School Feeding Research Articles

Stakeholder’s Perceptions on the Influence of School Feeding Programmes on Attendance and Dropout Rates of Public Primary School Pupils in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess stakeholder’s perceptions on the influence of school feeding programmes on pupil’s attendance and dropout rates in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a mixed methods approach. The target population for this study was Tharaka Nithi County Education Officials, Headteachers, teachers, and parents of Grade three pupils in public schools. The data collection instruments included: questionnaires, interview guide, observation checklist and focus group discussion guide. Data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 27. Quantitative data were analysed and presented in the form of frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data were presented in a narrative form in themes. Findings: The study established that stakeholders perceived that: school feeding programs significantly boosted pupils' class attendance; reduced absenteeism; and improved concentration and academic performance, while encouraging consistent school attendance. The schools’ feeding programs significantly reduced pupils dropout rates, and also enhanced academic performance. It was concluded that school feeding programs was perceived to significantly improve pupil attendance and reduced dropout rates. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was anchored on Abrahams Maslow's Hierarchy Theory of Human Motivation. There is need for the County Government and National Governments and NGOS to increase the school feeding programmes in ASAL schools. Vulnerable children in ASAL areas should be given special attention in school feeding programmes. School stakeholders should support the availability of feeding programmes in all the ASAL schools.

Desenvolvimento regional e saúde escolar: uma análise respiratória e alimentar

Introduction: Allergic diseases are characterized by inflammatory events resulting from hypersensitivity and can have an impact on regional development by affecting the health conditions, school performance and well-being of schoolchildren. Objective: To assess respiratory, maternal and environmental food conditions in schoolchildren in a municipality in northern Santa Catarina and the impact on regional development. Methods: Cross-sectional and exploratory study of 50 schoolchildren, with a study of the mother's gestational period and lung assessment using expiratory flow, Pimax, Pemax and Inspiratory Capacity. Allergic processes were identified using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC II). The School Feeding Index (Ales) was used for dietary characteristics. Results: Expiratory flow was lower than predicted for the sample (p=0.000). There was a correlation between respiratory rate and consumption of ultra-processed foods (p=0.036). There was a predominance of natural childbirth, with birth weight within the reference standards.. Conclusion: It can be concluded that respiratory alterations and the type of food consumed by schoolchildren can influence respiratory rhythm and peak expiratory flow. Key Words: children; health; regional development.

Assessing the Educational Effect, Student Perceptions, and Satisfaction with School Feeding Programs in Addis Ababa's Public Primary Schools

Across the globe governments have been implementing school feeding programs (SFPs) aimingat enhancing students’ health and educational outcomes. This study examined the effect of thegovernment funded school feeding program on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa's publicprimary schools. Using an Interrupted Time Series design and a cross-sectional survey design,the research examined changes in enrollment, dropout rates, and promotion levels, as well asstudents' perceptions and satisfaction with the food provision. Data were collected from schoolrecords and 173 students across 27 schools in five sub-cities. Results have indicated that theSFP significantly improved educational outcomes, including increased enrollment, reduceddropout, and enhanced promotion levels. Moreover, regardless of demographics, more than80% of beneficiary students perceived the program as important, with 87.4% reporting highlevel of satisfaction with the food provision. These findings suggest that SFPs can be aneffective tool for improving educational outcomes in developing countries though potentialadverse consequences such as dependency and sustainability need careful consideration.

