Global Effort to Double School Meals by 2030: Fighting Hunger, Boosting Education

World leaders, organizations, and philanthropies are spearheading a monumental initiative to double the reach of school meal programs in low-income nations by 2030, aiming to serve 150 million children. Announced on November 15, 2024, during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, this ambitious plan aligns with the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.

Key Players and National Efforts

Countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, and Kenya are taking transformative steps by launching meal programs that are aimed to increase access to nutritious meals for millions of children by 2030.

These programs combat hunger, boost education, enhance child health, and support local agriculture, creating a ripple effect of economic growth.

Addressing Challenges with Innovative Solutions

Currently, only 20% of children in low-income countries benefit from school meal programs, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable funding. Partnerships like the Rockefeller Foundation and multilateral development banks are introducing innovative funding models, linking school meals to local farming and embedding them into national budgets.

Global Commitment to Change

The World Food Programme (WFP) is set to support 27 million children in 2025, with a broader goal of helping governments provide meals to 150 million more children by 2030. Countries like Finland, France, Germany, and Norway are leading efforts to create sustainable, locally sourced meal initiatives.

A United Vision for the Future

Cindy McCain, Executive Director of WFP, emphasized the broader impact:

"This is about more than food—it’s about opportunity, education, and economic growth."

Through collaboration with global agencies like the FAO, School Meals Coalition, and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, this initiative demonstrates a united effort to tackle hunger, reduce poverty, and build a sustainable future.

Why It Matters

School meal programs are more than a hunger solution—they are a vital strategy to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With unified global action, millions of children will gain the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

For more information on the Rockefeller Foundation click here