ARMENIA – Each dollar invested in Armenia’s national school feeding programme will generate a US$7.1 benefit over the lifetime of a beneficiary, according to a cost-benefit analysis conducted jointly by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and MasterCard.
Notably, 82 per cent of the benefits are generated from increased productivity. Academic evidence shows that children receiving a nutritious meal at school achieve better test results and have a higher ability to concentrate. Both factors lead to a more successful and productive professional life. In addition, the study in Armenia revealed that children receiving school meals are likely to live healthier and longer, reducing overall public healthcare expenditures.
“The result of a return of US$7.1 for each dollar invested in school feeding is significantly higher than the global average of US$ 5.5”, said Luca Molinas, Head of Programme Unit at WFP Armenia. “In addition to the benefits we assessed, school feeding also has many additional benefits, for instance it helps to build strong community ties and to boost the local economy if food is sourced locally.”
The analysis recommended to introduce target school feeding in order to allow more children to be fed, as part of the social protection system. It also suggested to improve data collection on attendance and enrolment in the country in order to optimize the costing structure of the school feeding programmes. In addition, sustainable home-grown school feeding programmes would constitute an opportunity to support local farmers and merchants, thereby increasing the impact on the local GDP.
WFP started school feeding operations in Armenia in 2010, gradually expanding to all provinces except Yerevan. A gradual handover of the programme started to the Armenian government in the school year 2014/15. Today, the national school feeding programme covers the provinces of Vayots Dzor, Syunik and Ararat, providing school meals to 21,500 primary children.
This analysis was carried out by WFP in partnership with MasterCard. MasterCard and WFP have been partnering since 2012, connecting MasterCard’s expertise in technology and payment systems with WFP’s work of delivering food assistance. As part of the partnership, selected MasterCard employees join WFP missions for specific analytical projects, combining WFP’s and MasterCard’s expertise. “It’s a unique opportunity to make a valuable contribution to improve people’s life and to the development of this country, said Nina Villems, MasterCard Country Manager for Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. “I’m looking forward to further cooperation in Armenia.”
The United Nations World Food Programme