Breakfast Habits, Anthropometry, and Nutrition-Related Outcomes in Adolescents From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Breakfast skipping is a commonly reported dietary habit among adolescents despite this life stage marked by critical growth and development. Limited comparable evidence exists from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the detrimental effect of inadequate diets remains a major public health challenge. We conducted a systematic review to assess the scientific evidence available from LMICs regarding the association of breakfast skipping and consumption habits and anthropometry- and nutrition-related outcomes in adolescents 10-19 years old. Electronic searches for relevant studies were conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Web of Science from the date of database inception until June 28, 2023. Additionally, reference lists of included studies and gray literature were searched. We included studies of all designs that compared breakfast skipping and consumption habits among adolescents aged 10-19 years in LMICs. Exclusion criteria included the following: review articles, if the target population age was outside the WHO definition of adolescents, assessed only lunch or dinner consumption, skipped any other meal besides breakfast, only collected point prevalence data, did not include a breakfast consumer control group, or co-interventions were inconsistent across breakfast habit groups. The primary outcomes were body mass index (BMI in kg/m2), also defined categorically as underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese or as BMI-for-age (z-score) and anemia (defined according to Hemoglobin (Hb) levels in different age groups for boys and girls). Secondary outcomes included other adiposity measures and nutrient concentrations or deficiencies. Title screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted in duplicate. The risk of bias was evaluated using the NHLBI Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used to pool data for each outcome measure from the included studies. Standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for continuous outcomes, while odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs were computed for dichotomous outcomes. The certainty of the evidence for each outcome was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Our search yielded 3604 records, and 41 studies met our inclusion criteria. Among these, 39 cross-sectional studies and two prospective cohort studies were eligible, with 36 providing data for meta-analysis. Overall, there was very low certainty of evidence regarding the association between breakfast consumption habits and the risk of being overweight/obese, mainly due to the risk of bias and inconsistency. Adolescents who infrequently ate breakfast (0-2 days/week) were twice as likely to be overweight/obese (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.61-2.61; I 2 = 85%; n = 15 studies) compared to regular breakfast consumers (5-7 days/week), while irregular breakfast consumers (3-4 days/week) had 32% higher likelihood of being overweight/obese (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16-1.50; I 2 = 59%; n = 9 studies). The odds of non-daily breakfast consumers being overweight/obese were 38% higher than daily breakfast consumers (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.19-1.59; I 2 = 54%; n = 10 studies). The odds of developing anemia were significantly higher for adolescents irregularly consuming breakfast compared to regular breakfast consumers (OR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.71, 4.76; I 2 = 0%), with very low certainty of the evidence from two studies, limited by a very small sample size. Few studies reported on the association of breakfast skipping with other secondary adiposity outcomes (e.g., waist circumferences, waist-to-height ratio). We found very low certainty of evidence that breakfast skipping increases the risk of overweight/obesity and anemia, primarily derived from cross-sectional studies. There is a paucity of evidence regarding breakfast habits and nutritional outcomes among adolescents in LMICs. Further cohort or intervention studies are warranted to elucidate the relationship between breakfast skipping and the risk of overweight/obesity, as well as other anthropometric and adiposity measurements within this demographic. Emphasis should also be placed on evaluating nutritional outcomes as a part of these assessments to better inform public health policy and programming best practices for adolescents to ensure the health and well-being of the next generation. Breakfast integrated within school feeding programs may be well positioned as a double-duty solution to tackle malnutrition in all its forms among adolescents.

Enhancing School-based Food Production Initiatives to Scaffold School Feeding Program

Enhancing School-based Food Production Initiatives to Scaffold School Feeding Program

Transformative policies in Brazilian agri-food systems: An analysis of family farm procurement under the national school feeding program

Transformative policies in Brazilian agri-food systems: An analysis of family farm procurement under the national school feeding program

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL HOME-GROWN SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME (NHGSFP) ON THE PRIMARY EDUCATION

This study investigates the effect of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) on the educational development of primary school pupils in Niger State, Nigeria, between 2017 and 2022. Despite various studies on school feeding programs, significant gaps remain, particularly regarding their holistic impact on educational development. The research examines the programme’s effect on enrolment, retention, attendance, and performance among pupils in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) representing Niger State's senatorial districts. A mixed-method approach involving structured questionnaires and interviews was employed to collect data from pupils, teachers, program officials, and parents. Findings and recommendations from this study aim to inform policymakers, enhance program implementation, and contribute to the broader literature on school feeding programs in Nigeria.

