteria offers a great incentive for them as well as a way for parents to offset the opportunity costs of managing the household without their children.

Since the beginning of the project, attendance rates have increased and dropout rates have decreased during the school year. Over the past two years the enrolment rate has increased by 50% and the dropout rate has declined by 20%. Moreover, children’s overall nutritional levels have improved. According to teachers and parents in the field, in-class concentration levels have also improved.

The take-home dry ration we provide improves food security in assisted households and encourages the enrolment of girls, decreasing the gender disparity at the primary school level. There are currently seven girls to every ten boys for each class, a significant step toward reaching the goal of a 50:50 ratio. Additional family rations will be distributed to pupils before the new school year begins in an effort to keep students in village areas enrolled.

What plans are there for making school meals available for all children?

The WFP country office, along with the national government, has been implementing a 5 year project since 2004 to assist beneficiaries by providing them with a warm meal everyday.