DR Congo: Children Advocate for the Expansion of the School Feeding Program in Kasaï Central
By Pascaline Milemba, Communications Officer
From March 10 to 15, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated the World School Feeding Week. In Kasaï Central, this initiative was an opportunity for children to advocate to local authorities for the expansion of the program to all schools in the region. From the Provincial Assembly to the Governor's Office, the message from the children was clear: ensure school meals in all schools in Kasaï Central to improve learning conditions and fight against malnutrition.
Recommendations to Decision-makers
Children from the city of Kananga, received by the speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Kasaï Central, expressed their need to see authorities establishing a local law dedicated to school feeding. In a memorandum submitted to the authorities, they recommended several key actions to support the program. These included the creation of a provincial ordinance to establish a policy supporting school feeding, organising public meetings to discuss challenges related to school meals, and mobilising communities around this essential initiative.
“This Advocacy Note demonstrates the importance of continuing to prioritise school feeding, or setting up alternatives when it is not possible. We request the adoption of a provincial ordinance to establish a policy supporting school feeding programs in all schools in Kasaï Central,” said the memorandum.
In response to this proposal, Anaclet Muayaya, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, committed to forwarding the note to the appropriate authorities and reiterated the Assembly's involvement in improving the learning conditions of students, particularly through the establishment of the ordinance requested by the children.
The Governor’s Commitment to School Food Security
At the Governor’s Office, the children were received by Governor Joseph Moïse Kambulu, who acknowledged the importance of ensuring minimal food provision in all schools. According to him, this would be an effective solution to improve students' academic performance. The children also proposed several concrete actions to strengthen school feeding in the province, such as the implementation of school canteen programs with local products, integrating school feeding into the province's development strategies, and supporting the establishment of school farms and gardens for food self-sufficiency.
The Malnutrition Situation Remains Concerning
Kasaï Central is one of the four provinces most affected by chronic malnutrition in the DRC. Approximately 53.7% of school-age children suffer from stunting, meaning nearly 5 out of 10 children are affected. This rate is significantly higher than the national average, not only threatening the health of future generations but also impairing their cognitive development and academic success.
To combat this alarming situation, the organization World Vision has implemented a school feeding program in the region, benefiting 52,912 children, including 28,876 boys, 22,574 girls, as well as 935 teachers and 527 cookers. This program aims to reduce child malnutrition and is part of the "ENOUGH" campaign launched in September 2024 in DRC.
The mobilisation of children in Kasaï Central to expand the school feeding program is an urgent call to local authorities to take action against the ongoing crisis of malnutrition and food insecurity affecting a large portion of the school population. Expanding this program to all schools in the province is a critical issue for the health, education, and future of children in Kasaï Central.