A new flagship report from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has revealed a sweeping expansion in school feeding initiatives worldwide, with nearly 80 million additional children now receiving meals in schools compared to 2020. The 20 percent surge brings the global total of children supported by government-led school feeding programmes to at least 466 million, marking one of the most significant advances in child welfare and education in recent years.
The State of School Feeding Worldwide 2025 report finds that progress has been most pronounced in low-income countries, where the number of children benefiting from school meals has increased by 60 percent in just two years. Africa has emerged as a leader in this expansion, with 20 million more children now fed through national programmes. Countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Rwanda are cited as making remarkable strides.
This achievement is hailed as a rare success story in global development, driven largely by governments themselves. Strong evidence shows that domestic school meal initiatives not only safeguard children’s well-being but also support smallholder farmers, generate local employment, promote sustainable diets, and reduce carbon emissions.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain underscored the far-reaching benefits of the programmes: “School meals are so much more than just a plate of nutritious food – important as that is. For vulnerable children, they are a pathway out of poverty and into a new world of learning and opportunity. They are proven to be one of the smartest, most cost-effective investments any nation can make to improve the long-term health, education and economic prosperity of future generations.”
The report notes that global investment in school feeding has more than doubled in four years, rising from US$43 billion in 2020 to US$84 billion in 2024. Notably, 99 percent of this funding now comes from national budgets rather than international donors, reflecting a fundamental shift toward national ownership. Yet, WFP warns that in low-income countries — where the need is greatest — limited domestic resources threaten sustainability.
Much of this progress is linked to the School Meals Coalition, a global alliance of over 100 governments, six regional bodies, and more than 140 partners, hosted by WFP. Two-thirds of the children newly reached with meals live in Coalition member states. Since its inception, the number of countries with formal school meal policies has nearly doubled, jumping from 56 in 2020 to 107 in 2024.
Carmen Burbano, WFP’s Director of School Meals and Social Protection, described the coalition as a model of modern multilateralism:
“The surge in nationally funded school meal programmes is a powerful sign of what’s possible, even in challenging times. But in low-income countries, where needs are greatest, progress remains at risk as global aid shifts and domestic resources fall short.”
The release of the report comes just days ahead of the Second Global School Meals Coalition Summit in Brazil (18–19 September), where governments and partners will review progress and mobilize new commitments.
For the first time, the WFP report highlights strong evidence that school meals not only boost enrollment and retention but also improve learning outcomes. Studies show measurable gains in literacy and mathematics, with school feeding often outperforming traditional education interventions such as teacher training or digital technology inputs.
This finding positions school meals as a critical tool in addressing what experts have described as today’s “global learning crisis,” where millions of children are in school but not acquiring foundational skills.
The report stresses that school feeding programmes extend well beyond the classroom:
- They form the largest social safety net in the world, shielding children from the impacts of conflict, pandemics, and climate shocks.
- For every US$1 invested, school meal programmes generate between US$7 and US$35 in economic returns across education, health, agriculture, and social protection sectors.
- Feeding 466 million children creates an estimated 7.4 million cooking jobs worldwide, alongside employment in logistics, farming, and supply chains.
- Home-grown school feeding models promote healthier, climate-friendly diets and stimulate locally rooted food systems.
- Girls and women benefit disproportionately: girls see stronger educational and health outcomes, while women are empowered through employment as cooks, suppliers, and community workers.
The report also highlights WFP’s ongoing leadership. Currently, the agency supports governments to reach 139 million children and directly delivers meals to 21 million. In countries such as Armenia, Benin, and Iraq, WFP has successfully guided transitions from UN-delivered programmes to full national ownership.
By combining emergency response capacity with long-term system-building, WFP demonstrates how school meals can move beyond humanitarian aid to become a pillar of sustainable national development.
As the world prepares for the School Meals Coalition summit in Brazil, the report underscores both the successes achieved and the challenges ahead. The growing recognition of school meals as a public policy priority signals momentum — but sustaining progress, particularly in the poorest nations, will require renewed international solidarity and domestic commitment.
With 466 million children already benefiting, WFP and its partners argue that the goal of reaching every child with a healthy, nutritious meal in school by 2030 is ambitious, but achievable.
