The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is launching a transformative East Africa PPP initiative that will reshape school nutrition and rural food systems in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Partnering with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Grundfos Foundation, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this $40 million program will run from January 2025 to 2027. It aims to provide nutritious, locally sourced meals to over 321,400 students in 375 schools. In addition to feeding children, the project will build a resilient agricultural ecosystem around these schools by establishing 1,300 school gardens and training 61,500 smallholder farmers in climate-smart practices.
This initiative marks a significant expansion from the pilot phase that began in November 2022 in Rwanda and Uganda, initially funded with $4.1 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. With the inclusion of Kenya’s Turkana County in this phase, the scope now spans across three countries. By embedding school meals into local agricultural supply chains, the project ensures sustainability and uplifts entire communities particularly women, who make up a significant portion of smallholder farmers. This East Africa PPP initiative is not only a food program but a comprehensive development tool addressing nutrition, education, local farming, and climate resilience.
WFP’s home-grown school meals program represents a holistic solution that goes far beyond basic nutrition. Through local procurement and climate-smart agricultural training, it builds sustainable supply chains that benefit both schools and farmers. The 61,500 smallholder farmers, mostly women, will receive hands-on training in climate-resilient techniques to ensure their yields are both nutritious and sustainable. This inclusive agricultural model helps reduce post-harvest loss, boosts income stability, and drives long-term food security.
Each school involved will receive new or upgraded fuel-efficient cooking infrastructure and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, while cooks and school staff will be trained to ensure food safety and hygiene. Importantly, these cooking solutions reduce wood consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, aligning the project with climate adaptation goals. Public awareness campaigns will promote healthy eating and hygiene practices within local communities, while the program also provides students with fortified foods high in fibre, protein, and essential micronutrients. By embedding sustainability at every level, this approach supports healthier children, empowered farmers, and greener communities.
This public-private partnership is not an isolated aid effort it aligns with national development strategies in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, as well as continental initiatives like the African Union’s CAADP and the School Meals Coalition, for which WFP serves as Secretariat. Local government staff over 2,000 will receive technical training, boosting institutional capacity to sustain the program beyond donor funding. In doing so, the initiative strengthens country ownership and facilitates policy integration.
By collaborating directly with education, agriculture, and health ministries, WFP ensures cross-sector impact. National policies are being shaped to include locally sourced school meals as a standard development goal. The project also fosters transparency and accountability, hallmarks of a strong public-private partnership, and a sign of maturity in the region’s approach to developmental financing. This harmonized effort between international donors, local governments, and private foundations exemplifies best practices in multisector PPPs and sets a replicable model for other low- and middle-income countries.
Traditionally, PPPs in East Africa have focused on infrastructure such as roads, ports, and energy. However, this initiative represents a powerful pivot toward social-sector PPPs with community impact. The East Africa PPP initiative spearheaded by WFP showcases how blended finance and strategic collaboration can deliver measurable improvements in nutrition, education, and livelihoods. It’s not just a school meals project, it’s a scalable framework for human development through smart investment and regional cooperation.
This initiative has the potential to redefine public-private collaboration, shifting the lens from physical infrastructure to inclusive human capital development. With the backing of Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and two globally respected foundations, this partnership is not only historic in its funding but also in its ambition. As East Africa takes the lead in this emerging space, it highlights the future role of PPPs in building resilient societies, especially when such initiatives are deeply rooted in local communities.
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