ECOWAS Strengthens Member States’ Capacity to Integrate Nutrition into School Feeding Programmes

By Joylinda Laryea / 12 October 2025

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a major step toward improving child nutrition across the region by training national stakeholders on how to better incorporate nutrition into school feeding programmes.

From 30 September to 3 October 2025, the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), convened a regional capacity-building workshop in Dakar, Senegal. The event forms part of the Regional Agenda for Strengthening Nutrition in Sectoral Policies, Strategies and Programmes in West Africa.

Sixteen leaders of school feeding projects funded under the ECOWAS Project to Promote an Integrated School Feeding Model in West Africa (PMAI-AO) participated in the session, alongside experts responsible for national school feeding operations from various sectoral ministries and representatives from technical partners, including WFP, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Action Contre la Faim (ACF).

The workshop focused on equipping participants with best practices for integrating balanced nutrition into school meals, ensuring that feeding programmes go beyond food provision to support children’s overall health, learning outcomes and long-term development.

ECOWAS officials reaffirmed their commitment to building a West Africa where every child has access to safe, nutritious and sustainable school meals, laying the foundation for a healthier and more prosperous future for the region.