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In many countries school meals represent a ‘significant portion’ of a child’s daily diet and the partners said it is ‘vital’ that they directly contribute to nutrition needs.

Nancy Aburto, deputy director of the agency’s Food and Nutrition Division, said: “Through this comprehensive toolkit and technical support to improve school meals, the broader school food environments and procurement processes from local food systems, Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) aims to support governments and institutions in providing healthier school food to children and adolescents, therefore marking a step forward towards ensuring their Right to Food.”

The partners will also produce guidance for schools to implement hands-on food education strategies, including on how to use school meal menus as learning materials in the classroom. Other interventions will also be promoted, such as restricting the marketing of sugary beverages in school premises. 

Carmen Burbano, director of the School-based Programmes Division at World Food Programme, added: “We have a global consensus now around the need for school meals and its benefits to various sectors. School meals go far beyond the plate of food – they can impact education, nutrition, health, agriculture and food systems.

“For these programmes to unfold their full potential we need to work on a next generation of school meal programmes – programmes that contribute to sustainable food systems and ensure that children receive healthy and nutritious meals.”   

The methodology and guidance package will be piloted in Cambodia and Ghana. They will then be adjusted and finalised through regional and global workshops.