Constituency Development Funds (CDF): A Localised Strategy to Scale-Up School Feeding and Improve Child Health and Learning Outcomes

Child hunger and malnutrition continue to be urgent issues in many African countries, affecting health and education. Like any other country, Zambia is compounded with high child hunger and malnutrition levels.

This report explores how utilising Constituency Development Funds (CDF) can effectively combat child hunger and malnutrition through local school feeding programs, thereby improving both child health and educational outcomes. By drawing on best practices from across Africa, the analysis emphasises policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and recommendations to maximise impact.

The findings highlight that community-led, CDF-supported initiatives can lead to sustainable improvements in child well-being, ultimately fostering broader social and economic development. Malnutrition negatively impacts cognitive and physical development, reduces school attendance, lowers learning outcomes, and imposes long-term costs on health and productivity.