African Union has called on African leaders to emulate Nigeria in transitioning its school feeding programme from federal government-led to state government's ownership.
She spoke during the school feeding stakeholders strategic meeting, which was themed:"Encouraging state-driven implementation and best practices for school feeding towards local agricultural value chain, community engagement and economic development." Moalosi, however, stated that statistics indicate that only 27% of children in sub-Saharan Africa access a school meal, and this affects learning outcomes.
"Investing in homegrown school feeding programs is not without its challenges, but the rewards far outweigh the costs. As we embark on this journey, let us reaffirm our commitment to our children's well-being and our communities' prosperity. "School feeding programs play a crucial role in addressing malnutrition and improving children's health and educational outcomes. Promoting local agriculture and investing in homegrown school feeding programs is not merely an expenditure; it is an investment in our collective future.
"The government can also allocate a portion of its budget or seek donor support for sustainable financing, partnership formation, and facilitate partnerships between government agencies, food suppliers, agricultural producers, financial institutions, technology providers, and community organizations.