Nourishing Haiti’s future: School meals as a pathway to resilience and opportunity

What if a single school meal could do more than ease hunger? What if it could strengthen local farming, stabilize communities and help children stay in school during times of crisis?

In Haiti, that vision is becoming reality.

Against a backdrop of political uncertainty and widespread food insecurity, Haiti is advancing an ambitious, locally driven school feeding initiative. With critical backing from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and other partners, the country is proving that school meals can be a powerful tool for transformation.

This program goes beyond providing food. By sourcing ingredients locally, it stimulates agricultural production, supports smallholder farmers and builds economic resilience within communities. At the same time, it ensures that children receive the nutrition they need to focus, learn and thrive.

For students like Roseberline Jean, a daily meal at school is more than nourishment—it’s reassurance and motivation. It offers consistency amid uncertainty and a reason to show up ready to learn. Her story reflects the wider impact of the program: benefits that extend far beyond the classroom walls.

A national commitment to progress

Haiti’s expansion of school feeding across public schools is anchored in the National School Feeding Policy and Strategic Plan 2024–2030. The initiative is a cornerstone of the country’s broader development agenda—positioned not only as a social protection measure but as a catalyst for long-term economic and community resilience.

By integrating education, nutrition, child protection and local economic development, Haiti is pursuing results at scale through an intersectoral approach. The goal is clear: strengthen systems so communities can better withstand overlapping shocks—from political instability to economic hardship and natural disasters.

This ambitious effort is supported by a coalition of global partners, including:

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture through the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (US$33 million)

• Global Partnership for Education (US$19 million)

• Inter-American Development Bank (US$15 million)

• Education Above All (US$10 million)

Together, these investments are fueling both immediate relief and sustainable growth.

Strengthening farmers, strengthening communities

Haiti’s home-grown school feeding model prioritizes local procurement—ensuring that the food served in schools is grown by Haitian farmers. This approach not only improves meal quality and reliability but also creates dependable markets for agricultural producers.

For farmers like Virgin-Hélène Saintil, the impact has been tangible. By supplying food for school meals, she has expanded her economic opportunities. With business management training delivered by the World Food Programme and the local NGO Ananda Marga Relief Team (AMURT), she has gained skills in budgeting, tracking expenses and managing profits—tools that strengthen both her farm and her future.

A key feature of the model is its emphasis on the participation of women farmers, helping close economic gaps while increasing overall agricultural productivity.

Keeping children learning—no matter what

As meal coverage expands, so does school attendance. In communities facing crisis and disruption, access to reliable school meals has proven to be a powerful incentive for families to keep children enrolled and engaged.

By addressing hunger and supporting livelihoods simultaneously, Haiti’s school feeding strategy is building resilience from the ground up. It connects classrooms to farms, students to communities and immediate needs to long-term development.

In Haiti, school meals are doing far more than feeding children—they are nourishing futures.