Resource Library
Welcome to the GCNF Resource Library! As the hub of the global school meal network, GCNF is dedicated to capturing and sharing the experiences and stories of the network—including innovations, challenges, and lessons learned. The resources below are designed to help support the network to design, plan, and implement their own nutritious, locally-sourced school meal programs.
If you’d like to submit a resource to be included in our library, please contact us at info@gcnf.org.
To access the Global Survey of School Meals Programs Database, please fill out this interest form.
Featured Resource
School Meal Programs Around the World
The Global Survey of School Meal Programs © aims to strengthen the work of the global school meal network by developing a comprehensive description of all the core aspects of large-scale school meal programs around the world. Covering 139 countries, of which 125 had large-scale school feeding, the 2022 edition of School Meal Programs Around the World presents the results of GCNF's second Global Survey of School Meal Programs, conducted from July 2021 through March 2022.
GCNF Resources
School Meal Programs in Africa: Regional Results From the 2019 Global Survey of School Meal Programs
A regional report based on the results of the 2019 Global Survey of School Meal Programs, published in May 2022 by Frontiers in Public Health.
Responding to an Emergency: A Guide for Food Banks and School Meal Programs
Global Child Nutrition Foundation and the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) developed this toolkit to provide guidance and support to organizations managing school feeding programs while navigating the challenges of COVID-19.
Peer-to-Peer Experience - GCNF - WFP COE November 2021
A report on the peer-to-peer learning experience of Global Child Nutrition Foundation and World Food Programme Centre of Excellence against Hunger.
School Meal Programs Around the World
Report based on the 2019 Global Survey of School Meal Programs.
State Survey of School Meal Programs: India
The State Survey of School Meal Programs is an adaptation of the Global Survey of School Meal Programs © and aims to gather nuanced data at the sub-national level in countries operating significantly decentralized programs, which may not be comprehensively captured through the Global Survey.
Mapping of School Meal Stakeholders in India: An Exploratory Study
An exploratory study to map school meal program stakeholders and gain a better understanding of the NGO partnership model across three key pre-school and school-based child nutrition programmes in India—MDM, Anganwadi, and Tribal Residential School Feeding (TRSF).
Inter-State Regional Consultative Workshop
Read highlights from this workshop on emerging best practices in the implementation of Midday Meal Scheme, hosted by Government of Kerala in February 2020. With participation from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telengana, Goa, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadweep
Pakistan School Milk Project Report
A review of findings from an IFC Consultancy for Developing a Business Model for a School Milk Program for Pakistan.
Executive Summaries, Communiqués, reports, and more from the Global Child Nutrition Forum, the largest gathering of the global school meal network.
Fortification and Biofortification to Meet Children's Nutrition Needs
What we’re learning about fortification and biofortification from the GCNF Global Survey of School Meal Programs©. Presented at the 2020 GCNForum.
A preliminary view of findings from the 2019 Global Survey of School Meal Programs.
An instrument developed by GCNF to assist countries with the establishment and implementation of sustainable school feeding programs. Available in English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish.
A brief history of US Government support for domestic and international school meal programs and a summary of evidence regarding their effectiveness.
A set of resources for the planning and implementation of home-grown school feeding programs, developed collaboratively with multiple partners.
SCHOOLS AS A SYSTEM TO IMPROVE NUTRITION
A new statement by United Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition for school-based food and nutrition interventions.
A CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIPS
Republic of South Africa’s Department of Basic Education & The Tiger Brands Foundation
COUNTRY POLICY AND FUNDING MECHANISM STUDY
Prepared for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this study explores policy and funding mechanisms that enabled five middle income countries to establish a country-owned and operated school feeding program.
School meal programs around the world infographics
A set of infographics perfect for at-a-glance learning. Using Global Survey data, these infographics explore school feeding at the global and regional levels, and dive into health, nutrition, gender, and more.
2020 Global Child Nutrition Forum resources
All session recordings, presentation materials, and toolkits from the virtual 2020 Global Child Nutrition Forum.
