Nairobi: At Olympic Secondary School in Nairobi's informal settlement of Kibera, 17-year-old Mercy Mmboga tends to spinach leaves growing in recycled plastic pipes, part of a hydroponics initiative to bolster school meals. Twice weekly, these plants are harvested to enrich lunches for the school's 1,200 students.

According to EMM, leadership in Africa, notably in Kenya, Rwanda, and Benin, has significantly advanced school meal programs. WFP School Meals Director Carmen Burbano emphasizes the political will driving these initiatives, with countries like Burkina Faso, Lesotho, and Rwanda funding meal programs through national budgets. Ethiopia and Burundi have notably increased their investments in school meals since 2022, although external funding continues to play a role.

In Kenya, the initiative goes beyond expanding school meals by incorporating eco-friendly practices such as hydroponics and strengthening local food systems. The WFP supports these efforts, which involve growing food on school grounds or sourcing it from local farmers. This strategy reportedly generates substantial economic returns, with Eastern Africa sourcing over 32,000 metric tons of food from 18,000 farmers, injecting nearly $16 million into local economies last year.

Elsewhere, countries like Rwanda and Burundi are seeing the benefits of locally sourced school meals. In Rwanda, 4.5 million pupils receive meals sourced from smallholder farmers. In Burundi, farmers' incomes increased by 50 percent in 2024 due to the program. Benin's government-led school meals program also relies on local growers, with positive impacts on student health and learning.

Despite progress, challenges remain due to conflicts and funding constraints. In Sudan, ongoing civil war has disrupted education and food supply chains, yet over half-a-million students benefited from locally procured meals last year. In Al Hafayer, schools have closed, but children continue to receive WFP's take-home rations, with learning ongoing in makeshift settings.

WFP's school feeding programs are supported by donors including the African Development Bank, France, Japan, and others.