Experiencias, significados y percepciones sobre la política de alimentación escolar y las contribuciones a la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional y la calidad de vida de niños y niñas de una ciudad de Argentina

Experiencias, significados y percepciones sobre la política de alimentación escolar y las contribuciones a la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional y la calidad de vida de niños y niñas de una ciudad de Argentina

Enhancing Nutrition and Cost Efficiency in Kenyan School Meals Using Neglected and Underutilized Species and Linear Programming: A Case Study from an Informal Settlement

Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS)—locally available, climate-resilient species—possess significant nutritional, social, and environmental benefits, yet their use, research focus, and market presence have diminished over time. Incorporating NUS into school meal programs can potentially boost childhood nutrition, promote healthy eating, encourage sustainable food production, preserve food culture and heritage, and support biodiversity conservation. School meals offered in Kenya are often monotonous and nutritionally inadequate. We conducted a case study on a school in an informal urban settlement in Nairobi, targeting students between ages 6–12, to demonstrate how incorporating locally grown, nutrient-dense foods into school meals can result in better nutrition for school-age children, while making significant savings for schools. Using the World Food Programme’s School Meal Planner (SMP) PLUS software, the school meals offered were analyzed for nutrient adequacy and optimized including five NUS: African nightshade (Solanum spp.), spider plant (Cleome gynandra), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), bonavist or hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus), and slender leaf (Crotalaria spp.). The optimization process was based on the commodity price fluctuations and nutrient composition of the local agrobiodiversity used. The study results show how NUS are a viable and healthy alternative to meet the recommended daily nutrient needs for school-aged children at affordable prices. The tool results showcased the effectiveness of linear programming in enabling national decision making for efficient school feeding program planning, by designing comprehensive, affordable food baskets using local agrobiodiversity. Future research should explore implementing optimized school menus while examining broader aspects, such as school lunch environmental impacts and direct procurement approach opportunities that source local ingredients from smallholder farmers.

Analysis of Project Management Practices on School Feeding Program Performance

The performance and sustainability of school feeding projects are critical to achieving educational and social development objectives. This study aims to assess the effect of project management practices on performance of school feeding projects in Musanze District, Rwanda, specifically, human resource management, financial resource management, stakeholder involvement and material resource management. The study was guided by the Theory of Change. The study was used mixed-methods with a descriptive survey and correlational research design to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The target population was 3383 respondents from six schools. A descriptive survey design and correlational research design was adopted to gather data from a sample of 358 respondents drawn from six schools involved in the Dusangire Lunch Project. Data collection instruments was included questionnaires, interviews, and documentary reviews. To enhance the study's rigor, a pilot test was conducted with 10% of the sample size. The instruments' validity was established through expert reviews, achieving a content validity index (CVI) of 0.79, which was deemed acceptable. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha, yielding a score of 0.76, confirming the consistency of the instruments. The findings for four hypotheses were tested at ?=.05 level of significance and the results were: there is no significant influence between Human Resource Management (p=0.000<0.05), Human Resource Management (p=0.000<0.05), Stakeholder Involvement (p=0.000<0.05), and Material Resource Management (p=0.000<0.05) on Performance of School Feeding Projects were rejected. The studies conclude that the importance of efficient resource management and active stakeholder involvement in the effective implementation and sustainability of school feeding projects. It is recommended that policymakers and practitioners focus on improving resource management practices, fostering stakeholder collaboration, and addressing gaps in communication to sustain and scale the impact of these projects in Rwanda. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to examine the long-term impact of these management practices on student outcomes and project sustainability.

School Feeding and Cognitive Performance in Rwanda

Abstract Using unique administrative data on test scores from a high stake national exam for primary school students in Rwanda, we evaluate the impact of Rwanda’s Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program on cognitive performance of students that benefited from the program. Our identification strategy exploits plausibly exogenous variations in exposure to the program induced by the staggered implementation of the program across schools and students’ grade at the time of program implementation. We find a positive impact of the program on student test scores, with the impact accruing over time. Further, our results suggest that school feeding is an important channel to closing gender gaps in student performance. Increasing the absorptive capacity of schools to accommodate the associated increase in enrollment is a likely operative channel. Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that providing school feeding yields an 11:1 return on investment.

