The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $50 million trust fund aimed at eradicating hunger and malnutrition among school-age children in Africa. The End School-Age Hunger Fund (ESAH), endorsed by the bank’s Board of Directors on March 20, seeks to strengthen school meal programs across the continent by expanding existing initiatives and launching new ones.
The fund aims to provide nutritious meals to more children while boosting rural economies through increased agricultural productivity. It will operate in partnership with the African Development Fund, the bank’s concessional financing arm, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), which has pledged an initial $50 million to establish the fund.
In September 2024, CIFF and the AfDB signed a letter of intent, witnessed by African Leaders for Nutrition Champion and African Union Nutrition Champion, King Letsie III of Lesotho. CIFF committed up to $50 million and expressed willingness to contribute an additional $50 million once the bank finalizes its initial investment. AfDB is also engaging other philanthropic organizations, such as the Aliko Dangote Foundation, to broaden the fund’s donor base.
The ESAH Fund will directly support school feeding programs, ensuring children receive nutritious meals while fostering small and medium-sized enterprises that provide essential services for these initiatives. The fund will also offer technical assistance to governments, encouraging them to prioritize school feeding programs as a tool for socio-economic development, student retention, and improved learning outcomes.
“The End School-Age Hunger Fund will secure a five-year commitment from targeted countries, aligning with the bank’s standard investment project timeline,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, AfDB’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development. “This period is long enough to establish a solid proof of concept and ensure the initiative’s sustainability beyond the initial funding phase.”
CIFF, the world’s largest philanthropic organization dedicated to child welfare, has received over $2.4 billion in voluntary contributions since 2004. Its endowment, valued at $6 billion as of 2020, underscores its capacity to mobilize resources for large-scale initiatives like the ESAH Fund.
