What plans are there for making school meals available for all children?
WFP currently assists 36 percent of primary school children in Senegal. We are working with the Ministry of Education to build capacity in project management to ensure the implementation of a national school feeding strategy that targets all children. These activities are part of WFP’s plan to hand the school feeding program over to the Senegalese government in the future. Providing access to school feeding for all children is high on the Senegalese government’s agenda. In order to achieve this goal, WFP continues to advocate for resources from donor countries, the government of Senegal, local authorities, NGO’s, the private sector, and local communities.
What would be the sources of funding for any expansion of the school feeding program? What has been the effect of high food prices in this funding effort?
In order to ensure the implementation of the current program for the 2008/2009 school year, WFP requires US $13 million, of which only 25 percent has been secured. In order to meet the requirements for an expansion of school feeding, WFP relies on donor generosity and government responsibility. One of WFP’s main challenges today is to mobilize sufficient resources to assist the children enrolled in non-WFP supported schools. WFP is also working to ensure the purchase and delivery of the food commodities needed for reintroducing a second daily meal of breakfast to children in the school feeding program.
The high food prices, which have affected Senegal since 2008, have caused a considerable decrease in the purchasing power of households. The crisis has therefore required WFP to reinforce and expand the school feeding program both in the number of beneficiaries and geographical coverage. As a result, the number of targeted school children increased from 300,000 to the current 600,000 throughout Senegal. The high costs of the additional food commodities, such as rice, have imposed a considerable budget increase in 2008. Some donors have responded through donating to funds that work to relieve the effects of high food prices.
How can someone help the school feeding program?
The school feeding program can be supported many ways. Donor governments and any corporation, organization or individual willing to help can make contributions to the school feeding program. Host governments and local communities can help in the development and management of the food stocks, supplies, and labor required to run the program.
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