State of school-based food and nutrition education in 30 low- and middle-income countries

FAO

State of school-based food and nutrition education in 30 low- and middle-income countries

Survey report

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 46 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Progressively more countries are reportedly incorporating school-based food and nutrition education (SFNE) into their education, nutrition and school feeding policies, acknowledging its role in impacting children’s food outlooks and practices, and that of their parents, families and the community. Despite this increasing interest and global recognition, there is no clear picture of SFNE implementation at school level, which makes it challenging to identify gaps, take corrective measures, make reforms or introduce new policy initiatives. Framed under FAO’s school food and nutrition work, the aim of the survey was to determine the current role, approach, scope and linkages of government run SFNE in a sample of low- and middle-income countries. In particular, this survey is part of the package of outputs that FAO developed to establish the foundation for reshaping and carrying the SFNE work forward, in terms of effectiveness and scope.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2021. State of school-based food and nutrition education in 30 low- and middle-income countries: Survey report. Rome

Language English

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The need for school-based food and nutrition education (SFNE) to develop and foster children’s capacities to engage in healthy food practices has long been recognized and promoted globally. FAO has been a leader in SFNE over the last decades, particularly in promoting the integration of food education into national curricula, supporting the development of school gardens as learning platforms, and providing technical assistance for development of learning materials and professional capacity. Howe ver, more evidence is undoubtedly needed on the cost-effectiveness, pathways, scalability and sustainability of existing SFNE models, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). In response to these needs, FAO in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates University and a group of international experts and practitioners, is leading an area of work which aims to lay out the basis for improving the quality, scope and impact of SFNE in LMICs. One of the main milestones of this work is a n international expert consultation, which will offer a platform for stakeholders to discuss and define priorities, competencies, minimum quality and educational innovations, and provide a framework of cooperation to strengthen SFNE practices.
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