Ensuring access to nutritious food for all: School meals in Côte d'Ivoire

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© WFP/Ramin Rafirasme

Challenge: In Côte d'Ivoire, child stunting rates remained high, particularly in rural areas. Limited access to diverse and nutritious foods was a key factor.

Entry point: The government, with support from the World Food Programme (WFP), launched a national school meals programme. This programme provided locally sourced, nutritious meals to students, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Impact: Studies showed a significant reduction in child stunting rates in areas with consistent school meal programmes. Additionally, the programme boosted local agricultural production as schools purchased ingredients from nearby farms.

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This is a working draft intended for piloting at country level. Features and content are subject to updates as the piloting is completed. We invite you to share your feedback by completing this short survey.

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UN Food Systems Task Force. 2025. Food Systems Thinking Guide for UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams – Working collectively towards food systems transformation.. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0497en

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