Pilot project – School feeding gardens
Pilot projects: School feeding, gardens
Edible landscaping and urban farming to improve dietary diversity among ECD children aged 3–6 years
School feeding, gardens
Kisumu, Kenya
Project description: The main purpose of this pilot project is to improve the diets and dietary diversity of Early Childhood Development (ECD) children aged 3–6 years. The primary beneficiaries are the children, the schools they attend, and the 4K Clubs within these schools. The project is being implemented in Nyalenda, Kisumu County, in collaboration with key stakeholders including school management committees, teachers, parents, and Kisumu City officials from the departments of Education, Agriculture, and Health.
Main achievements so far:
- – The most significant achievement has been the improvement in children’s diets through the increased consumption of dark green leafy vegetables and poultry.
- – Seeing the joy on the children’s faces as they enjoy their meals, the growing interest of other partners in engaging within the school space, and the way the intervention has complemented the existing school feeding program, has been a major highlight.
Strengthening the capacities and food infrastructures of schools to ensure healthy and sustainable school canteens for students
School feeding, gardens
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Project description: This pilot project aims to improve the management of school canteens and strengthen the wider school food environment to protect the health of students in Ouagadougou. It focuses on upgrading canteen infrastructure and improving the meals served, supporting better management of school food environments and building the capacities of food vendors operating in and around schools. Together, these actions contribute to healthier, safer and more sustainable school canteens for learners.
Main achievements so far:
- – Active mobilisation and behaviour change resulting from capacity-building and awareness-raising among students, teachers, vendors and parents;
- – Construction of two kitchens and a dining area for the Nongmikma A and B schools;
- – A school garden developed with contributions from teachers, parents and the community;
- – Murals that support ongoing awareness and behaviour change.
Enhancement of an existing community garden in Tunis
School feeding, gardens
Tunis, Tunisia
Project description: Driven by OSAE (Observatoire de la Souveraineté Alimentaire et de l’Environnement) and Hivos, the project empowers local residents through community mobilisation, strengthens social cohesion, and promotes food sovereignty by transforming urban spaces into sustainable, shared gardens that foster active citizen engagement.
Main achievements so far: The project has successfully mobilised residents, local associations, and youth around the revitalization of the Jnina garden, in the Medina. A first collective planting day transformed the space into a vibrant community hub. We’re most proud of the strong local engagement and the creation of a shared, resilient green space.
Urban agriculture and nutritional education for school gardens
School feeding, gardens
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Project description: In Antananarivo, poverty is exacerbating food insecurity and child malnutrition, leading to learning difficulties and school drop-outs. This project was launched to address challenges relating to education, agricultural production, food, nutrition, land tenure and the development of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The project also aims to promote urban agriculture through the creation of agroecological school gardens, to promote healthy diets through nutrition education and to strengthen collaboration with the private sector to support and ensure the sustainability of the actions undertaken. The activities benefit more than 3,000 pupils from six pilot state schools in Antananarivo and are carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Antananarivo and the Ministry of National Education.
Main achievements so far:
- – Training on the concept of urban agriculture (UA) and agroecological techniques was provided to school administrative and teaching staff (93 people).
- – Co-design sessions for the school garden were held to determine the crops to be grown, as well as the agricultural systems and equipment, etc. to be implemented.
- – Schools were then provided with UA starter kits and, working together (pupils, teachers, headteachers, caretakers, and teams from the Urban Municipality of Antananarivo and GRET), the school vegetable gardens were set up.
- – Preparations for the delivery of training and nutrition education activities are also underway.