2022 Global Child Nutrition Forum resources
Find all the presentation materials from the 23rd annual Global Child Nutrition Forum, including plenary sessions, workshops, and live illustrations.
Live Recordings | 2022 Global Child Nutrition Forum
Check out this playlist to see all plenary sessions and the country sharing sessions and hear from school meal program leaders from around the world speak on their programs.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, GCNF compiled this list of resources for how school feeding programs responded to the crisis.
Partner Resources
Developing a School Feeding Program
In partnership with GCNF, the GlobalFoodbanking Network (GFN) developed this guide to help food banks create, adapt, or expand school feeding programs to best meet their community’s needs.
A position paper by the Nutrition Working Group of CORE Group on the prevention of overweight/obesity in low- and middle-income countries.
Growing our future: Introducing the Pacific School Food Network
Members of the Pacific School Food Network (PSFN) recently published a commentary entitled "Growing our future: Introducing the Pacific School Food Network to support healthy school food and nutrition environments for better nourished children in the Pacific Islands" in The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific Journal.
Public food procurement for sustainable food systems and healthy diets - Volume 1
The first of two volumes, exploring how sustainable public food procurement (PFP) can be used as a development tool for school meal programs.
Public food procurement for sustainable food systems and healthy diets - Volume 2
The second volume provides additional information on PFP as well as local, regional, and national case studies.
Tetra Pak's School Feeding Handbook
In this handbook, Tetra Pak provides a unique insight into the many positive benefits that school feeding programmes are bringing to children and communities worldwide, and includes examples of programs with impact data and best practices.
STATE OF SCHOOL FEEDING WORLD WIDE (2020)
This publication provides an analysis of the state of school feeding in 2020, describes the impact of COVID-19 on school feeding around the world and presents what can be done to restore this global safety net.
STEPPING UP SCHOOL-BASED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION
Exploring challenges, finding solutions and building partnerships
FAO eLearning: Home-Grown School Feeding Course
Based on the HGSFP Resource Framework, this course can help governments achieve their goals and foster a community of practice in home-grown school feeding.
STATE OF SCHOOL FEEDING WORLD WIDE (2013)
A report by WFP to better understand the strengths and challenges of school feeding programs globally, building from Rethinking School Feeding (2009)
RETHINKING SCHOOL FEEDING (2009)
Social Safety Nets, Child Development, and the Education Sector
WFP COE- THE BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE
Executive Summary of WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger’s Public Food Procurement from Smallholder Farmers – The Brazilian Experience
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SAFETY NETS
School Feeding: WFP’s Evolving Role in Latin America and the Caribbean
Menus based on the World Health Organization’s daily nutritional recommendations in this tool developed by the Partnership for Child Development at Imperial College.
HEALTHY MEALS IN SCHOOL: POLICY INNOVATIONS LINKING AGRICULTURE, FOOD SYSTEMS, AND NUTRITION
This policy brief by GloPan explains why a greater policy emphasis is needed on the multiple-win agenda that couples meals in schools with benefits to agriculture, education, and nutrition.
HOME-GROWN SCHOOL FEEDING: TIME FOR DONORS TO DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT
An analysis by PCD of the need to further raise awareness of HGSF on the part of both national governments and the donor community.
A collaborative effort from the World Bank and technical partners supporting the collection and analysis of country-level policy data.
An action plan by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent to improve school meal programs in England.
STRUCTURED DEMAND & HOME-GROWN SCHOOL FEEDING: BACKGROUND AND FUNDING OPTIONS
A presentation by Arlene Mitchell prepared for the 2011 Global Child Nutrition Forum.
THE FUTURE OF FOOD: SHAPING THE GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEM TO DELIVER IMPROVED NUTRITION AND HEALTH
A paper by the World Bank focused on how the food system can deliver improved nutrition and health for better lives and well-being.
State of school feeding worldwide (2022)
This report is the main reporting mechanism of the School Meals Coalition. It provides an overview on how countries support their children through effective school feeding programmes and is available in a variety of languages.
Written by Bill Gates on GatesNotes. More than a meal: The humblest of school lunches can transform lives and entire nations.