‘From assuming to knowing’: How impact evaluations support the design, delivery, and scale-up of school meal programs
School meal programs improve children’s nutrition, food security, and mental well-being. When meals are produced locally, these programs also build more robust economies.
- impact evaluation
- school meals
By the World Food Programme Impact Evaluation TeamSeptember 2, 2026
School meal programs improve children’s nutrition, food security, and mental well-being. When meals are produced locally, these programs also build more robust economies.
But not all school meal programs were created equal.
With changes to how food is procured and delivered, governments and other partners can make school meals go so much further.
Impact evaluations help governments understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions by comparing different procurement and delivery models while school meal programs are under way.