The World Food Programme (WFP), Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), and World Food Program USA are expanding their partnership to strengthen locally sourced school meals for children across Nepal.
The initiative builds on a successful pilot programme that showed how home-grown school feeding can improve child nutrition, support learning, and strengthen local food systems by connecting schools with smallholder farmers.
The pilot phase, completed in 2025, supported school meal programmes reaching around 70,000 children while improving links between schools, local producers, and government systems. Following these positive results, the partnership has been extended for 2026–2027 to further develop a sustainable school meals model.
The expanded programme aims to provide nutritious meals for children through locally managed systems, while creating stable markets for farmers and improving school kitchen facilities. The initiative will support safer food preparation, better menus, stronger supply chains, and more efficient meal delivery.
The programme contributes to Nepal’s national Midday Meal Programme and supports efforts to reduce child malnutrition, increase school attendance, and strengthen community-based food systems. Schools are moving toward locally designed menus using ingredients sourced from nearby farmers and cooperatives, helping improve dietary diversity while supporting rural economies.
WFP emphasized that home-grown school feeding connects nutrition, education, agriculture, and livelihoods. By shifting toward locally owned systems, the programme helps ensure children receive fresh, healthy meals while communities benefit from stronger agricultural opportunities.
The partnership also includes improvements to school kitchens, including better hygiene facilities, cleaner cooking methods, and improved ventilation. These upgrades support safer meal preparation while reducing environmental impacts.
LCIF highlighted the importance of community involvement in creating sustainable solutions. Through local networks and volunteer support, the partnership strengthens cooperation between schools, communities, farmers, and government authorities.
As Nepal continues developing a nationally led school meals system, the collaboration between the Government of Nepal, WFP, and LCIF demonstrates how linking social protection with local agriculture can create healthier children, stronger communities, and more resilient food systems.
