Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to see a breakdown of the costs?

Yes, WFP believes in the importance of transparency when it comes to costs and School Feeding is no exception.  By being transparent WFP believes that School Feeding is more accountable to its partners and donors, who are better able to see how their money is making a real difference to development in Ethiopia. 

Therefore the total cost of school feeding per child per day is US$ 0.11.  The majority of this is paid through WFP, which covers 86.4% of the total.  This resource comes from donors who specify its purpose and as such it cannot be used elsewhere.  The government and community cost is relatively the remaining balance.

Is it not true that food is the primary motivation for families sending children to school rather than education?

School Feeding does not exist solely for those who cannot afford to attend school, WFP also believe that school feeding encourages attendance of those who may not previously have seen the benefits of education.  So whilst some children may attend initially for the food, WFP believe that the benefits of education will become apparent and the skills the children are taught will be relevant whatever their motivation for being there.

Is there a negative impact on local agriculture where food is imported?

It is WFP policy to use all opportunities available to procure commodities locally when cash resources for purchase are available.

WFP assisted schools are targeted because they are in food insecure areas, as such local markets are often underdeveloped and unreliable so food must be brought in from outside, therefore the effect on them is small enough to be insignificant.

Is School Feeding simply a short-term unsustainable intervention?

Whilst School Feeding is not a long-term solution to the educational needs of Ethiopia, its benefit to the education of the country’s most vulnerable children cannot be underestimated.  WFP believes the costs incurred through school feeding are justified by the achievements realised in educating this sector of the community.  The best hope for Ethiopia to raise itself from poverty is to educate its young and School Feeding is an incentive to do this.  Many of the benefits from investing in it are difficult to quantify, for example promoting girls education, learning basic hygiene, improved literacy, the preconditions for life long learning and so on.  WFP therefore believes that the benefits of education stay with the child for life.  Additionally School Feeding should only be continued as long as there is a need for it and therefore should not be seen as a necessary long-term strategy for improving education in Ethiopia when food insecurity is not prevailing.

Does School Feeding interact with other projects?

WFP strongly believe in the benefits of working in partnerships, which create positive impacts often greater than the sum of their parts.  Links with WHO and UNICEF allow School Feeding to be combined with such projects as de-worming and water provision.  There are also partnerships within WFP, such as the synergies scheme to enhance community participation and ownership of crucial issues such as improving school facilities.

Does WFP have intervention to address Gender Gap in the education sector?

WFP is committed to support the Government of Ethiopia to achieve Millennium Development Goals that have narrowing gender gap in the education sector. In order to increase girls participation and improve their performance in the education sector WFP, has designed a creative initiative which entails providing take-home ration of 8 litres of vegetable oil for a girl who attended 80% the school days in a semester. The girl’s initiative is implemented in pastoral and semi pastoral areas where girl’s participation is very low and the gender gap is wide.