WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United Nations World Food Programme WFP has purchased four awards of 110 million USD from USDA to improve school feeding programmes in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Rwanda. Such funding will assist more than 4, 50, 000 children in over 1,620 pre-primary and primary schools in these nations.

The grants are under the USDA’s McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and support a plan spanning 5 years to enhance education, nutrition, and health, especially for girls. The remaining $11m will be set aside for purchasing locally sourced fresh fruit and vegetables for USDA school lunches.

Matthew Nims, the WFP’s Washington office director said, “These generous awards are game-changing for children in Ethiopia, Laos, Rwanda, and Bangladesh and extending America’s determination to win the war against hunger and education around world.” He thus noted on the Quality and Access school meal program, which helps more children attend schools with improved nutrition in the community, and boosts school feeding programs by supporting farmers.

The Congressional funded McGovern-Dole Program named after the two former Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole places USA as the largest donor to WFP’s school meals worldwide. The WFP which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 focuses on fighting hunger and helping to maintain stability in conflict and crisis-prone regions.

In addition, the WFP is chairman of the School Meals Coalition, which currently comprises more than 100 governments and organizations, works to provide every child with a nutritious meal every day of the school year by 2030. Additional information about the WFP’s school meals programs is available at the School Meals Coalition webpage.