What would be the sources of funding for any expansion of the school feeding program?
As Sudan stabilizes, WFP will seek further government contributions for a national school feeding program. We will also explore private sector participation, especially in regard to the local procurement of commodities for school meals.
What has been the effect of rising food prices on this funding effort?
As with all WFP activities, rising food costs have compromised WFP’s overall purchasing power which, in turn, increases our operational costs.
How can someone help the school feeding program?
Unlike most of WFP’s other activities, school feeding is a long-term project that should continue indefinitely through handover to the national government. In a country like Sudan, which has suffered decades of conflict, a national takeover will take time. Therefore, continued financial support is necessary to ensure program sustainability.
In addition to financial support, the government would benefit tremendously from capacity-building efforts such as school feeding management and educational information management. This could be done through partnerships with countries such as Egypt where school feeding programs have been successfully handed over to the national government.
Anything else you'd like to add about why you think school feeding is important for people to support?
WFP’s school feeding program is contributing to the overall enhancement of the educational system in Sudan. We are working with other organizations in the sector, including the Ministry of Education, to further establish school infrastructure and build the capacity of educational staff. This is particularly important in places where communities need to be revitalized in order to attract returnees and give a sense of hope to people who have suffered from decades of conflict.
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