Global Partners Launch $80M Accelerator to Scale School Meals Programs

Event summary

  • A School Meals Accelerator has been launched by Germany's BMZ, Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the WFP, aiming to reach 100 million additional children by 2030.
  • The initiative is seeded with $80 million from the founding partners, supplemented by contributions from France and the Global Partnership for Education.
  • The Accelerator will provide technical assistance to countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen national school meal programs.
  • Global funding for school meals has nearly doubled since 2020, reaching $84 billion annually, with 99% now sourced from domestic budgets.
  • The Accelerator builds upon the School Meals Coalition, which has already secured national commitments from 60 countries.

The big picture

The launch of the School Meals Accelerator reflects a growing recognition of school feeding programs as a vital tool for combating poverty, improving education, and bolstering food security. The shift towards domestic funding for these programs signals a move away from traditional aid models and towards greater national ownership. However, the complexity of integrating these programs into national systems and securing long-term financing remains a significant hurdle, which this Accelerator aims to address.

What we're watching

Sustainability
The Accelerator's long-term funding model will be critical; reliance on philanthropic capital raises questions about scalability beyond the initial $80 million commitment.
Implementation
Success hinges on the Accelerator's ability to translate commitments from 60 countries into tangible, sustainable systems, which will require navigating complex local contexts and political landscapes.
Local Sourcing
The stated focus on locally sourced food presents a challenge given supply chain vulnerabilities and the need to build resilient agricultural systems in many target regions.

Related topics

Food Security