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The 2026 Global Child Nutrition Forum will be hosted in Lusaka, Zambia — a country that’s turning the page in home-grown school feeding. Zambia’s program is not only ensuring that children start each day nourished and ready to learn, but it’s also empowering local farmers, uplifting women, and preserving the nation’s agricultural heritage. With government support and a growing emphasis on nutrient-rich indigenous crops, Zambia stands as a model for how school meal programs can drive both better nutrition and more resilient food systems. In many low-income countries, too many children still begin their school day on an empty stomach – a child’s quadruple threat to learning, growth, health, and long-term opportunity. It is not just a missed meal; it is a missed chance for a better future.

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GCNF is proud to support World Vision International, the School Meals Coalition’s (SMC) Civil Society Organization (CSO) lead, in amplifying the role of civil society in advancing school meal programs. As a steering committee member of the SMC CSO Network, we are pleased to share below the joint statement and accompanying press release, issued ahead of the 2nd Global Summit of the School Meals Coalition.

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GCNF is proud to support the School Meals Coalition’s Civil Society Organization (CSO) lead, World Vision International, in conducting a survey of CSO contributions to school meal programs.

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The initiative is a community-led effort, independent of government mandates or donor-driven campaigns. It is steadily transforming school nutrition through the regular inclusion of locally sourced foods such as bananas and pumpkins.

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No matter what’s on the menu, whether it’s rice with a side of grilled fish, ugali topped with sautéed kale or pasta in a tomato sauce, one fact holds true: school meals deliver far-reaching benefits. Beyond supporting child health, nutrition, and education, school meals have the potential to drive countries toward more sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive food systems.

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Why do children drop out of school, and what helps them stay? These questions are at the heart of education policy, especially in a country like India, where universal school enrolment and retention remains a significant challenge.

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Across Africa and around the world, school meal programs face an ongoing balancing act of ensuring food safety and quality while managing limited budgets. These constraints can make it difficult to introduce fresh fruits and vegetables into school meals, despite their crucial role in children’s nutrition and development.

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With less than five years remaining, the world is at a critical juncture in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Spring 2025 is in full swing, and it’s already been meaningful for the global school meal community. GCNF proudly represented school meals at various events, including the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit and the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

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The Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 Global Child Nutrition Forum Report, detailing the key discussions, insights, and actions that emerged from the Global Child Nutrition Forum.

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