The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index of Nigeria: A Sociological Review

Nigeria, home to over 200 million people and the most populous Black nation in the world has approximately 133 million individuals trapped in a multidimensional poverty trajectory. The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report provides a holistic framework for understanding poverty through four key dimensions—health, education, living standards, and work and shocks—each comprising 15 critical indicators that measure deprivation across various aspects of life. This study employed a qualitative research methodology, utilizing secondary data sources such as the 2022 MPI report, government publications, and scholarly articles. The Structural Theory of Poverty was adopted as the theoretical framework, emphasizing that poverty is not merely a result of individual shortcomings but a systemic issue driven by factors such as unemployment, underemployment, poor education, and inadequate living conditions. The study reveals that employment, years of schooling, and child school attendance represent the most significant contributors to poverty, reinforcing the cycle of deprivation. Additionally, indicators under health and living standards—including child mortality, malnutrition, lack of access to clean water, poor sanitation, inadequate housing, limited access to electricity, and reliance on unsafe cooking fuels—account for 10% of the poverty burden. The findings indicate that poverty in Nigeria is deeply entrenched, with rural areas disproportionately affected. While the government has introduced several initiatives—such as the Community-Based Vocational Rehabilitation (CBVR), National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), and school feeding programs—poor implementation and lack of sustainability have limited their impact. The study recommends a multi-sectoral approach to poverty reduction, including strengthening education policies, improving healthcare services, investing in rural infrastructure, and promoting inclusive governance. Child poverty reduction should be a top national priority, with increased funding for early childhood development programs, nutrition initiatives, and school enrollment incentives. Additionally, state governments must integrate MPI data into budget planning to ensure targeted interventions. Ultimately, addressing multidimensional poverty in Nigeria requires collaborative efforts between the government, civil society organizations (CSOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities to create sustainable and inclusive development policies that break the cycle of poverty.

Strategies to address food insecurity and improve global nutrition among at-risk populations

Food insecurity and malnutrition remain pressing global challenges, disproportionately affecting at-risk populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These challenges, exacerbated by climate change, economic instability, and global conflicts, pose significant threats to public health, economic productivity, and social stability. Addressing food insecurity requires a multi-faceted approach that integrates short-term relief measures with long-term sustainable strategies. This paper explores comprehensive strategies aimed at mitigating food insecurity and improving global nutrition among vulnerable populations. Key approaches include enhancing agricultural productivity through climate-resilient farming techniques, improving food distribution systems, and leveraging technology for real-time monitoring and resource allocation. Additionally, the integration of social protection programs, such as food assistance and school feeding initiatives, is highlighted as a critical intervention to support at-risk populations. The role of international collaborations and policy frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in driving global food security initiatives is also discussed. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes the importance of addressing micronutrient deficiencies through fortification programs and promoting dietary diversity. Community-based interventions that empower local populations to adopt sustainable food practices are explored as a means to ensure long-term impact. Ethical considerations, such as equitable access and cultural sensitivity, are integrated into the discussion to ensure inclusive and effective outcomes. The findings underscore the need for coordinated efforts among governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sector stakeholders to implement scalable and sustainable solutions. By addressing systemic barriers and leveraging innovative technologies, the global community can make significant strides toward reducing food insecurity and improving nutrition for the world’s most vulnerable populations.

School Feeding Program in Nigeria: Ethical Issues

In Nigeria, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSFP) has the potential to support regional agricultural economies and give pupils wholesome meals. Nonetheless, a careful examination is necessary due to worries about its operational effectiveness and ethical purity. This study assesses how the NHGSFP affects academic achievement, school attendance, and community involvement. The study examines claims of misconduct and corruption in the program and suggests methods to improve ethics. The study's conclusions provide insight into how views of the NHGSFP are correlated with demographic patterns, including age, occupation, community type, state of residence, and education level. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study looked at corruption claims and ethical issues inside the NHGSFP in addition to quantitatively analyzing survey data. A sample of respondents spanning a range of variables, including age, gender, education level, community type, state of residence, and occupation, were given a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to obtain complete data on participants' opinions and experiences linked to the NHGSFP. Using SPSS software, data analysis was done to evaluate the program's impact, demographic trends, and perceptions of corruption claims. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, chi-square testing, and correlation analysis were used to investigate correlations between variables. The analysis highlights the influence of education on opinion formation by showing that respondents with greater levels of education often had more positive evaluations of the NHGSFP's impact. Furthermore, compared to their rural counterparts, urban dwellers typically express more positive opinions, suggesting regional differences in program perception. Additionally, the NHGSFP is more well-liked by responders from some states than others, highlighting the necessity of individualized interventions based on regional context. Occupational analysis highlights the variety of viewpoints held by stakeholders, underscoring the significance of focused communication tactics. It's interesting to see that believing in the program's beneficial impact is correlated with being aware of corruption claims; this suggests a complex link that needs more investigation. To prevent corruption within the NHGSFP, the study suggests strong financial controls, ethics training, and open procurement procedures. In addition, it promotes streamlined enrolment processes and improved information sharing to guarantee fair access to the program's advantages. These results offer insightful information to stakeholders and policymakers, supporting evidence-based decision-making and the moral development of the NHGSFP to better serve communities and learners in Nigeria.

