The World Food Programme has received a contribution of EUR 50,000 from the Government of Portugal to improve the diets of young children in Lesotho’s schools. The funding will support local vegetable and fruit production for school meals, helping provide nearly 1,000 children under five in the Berea district with more diverse and nutritious food options. WFP emphasized that proper nutrition in early childhood is essential for healthy development, learning, and future productivity, making this support crucial for addressing malnutrition.
The programme will also build local capacity by training teachers and school committee members from 72 schools in sustainable farming. Through practical, climate-smart gardening demonstrations, participants will gain skills they can apply in school gardens and share with their communities, strengthening long-term food security and agricultural resilience.
Lesotho continues to face a severe triple burden of malnutrition, including high rates of stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising childhood obesity. Recent national health data show that one in three children under five is stunted, while more than seven percent are obese, posing serious risks to social and economic development. Portugal’s support aims to help address these challenges and aligns with Lesotho’s national development goals.
This funding contributes to the broader School Gardens Campaign, a joint initiative of WFP and the Government of Lesotho, which seeks to scale up access to healthy school meals. Lesotho is a member of the global School Meals Coalition, which is working to ensure that every child worldwide can receive a nutritious meal at school by 2030.
