On the African Day of School Feeding: Government and Partners Inspired To Replicate The Benefits of School Meals

In Mozambique, the expansion of school meals and their associated benefits are on top of Government and Civil Society commitments

Benjamim Capito

Monday, March 2, 2026

The increase in student attendance and attentiveness, combined with improvements in child nutrition, are benefits that the Government of Mozambique aims to replicate by expanding the National School Feeding Program (PRONAE).

In partnership with PRONAE, World Vision Mozambique served over 5 million school meals in Nampula and Zambézia provinces during the last academic year.

This commitment was emphasized during the African Day of School Feeding, on the 1st of March, a date that celebrates the pivotal role of school feeding in improving education, nutrition, and social development across the continent, while also reflecting on challenges and opportunities.

In Nampula province, where the malnutrition rate stands at approximately 46.7%, significantly above the national average of 37%, school meals are an alternative for children in vulnerable settlements to access nutrient-rich food that boosts growth and learning outcomes.

“The National School Feeding Program covers seven districts in Nampula, and has increased the number benefiting children, from over 9,400 in 2014, in the inception phase, to 15,200 in 2025”, said Anabela Munarapa, representative of the Provincial Office of Education in Nampula.

Commodities funded by the USDA and locally purchased with farmers associations were exhibited on the African Day of School Feeding

Although progress has been made in the geographical reach of school meals, the government recognizes the challenges of further expanding the program. It continues to seek sustainable funding opportunities and partnerships.

In Partnership with PRONE and World Vision Mozambique, the Partnering for Sustainable Education Outcomes (PARES) is a school feeding program that supports 157 schools in the Nampula and Zambézia provinces, reaching over 85,000 schoolchildren.

"The school meals provided by the PARES program are in line with PRONAE menu. We serve food donated by the American people through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): rice, lentils, and vegetable oil. This is complemented by orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and locally purchased vegetables”, explained the Deputy Chief of Party, Lopes Muquera.

The celebrations of the African Day of School Meals were held a day before the reopening of schools nationwide, following changes to the Academic Calendar to accommodate the recovery from the floods in southern and central Mozambique, which also disrupted the education sector.

While the schools were closed, World Vision Mozambique, through the PARES project, distributed Take-Home Rations, consisting of rice, lentils, and vegetable oil, which are part of the school meals menu, so that children continued to receive nutritious meals at home.