School Feeding from Somalia to Cape Verde

In Somalia, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports it has enough supplies to continue its current school feeding program for the rest of the year. WFP is reaching 225 schools in Somaliland and 45 schools in Puntland. Around 73,000 children are benefiting from the meals.

WFP plans to expand school feeding in Puntland this year. However, due to insecurity WFP still has not been able to resume meals in 91 schools in south and central Somalia.

Cooperation between the government of Somalia and WFP has been increasing. Peter Smerdon of WFP notes, "In Somaliland, a school feeding unit under Ministry of Education started work in February 2008 to help coordinate school meals including the collection of data on enrolment and retention rates. In Puntland, a plan is underway to set up a school feeding unit that will be functional by September this year. "

There is an incredible need for school feeding throughout Somalia. WFP says, "One in six Somali children is acutely malnourished - a total of some 240,000 children - the highest acute malnutrition rates anywhere in the world. In south and central Somalia these rates are even higher, reaching one in every five children."

WFP is also in the beginning stages of the local purchase of food in Somaliland which can supply food projects, including school feeding.

Somalia has a long way to go before achieving a national school lunch program. Someday they want to be where Cape Verde stands today.

At the World Food Programme headquarters in Rome, a ceremony was held Tuesday marking the handover of the entire school feeding program to the government of Cape Verde. WFP helped Cape Verde through difficult times by providing school meals. Gradually, more responsibility was turned over to the government as it established capacity.

Now today, the government stands on its own running the national school lunch program, their chief weapon against child hunger and poverty.

According to the Prime Minister, José Maria Neves, "School meals allow us to improve children's nutrition, which adds to the development of human capital in Cape Verde. This is a strong investment in the future, one that we hope will strengthen social cohesion and enhance the quality of life for Cape Verdeans."

WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said, "The leadership and commitment by the Cape Verdean Government to the future of hungry children is exemplary and a success story we can all be proud of and one we'd like to replicate around the world."

WFP will continue to provide some assistance to Cape Verde in other areas including building up local agricultural production.