Holiday hunger in India: experiences of food insecurity during the school summer holidays

ABSTRACT School feeding programs are widely used as safety nets and to realise food security. However, food is typically not served when schools are closed during school holidays. Consequently, children and their families may experience food insecurity or increased food insecurity in school holidays, known as holiday hunger. Outside of high-income countries, holiday hunger has received little attention. This study begins to expand the geographical focus in the literature by examining holiday hunger in India during the school summer break. I present primary data from household surveys and interviews conducted in four locations in Rajasthan. I show that many households experience increased food insecurity during the summer, including due to the absence of school meals, but that food insecurity was also high outside of the holidays. I conclude that policy makers and academics must give more attention to temporal lacunae in food provision.

School Feeding Programme in Nigeria: The Nutritional Status of School-Age Children in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan

School Feeding Program (SFP) in Nigeria is expected to provide at least 33% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for school children. This study was carried out to ascertain whether the school meal provided meets this recommendation, and also to compare the nutritional status of the school age children benefitting from the SFP with their counterparts in other public primary schools in the LGA. This study employed the simple random technique to select 10 public primary schools in Egbeda LGA of Ibadan. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to evaluate the nutritional status of primary school pupils. Schools benefitting from the school feeding program were categorized as the experimental group while the schools not benefitting from the school feeding program were categorized as the control group. A 24-hour dietary recall was used to obtain data on all the foods consumed by the school-age children in the past 24 hours. The nutrient composition of the meals as analyzed using the Total Dietary Assessment (TDA) tool and compared with the requirements of their age group. The anthropometry indices of the school-age children were also obtained using a portable stadiometer and an electronic weighing scale. Analysis was done using the WHO Anthro software. The results revealed that 95% of the pupils did not meet 33% of their RDA for energy, protein, carbohydrate and total fat respectively. There was a significant difference in the level of nutrient adequacy between the two groups for energy, protein, thiamine, phosphorus and sodium. Also, the Anthropometry revealed more Normal weight children among the experimental group 141(71.6%) compared to the control group 56(28.6%). Keywords: School feeding, Total Dietary Assessment, Anthropometry.

Do Monitoring and Evaluation Practices in School Feeding Program Strategies Improve Learner Participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni Country, Kenya

Industrial cooperatives are a unique organizational model that strikes a balance between economic objectives and social responsibility. As member-driven organizations, they uphold a distinct identity rooted in cooperative principles by relying on members’ dual roles as owners and workers, which help to shape their identity and operational success. However, despite their significance in fostering inclusive growth and sustainable business practices, the extent to which industrial cooperatives effectively uphold and fulfil their cooperative identity remains an underexplored area in the available literature. The situation at hand is that cooperative institutions are experiencing difficulties in putting their cooperative principles into effect in the real world. In this situation, the current study investigates how members' dual roles influence the fulfillment of cooperative identity articulated in cooperative principles. The study also sought to analyze the mediating effect of members’ trust on the relationship of members’ dual roles and fulfillment of cooperative identity by industrial cooperatives. To analyze these relationships a conceptual model has been formulated with the support of Social Identity Theory and Social Exchange Theory. The conceptual model formulated has been empirically tested by collecting primary data by conducting face-to-face interviews with members of industrial cooperative societies in Kerala. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis is used to examine how cooperative identity is influenced by members’ dual roles. The findings indicate that when members engage positively in their dual roles as owners and workers, it brings benefits to the cooperatives in terms of implementing cooperative identity. Members' trust is regarded as an intermediate variable that connects both their dual roles to favorable behavior towards the cooperatives. Thus, this study provides statistical evidence that the trust of members plays a crucial role in enhancing their involvement as both owners and workers towards establishing the cooperative identity of the industrial cooperative societies.

