African Day of School Feeding will be celebrated between 28 February and 1 March in Gaborone, Botswana. The theme of the 11th edition will be ‘Ensuring access to nutritious meals, safe drinking water and hygiene: promoting safety and resilience in every investment in school meals,’ reinforcing the role of school meals in education, nutrition and inclusive socioeconomic growth on the continent.
The activities will take place over two days: 28 February will be dedicated to technical sessions; and 1 March will mark the commemorative day, with keynote speeches, panels, presentations, workshops and a visit to the exhibition area.
Representatives from the Government of the Republic of Botswana and the African Union for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation are expected to attend, as well as policymakers, development partners, academia and civil society organisations. The Director of the Centre of Excellence, Daniel Balaban, will participate in the event.
History
Created by the African Union in 2016, the African Day of School Feeding is a political milestone for expanding efforts in food security, education and rural development across the continent. The date has been celebrated annually following a cooperation process that saw significant Brazilian contribution.
During a study visit to Brazil, African delegations learned first-hand about the national experience in school feeding and received a proposal from the Centre of Excellence toestablish a continental celebration dedicated to the theme.
The suggestion was incorporated by the African Union, which officially established the date and set up a technical committee to support the implementation of the agenda in its Member States.
This year’s celebrations will continue a trajectory that has strengthened school feeding programmes in several African countries, highlighting their ability to stimulate the local economy, support family farmers and ensure nutritious meals for millions of students.