School meal programs have been expanded significantly over the last decade, mostly financed by national governments, and can deliver $9 in returns for every $1 invested.
However every day, around 73 million children in low-income countries go to school on an empty stomach, affecting their concentration and ability to learn.
In 2024, GPE allocated close to $46 million through grants for school nutrition programs.
Working with the World Food Programme and other partners, GPE supports countries' efforts to design and implement school feeding programs that can ultimately be sustained through national financing and operated by governments themselves.