School feeding programs in West Africa and learning outcomes: A success story and spillover effects

• In Event: Evidence-Based Education Interventions for Equity and Learning: Global Perspectives on Resources, Gender, and Early Development

Proposal

West African countries face significant socio-economic challenges, including inadequate educational infrastructure, malnutrition among schoolchildren, and poor learning outcomes. These issues limit children’s access to foundational learning, particularly in rural areas, where hunger is one of the most significant barriers to school attendance and learning. In this context, school feeding programs, also known as Community-Based School Canteen Programs (CBSCP), appear to offer a strategic solution. Our study uses assessment data from school canteen programs in six French-speaking West Africa countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Senegal, and Togo, to examine their impacts on learning outcomes, as well as their spillover effects on the local economy and women’s empowerment, among other factors.

The analysis indicates that CBSCP, by providing daily school meals to millions of schoolchildren, have improved school attendance and learning outcomes, while also reducing dropout rates. As the programs included a health component, our data show that it also improves learners’ overall well-being, in addition to enhancing learning outcomes. In terms of spillover effects, the data suggest that local producers supply a substantial portion of the food used in schools, ranging from 75% to 100%. In summary, CBSCP-related demands of agricultural products and corresponding local supply offer several benefits: providing smallholder farmers with an additional income source, strengthening rural economies through value chains and encouraging greater crop diversity.

Furthermore, our analysis reveals that this community-based school feeding model creates employment opportunities, mainly for neighbouring women, who often work as cooks and kitchen staff. Overall, school feeding programs across West Africa not only enhance teaching and learning but also support local economies and create income-generating opportunities, contributing significantly to the economic and social empowerment of women.

Besides promising outcomes, some persisting challenges hinder the implementation and sustainability of CBSCP. These include inadequate physical infrastructure, limited resources and heavy reliance on external funding, and disruptions caused by conflicts and health crises. Nevertheless, in recent years, CBSCP have emerged as a powerful tool to combat learning poverty and malnutrition among schoolchildren, both of which are crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Author

• Esso-Hanam ATAKE, UNIVERSITY OF LOME (TOGO)