The
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed US$1.2 million from
the Government of Japan to provide school meals in North Bank and Central River
regions over the next two years.
The funds will enable WFP to resume the provision of a daily hot meal to 50,000 children in 186 public primary schools and traditional religious schools in vulnerable districts of the two regions in the new school year, which starts in September after a lack of funding had forced WFP to halt its school meals programme temporarily.
The
contribution will also help build the capacity of - and strengthen
collaboration with - Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through
implementation of the joint school meals action plan.
“WFP
is grateful for Japan’s continuous and timely support and we recognize Japan’s
commitment to our work in the Gambia. By supporting the school meals programme,
WFP is responding to the significant needs of many vulnerable children and we
can help them shape a brighter future,” said Angela Cespedes, WFP Country
Director in The Gambia.
The contribution will allow WFP to support the
country’s national development goals of reducing food insecurity and
malnutrition among children, and to build on improving enrollment and retention
rates of both girls and boys. School meals are an investment in the longer-term
and help build human capital and increase the productivity of a nation.
The
Government of Japan is one of WFP’s main supporters in The Gambia, assisting
nutrition interventions for women and children. In 2015, Japan provided WFP
with an in-kind donation worth US$2 million to provide daily meals to school
children in the Upper River region and the Greater Banjul area.
