By:Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU- Following a High-Level Dialogue on Food Systems by the government and the United Nations (UN) last week the World Food Program (WFP) announced its commitment to champion local nutrition by investing in school meals that will benefit 50,000 children.
The WFP’s Assistant Executive Director for Programme and Policy Development, Valerie Guarnieri said this initiative is aimed at transforming the national school meals programme into one that sources 80% of its food locally.
This could also be a boost to the local farmers who are set to benefit from this initiative as it is seen as a game-changing factor that could drive increased food production in the country. This support for this home grown school meals program is expected to not only nourish children but also strengthen local food systems, fostering resilience and sustainability in the community.
During the recent National Children’s Parliament held last month, children emphasised how hunger and poverty severely impact their education, leading to low school attendance and high dropout rates.
WFP has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing these issues as it attempts to combat the educational challenges caused by hunger and poverty.
The WFP’s Assistant Executive Director for Programme and Policy Development revealed that they will mobilise $2 million, about M36, 6 million to support this initiative.
She explained that school meals have the potential to attract children to school, keep them there, and enhance their learning experience.
She said that the home grown school meals programme will first be rolled out in two southern districts, benefiting schools where WFP provides feeding support. The WFP will join hands with the government to source local food for the primary school feeding program.
She emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that it will directly benefit up to 50,000 children in the targeted districts.
Guarnieri further reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to supporting efforts to address the challenges posed by recent El Niño climate shocks, which have negatively impacted over 700,000 people.
She explained that from October to March, the WFP will mobilize a midseason programme to provide critical food assistance to those who need it most. She emphasised that the goal is not to rely on handouts but to link this effort to the WFP’s broader resilience-building activities. The focus, she highlighted, is to support populations on the front lines of climate shocks by helping them build resilience and adapt their livelihoods in response to climate change.
In all these efforts, she noted that the WFP will leverage both investment and partnerships with UN agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and work under the overall leadership of the UN plan to achieve equitable food security and strengthen food systems.