Joint Statement: Civil Society Calls for Urgent Action to Ensure Every Child Receives a Healthy School Meal by 2030
Fortaleza, Brazil, 18 September 2025
As world leaders and stakeholders prepare for the 2nd Global Summit of the School Meals Coalition in Fortaleza, Brazil, the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Network for School Meals is issuing a unified call to action: every child deserves a nutritious, locally sourced school meal each school day by 2030. Two years after launching a global Call to Action, CSOs are reaffirming their commitment, showcasing tangible progress, and outlining how governments can strengthen and expand school meal programmes worldwide.
The case for action is compelling. CSOs across the globe are delivering meals, from single schools to programmes reaching millions of children, demonstrating that effective, sustainable school feeding is achievable in any context. Beyond service delivery, CSOs are partnering with governments, driving innovation through climate-smart agriculture, clean cooking technologies, digital monitoring, and holistic programmes that integrate nutrition with education, health, and community development.
“Feeding children is everyone’s business. Governments have the mandate, but civil society has the proximity, creativity, and trust to make school meals work day after day, child by child,” said Martha Badena, World Vision's Senior Advisor, Local to Global Advocacy and Impact, representing the CSO Network. “Evidence shows that inclusive school meal programmes not only improve attendance and learning outcomes but also strengthen local economies, empower women entrepreneurs, and enhance food security.”
CSOs are urging governments to:
Engage Early and Co-Design Policies: Developed in partnership with CSOs reflect community realities and ensure long-term success.
Share Responsibility Across Sectors: Collaboration between governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities is key to sustainable impact.
- Use Evidence to Drive Policy: CSOs bring data, research, and grassroots insights to inform effective decision-making.
- Recognise CSOs as System Builders: Civil society expertise strengthens national frameworks and resilient systems.
- Invest in Community-Led Innovation: From culturally appropriate menus to climate-smart agriculture, local solutions can be scaled to benefit every child.
With decades of experience, trusted local relationships, and proven models, the CSO Network transforms school meal programmes into engines of child development, community resilience, and economic inclusion. “Our work is rooted in evidence, driven by innovation, and guided by the belief that no child should learn on an empty stomach,” Bedane added.
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For media interviews contact: Karla Harvey, Sr Advisor of Impact Comms & External Engagement Email: karla.harvey@wvi.org