This document has been developed by WFP and UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Offices and provides a non-exhaustive list of recommended multi-sectoral actions for Government, UNICEF, WFP and other partners to consider as part of their short and longer-term planning for and implementatio
School feeding programmes represent one of the largest safety nets in countries across the region – measured in terms of coverage – in the broader framework of national social protection policy and programmes.
The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) produces internationally comparable estimates of progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and is responsible for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets related to WASH.
The WFP Centre of Excellence’s second publication in the Good Practices Series shows examples of successful financing tools for School Feeding Programmes in different countries with diverse contexts.
School health and nutrition is about investing both in schoolchildren and adolescents’ health and well-being and in their learning, with benefits extending to their homes and communities. When children are sick and hungry, they do not learn well.
In Eastern and Southern Africa, at least 120 million children and youth are not able to attend school due to COVID-19 related school closures. More than 16 million affected school-children in the region rely on school meals and nutrition services.
According to WHO 2012 estimates, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was responsible for 842 000 annual deaths from diarrhoea and 15% of the Global Burden of Disease in Disability- Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
Healthy and well-nourished schoolchildren learn better. Healthy children also have better chances to thrive and fulfil their potential as adults.
Everyone deserves access to healthy, affordable food and quality nutrition care. This access is hindered by deeper inequities that arise from unjust systems and processes that structure everyday living conditions.
The WASH in Schools Network (UNICEF, GIZ, Save the Children, WATERAID; Emory, LSHTM, among others) has compiled this knowledge map with links to relevant materials about COVID-19 for learners, their families and the education system.