The African Union has urged Nigeria and other countries to seek partnership with donor for a sustainable financing of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
The Project Manager for Nutrition and Food Safety, Africa Union Development Agency – New Partnership for African Development, Kefilwe Moalosi, made this known in a statement released on Sunday.
According to the statement, Moalosi spoke during the school feeding stakeholders strategic meeting themed: “Encouraging state driven implementation and best practices for school feeding towards local agricultural value chain, community engagement and economic development.”
She explained that the data compiled by the AU in 2019 indicates that the figure drawn from 51 countries representing a massive increase from 38.4 million in 2013.
She explained that the development should not be seen as a surprising development since African leaders, through the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in 2016, acknowledged the contribution of School Feeding to human resources and capital development in Africa and endorsed the Home- Grown School Feeding to be commemorated annualy on March 1.
She called on African leaders, “to emulate Nigeria for transitioning school feeding programme from Federal Government led to state government ownership.”
She added, “Recent disruptions to African economies add traction to the movement and the need to think local— especially in a continent where farming remains a top source of income and jobs, particularly for women.
“By working together, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to develop comprehensive programs that address the multifaceted needs of our children—from nutrition and health to education and economic empowerment. funding for school meal programs coming directly from governments can vary widely.
“Investing in homegrown school feeding programmes is not without its challenges, but the rewards far outweigh the costs. As we embark on this journey, let us reaffirm our commitment to the well-being of our children and the prosperity of our communities.
Credit : PUNCH