School Milk Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.

School milk programs have a long history in Latin America and the Caribbean. In recent decades, the region has undergone a nutrition transition characterized by a rise in children's overweight/obesity, which adds new challenges for school-based programs. This article aimed to unpack how school milk programs in the region have fared as of 2022 and what drives their success (or lack thereof). Data from the Global Survey of School Meal Programs were analyzed descriptively to broadly summarize the current state of school feeding programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. To probe the status of school milk programs, key informant interviews were conducted with school milk stakeholders in 7 countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras), and these interviews were analyzed for thematic elements. Five countries were found to have operational school milk programs, whereas the programs in Guatemala and Honduras have not (thus far) endured. Programs often prioritized and took pride in local milk procurement, although there was sometimes incongruity between objectives to improve children's diets and stimulate local agricultural development. Program implementers grapple with the taste, texture, and safety of milk, and it can be challenging to reconcile concerns over child obesity and the need to ensure the milk is appealing and accepted. In conclusion, programs seek creatively to overcome the aformentioned challenges wherever there is fiscal capacity and political will.

Quality of maize supplied under school feeding program and associated financial losses in Turkana County, Kenya

Turkana County, being an arid and semi-arid county is one of the major beneficiaries of the homegrown school feeding program from the government of Kenya. Most of the maize consumed in Turkana county is sourced from other counties as well as neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia. Due to the vast distance, high temperatures as well as security challenges, post-harvest losses in the county are inevitable. This study, therefore, sought to establish the losses associated with the quality and safety of maize supplied to public primary schools under the homegrown school feeding program. All suppliers, n=22, who were supplying maize to public primary schools under the homegrown school feeding program, n=128 were included in the study. Maize samples were picked from school stores and analyzed for moisture content, aflatoxin B1, total aflatoxin and fumonisin. Moisture content was determined by AOAC method number AOAC 976.08:2012 while aflatoxin and fumonisin were determined using the ELISA method. Losses were estimated based on the Kenyan standard requirements for maize where any result above the recommended limit was considered a loss. The market price of maize at the time of study, Ksh. 50 per Kg was used to estimate the associated financial losses. The quality losses were Ksh. 15,075,950/= for moisture content and Ksh. 25,805,350/= for grading and live infestation. Safety losses based on aflatoxin B, Total aflatoxin and fumonisin were Ksh. 6,726,850/=, Ksh. 4,362,500/= and Ksh. 1,356,050/=, respectively. In total, Ksh. 53 million would be lost by the county government if the Kenyan standard for maize was well enforced. This shows that the quality and safety of maize supplied to schools under the school meals program is questionable and contributes further to post-harvest losses. Therefore, there is a need for proper sensitization on post-harvest handling among the school suppliers as well as investment in testing infrastructure by the county government. Key words: Feeding, Losses, school, safety, quality, post-harvest, maize, financial, supplied

A Local and Historical Perspective on Disaster Risk Reduction: Tunja, Colombia Case Study

This autoethnographic study presents a historical perspective on disaster risk reduction (DRR) at the local level, with the case study of the city of Tunja in Colombia. We analyze the impact that colonization, the independence period, and recent history have had on the creation and reduction of disaster risks in this city. We offer a holistic perspective that shows the interactions of the impact of inequality on Indigenous populations, lack of urban planning, deforestation and the planting of invasive plant species, among other factors, which in combination with natural hazards, such as heavy rainfall, increase disaster risks. We conclude that although the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 is a fundamental instrument to promote risk reduction, in the local context of Tunja, the framework as such is not seen as a guide or parameter. The Colombian Disaster Risk Management Law is the main guide to advance risk reduction. This study demonstrates how DRR is not an isolated process, but a process that encompasses the general well-being of the population. We demonstrate from our lived perspective how access to public education and school feeding, as well as other social protection measures, increase the resilience of the population, making them better able to cope with adversity due to different hazards. This local perspective, with a historical review of a small city in the middle of the Andes, demonstrates the importance of continuing to prioritize and invest in measures that contribute to the population’s well-being as a way to reduce disaster risks, including adapting to our changing climate.