School meals are a vital investment in children’s futures, reducing malnutrition, boosting school attendance, and promoting gender equality by helping girls remain in school longer. Among the largest nutrition-sensitive social protection programs, school meals are crucial to the World Bank’s goal of reaching 500 million more people with social protection and employment by 2030, as announced during the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty in 2024.
An Investment in Children’s Future: Shining a Light on School Meals Data
“School meal programs deliver exceptional returns. They rank among the most cost-effective education interventions and act as vital social protection programs,” Christian Bodewig Practice Manager, Social Protection and Jobs, World Bank