Last updated: 06/2/2024

Programme Details

Programme objectives

The primary objective is to increase school enrolment and attendance, as well as complement children’s food intake and thereby address hunger and malnutrition. 

References
Bhalla, G. 2023. The Role of social protection in strengthening local food systems and inclusive rural transformation. A case study of the Kenya Home-Grown School Meal Programme. Rome.https://www.fao.org/3/cc5125en/cc5125en.pdf accessed 09/11/2023 Accessed: 10 November 2023
Programme components
(i) School feeding programme (ii) Purchase of food from smallholder farmers and local food suppliers.
References
 World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed 09 February 2023
Start date
2009
References
(i) Langinger, L. 2011. “School Feeding Programs in Kenya: Transitioning to a Homegrown Approach.” (ii) Stanford Journal of International Relations, Fall: 30–37. Accessed 11 November 2015. (iii) World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023
Conditionalities (if any)
The meals are served at school; therefore, school attendance is the implicit conditionality of the programme.
Coverage
1.6 million children in 4,048 schools (2018)
References
World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023
Programme expenditure
US$24 million (2018/2019)
References
World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023

Targeting and eligiblity

Targeting methods
Categorical Targeting
Geographical Targeting
References
 World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed 09 February 2023
Targeted areas
Geographic targeting towards the most vulnerable areas in terms of food security, with the lowest enrolment and completion rates and high gender disparities. This includes all s areas and targeted schools in semi-arid areas
References
(i) Global Child Nutrition Foundation. Program Report: All data from 2017-2018 school year. Available at https://gcnf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CR_Kenya_09_2020.pdf accessed 9/11/2023. Accessed 10 november 2023. (ii) World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023
Target groups
Children in pre-primary and primary school
References
Government of Kenya. National School Meals and Nutrition Strategy 2017-2022. (2017). https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000116843/download/. Accessed: 10 November 2023.
Eligibility criteria
Children enrolled in pre-primary and primary school

Coverage and other information

Type of benefits
Hot lunch
References
Gituara, A., Yard, E. and Woolnough, A. 2016. “Case Study 9: Kenya — Home Grown School Meals Programme” In Global School Feeding Source Book: Lessons From 14 Countries, edited by Drake, L., Woolnough, A., Burbano, C. and Bubdy, D. pp. 281-306. London: Imperial College Press. Accessible: http://hdl.handle.net/10986/24418 Accessed on 31/10/2023
Amount of benefits
One mid-day meal (700 kilocalories per child per day) is prepared.
References
World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023
Payment/delivery frequency
Daily
References
World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023
Benefit delivery mechanism
Meals are delivered at schools.
References
World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023
Benefit recipients
Children in pre-primary and primary school
References
World Food Programme (2018). School Meals Programmes in Kenya, Info brief No.22. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000102591/download/ Accessed: 09 February 2023
Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and frequency
The supply chain also incorporates a reporting mechanism with the Ministry of Education, who monitor regularly at national, county, sub-county and school levels  
References
 WFP. 2018. Home Grown School Feeding In Kenya. WFP. Available at https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/wfp-0000105578/download/ Accessed 10 November 2023
Legal Framework
  The Kenya Constitution (2010) obligates both the state and parents to facilitate quality basic education by all children. Specifically, Chapter 4 expressly guarantees all Kenyans their economic, social and cultural rights, including the basic rights to health, education, food and decent livelihoods
References
Ministry of Education et al.   National School Meals and Nutrition Strategy 2017–2022. 2017. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000116843/download/Accessed 9/11/2023. Accessed 10 November 2023.