A child eating a meal in school./PHOTO ;pexel
African countries are set to be beneficiaries of a newly launched global partnership that places school meals at the centre of efforts to tackle hunger, improve learning outcomes, and strengthen national food systems.
Launched on January 16, 2026, the School Meals Accelerator will support countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, with governments expected to play a central role in early implementation.
The initiative is backed by a mix of public and philanthropic funders, led by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The Accelerator begins with more than US$80 million in initial funding, with additional support from France and the Global Partnership for Education.
Its goal is to help governments strengthen and scale national school feeding programmes, reaching an additional 100 million children by 2030.
School meals have increasingly emerged as a policy priority across the globe, where many countries face overlapping challenges of food insecurity, low learning outcomes and pressure on public budgets.
By linking nutrition, education and local food systems, school feeding programmes are seen by governments and donors as a practical way to deliver long-term social returns.
Announcing Germany’s participation, Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, said school meals go beyond nutrition alone.
“School meals are more than just a plate of food. They are a significant game changer in our global fight for better education, empowerment, health, and for a better future together,” she said.
The Accelerator will provide technical assistance, rather than direct food aid, responding to growing demand from governments seeking to integrate school meals into national systems.
Many African countries are already financing school feeding largely through domestic budgets, but face gaps in design, delivery, and long-term sustainability.
According to WFP, global funding for school meals has nearly doubled since 2020, rising from US$43 billion to US$84 billion annually, with 99 percent now coming from domestic sources.
At least 466 million children currently receive school meals worldwide, including tens of millions across Africa.
“Governments are leading an unprecedented transformation in school meal programmes,” said Rania Dagash-Kamara, WFP’s Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation.
“The Accelerator supports that ambition, helping countries turn commitments into sustainable systems that support children and communities.”
For philanthropic funders, the initiative reflects a shift toward supporting government-led systems, rather than short-term projects.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation emphasized the role of nutrition in long-term health outcomes.
As countries seek to protect social spending amid economic pressure, the Accelerator offers a platform to align philanthropy with national priorities and measurable outcomes.
“Healthy diets in childhood are the foundation for lifelong health,” said Professor Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Foundation.
“The Accelerator will help countries design programmes that improve nutrition and prevent chronic disease.”
The Rockefeller Foundation, which has committed US$100 million to regenerative school meals globally, described school feeding as a high-impact investment with wide benefits.
The School Meals Accelerator builds on the work of the School Meals Coalition, a network of more than 110 governments and over 150 non-profit, philanthropic and research partners, hosted by WFP.
To date, 60 countries have submitted national commitments to strengthen school feeding programmes.
For philanthropic actors, the launch signals a growing consensus that school meals are not charity, but public systems worth long-term investment.
As WFP and its partners move from launch to implementation, the focus will be on whether this model can help African countries move from expanding coverage to building strong, resilient, and nationally owned school meal systems that last well beyond donor funding
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