Today marks the celebration of the 5th edition of the African Day of School Feeding in compliance with Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.589 (XXVI), through which AU Heads of State and Government, established 1st March as the African Day of School Feeding.
In line with the AU theme of the year, the theme retained for this edition is “Home-grown school feeding towards creating a conducive environment for Africa’s development and silencing the guns”. This theme is aimed at heightening the importance of school feeding in connecting the dots between humanitarian and development action and transforming lives, ending hunger, reducing unsafe migration, educating young people, building social cohesion and stemming conflict.

All African Union Member States have been called upon to celebrate this Day on 1st March 2020 at the national level and provide a report thereof.

The continental celebration will take place from 20 to 21 March 2020 in N’Djamena, Chad in the presence of the Head of State of the Republic of Chad, H.E. Idriss Deby Itno, AUC Chairperson, AUC Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology, African Ministers of Education, WFP and its Centre of Excellence in Brazil, Government authorities, development partners and invited guests.

The multiple benefits of school feeding include amongst others: accelerating progress towards Zero Hunger (SDG2) and Quality education (SDG4). It also contributes to other SDGs under Agenda 2030, including SDGs 1 (No poverty), 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 5 (Gender equality), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), 10 (Reduced inequality) and 17 (Partnerships for the goals), all of which are considered key to build Human Capital and contribute to promoting peace, and reducing conflicts among the people.
Thus, school feeding has been a major strategy to combat food shortages during crises such as war. In a crisis situation, children are often withdrawn from school in order to assist with income generation, and in this context, School Feeding Programmes (SFP) can be useful as an incentive to encourage the re-enrolment of children.

For further information please contact:
Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi
E-mail: BilampassiC@africa-union.org

Further media inquiries should be directed to:
Mrs Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Communication and Information Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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