How School Meals Support Children in Cambodia

For children in school, sufficient and nutritious food enables them to better concentrate and learn. Unfortunately, many still go to school with empty stomachs, including in Cambodia. The World Food Programme has been working with the government of Cambodia to provide school meals for children across the country.

Malnutrition in Cambodia

Malnutrition in children remains a challenge in Cambodia. UNICEF states that 32% of children under 5 years old are stunted, and 10% don’t have enough weight for their height. Lack of proper food, nutrition, water, and sanitation contribute to the condition.

The nutrition emergency in Cambodia is interwoven with the case of school dropouts and gender inequality. Many children have had to go to school hungry, which results in low concentration and productivity at school. Furthermore, children, especially girls, are often forced to leave school to help with the family economy or perform domestic duties. 

The World Food Programme (WFP) sees that addressing these challenges requires the help of multi-sectoral school programs. The WFP has been active in Cambodia since 1979, providing assistance for emergencies through food and nutrition. One of the ways is by implementing the school meals program.

School Meals Program

The school meals program in Cambodia began in 1999. The WFP works with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport and the National Social Protection Council in providing school meals for pre-primary and primary school children. Beyond addressing their nutrition needs, the meals also intend to incentivize parents to send their children to school. 

“The meals enhance trust they have for school,” said Eam Sokhan, the principal of Doun Aov Primary School in Angkor Thom District, Siem Reap Province. “They put trust in us, and we feel very motivated.”

In 2014, the program developed by incorporating home-grown ingredients for school meals, boosting local economies, encouraging community ownership, and creating jobs. 

As of 2022, the program has provided 215,300 schoolchildren in Cambodia with hot meals every morning. Furthermore, a good 70% of schools in Cambodia are sourcing their ingredients from local and smallholder farmers. The program also facilitates schools with sanitation infrastructure rehabilitation, and equips school personnel and authorities with the skills necessary to manage the program.

A Multi-sectoral Approach

The challenges faced by Cambodia in education, nutrition, and gender inequality illustrate how sustainable development issues are interrelated. The school meals program done by the WFP and the Cambodian government shows how a multi-sectoral approach is crucial in addressing the challenges while leaving no one behind. 

“School meals contribute to Cambodia’s human-capital development, especially children from the poorest families. Having access to education will help them break the cycle of poverty from generation to generation,” said Narith Chan, Secretary-General of the National Social Protection Council, Cambodia.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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