Enhancing the quality and sustainability of Jordan’s National School Feeding Programme, including the launch of a pilot project for a mini-bakery run by local women, who prepare snacks for schoolchildren.

Partnership between SIFI and the UN World Food Programme

The Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI) acted as WFP’s primary partner in executing the second component.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) initiated this project to support the government in promoting the National School Feeding Programme.

Providing technical support to improve the quality and sustainability of the National School Feeding Programme

Supplying fortified date bars to 350,000 primary school children

The project comprised two key components:

Jordan’s National School Feeding Programme launched in 1999, signaling an important step toward improving children’s health and academic outcomes while promoting healthy lifestyles among the population. From its inception, the Programme aimed to provide nutritious meals and education on healthy living.

in Jordan

Jordan’s National School Feeding Programme launched in 1999, signaling an important step toward improving children’s health and academic outcomes while promoting healthy lifestyles among the population. From its inception, the Programme aimed to provide nutritious meals and education on healthy living.

Initially, the program targeted preschool and primary school children, offering fortified, high-calorie date bars as part of their diet. These bars played a crucial role in supporting growth and development, enabling children to perform better in class and achieve higher academic success.

In 2012, Jordan faced a severe financial and food crisis, threatening the continuation of the Programme. The government sought assistance from the UN World Food Programme, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the country’s school feeding system.

Collaboration

In November 2013, Jordan’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation signed a landmark agreement with WFP to support the National School Feeding Programme. This agreement ushered in a new era of international collaboration, providing vital support and financial resources.

In May 2014, technical and steering committees were established to oversee school feeding. These included representatives from key ministries and organizations such as the Ministries of Education, Health, and Agriculture; Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA); the Jordanian Armed Forces; WFP; the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS); and SIFI.

By January 2015, a Supreme Committee was formed to design a National Sustainable School Feeding Strategy. Its mandate included coordinating and monitoring the project development and setting key goals and priorities. This Committee played a central role in creating a robust strategy to ensure effective and lasting provision of school meals in Jordan.

and National Strategy

Recognizing Jordan’s unique traditions and needs, SIFI partnered with Royal Health Awareness Society in May 2014.

The Healthy Kitchen project

In March 2015, this collaboration led to the launch of a pilot mini-bakery project, Healthy Kitchen, in Madaba.

Establish industrial kitchens

Create new jobs for women in local communities and upgrade their skills

Use locally produced ingredients to support small-scale agricultural businesses

Use of locally produced ingredients

The bakery is HACCP-certified, ensuring high safety and quality standards. Meals are freshly prepared daily and delivered to schools by the end of the third lesson.

Employment for ten women from the local community

The Healthy Kitchen bakery now provides hot meals — including pastries and locally sourced fruits and vegetables —to students in ten nearby schools

Comprehensive Evaluation

The initial phase of the initiative involved a thorough assessment of the current state of school feeding in Jordan, covering:

Infrastructure: Conditions and equipment in school canteens and kitchens

Institutional: School Feeding Programme organization and management

Legal: Policies and legal acts regulating school feeding

Financial: Programme funding and resource exploitation efficiency

Nutritional: Quality and diversity of the meals provided

This comprehensive evaluation identified critical areas for improvement, forming the foundation for developing the key directions and goals of the National School Feeding Strategy.

The findings also guided the design of pilot projects to test and implement innovative approaches, marking a significant step toward a more sustainable and effective school feeding system in Jordan.

Funding

What we achieved:

Based on our research, we proposed the following improvements to the Programme:

Assessed the actual cost of school meals based on 2014 data

Analyzed the efficiency of the existing School Feeding Programme

Identified potential funding sources and proposed strategies to secure additional funds

Optimization of spending

Introduction of new methods to enhance Programme efficiency

Evaluation and support

SIFI experts, in collaboration with Jordan Pioneers (JP) Media, developed a comprehensive three-year plan to promote healthy school meals in Jordan. The aim of this partnership is to establish a sustainable system for advocating healthy eating habits in schools.

Our efforts focus on improving students’ nutrition, fostering a culture of healthy living, and raising awareness among all stakeholders in the education process.

of promoting healthy eating habits

Engaging children, parents, teachers, and school staff.

Organizing seminars, training sessions, and masterclasses on healthy eating

Community engagement

Ensuring the quality and safety of food products

Providing a balanced and nutritious menu for students

Rational organization of school meals

Integrating healthy eating education into the school curriculum

Teaching children the principles of balanced nutrition and a healthy lifestyle

Educational initiatives

an enhanced monitoring and evaluation system

Developed a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation System for school feeding

Created a detailed operational manual for Ministry of Education staff

Conducted testing of the new system on servers at Jordan’s Ministry of Education

Integrated it into the existing Education Management Information System

for leaders and employees

Professional development is a cornerstone of creating a sustainable School Feeding Programme. We conducted training sessions for staff at both central management and local levels to equip them with essential knowledge and skills.

Analyzing individual elements

Implementing innovative methods and standards

Components of a Sustainable School Feeding Programme

Linking Programmes to educational outcomes

Improving children’s nutrition and health

Designing National School Feeding Programmes

General approaches and international practices

Main training topics

Discussions held during the training sparked new ideas for making the Programme more sustainable:

These training sessions enhanced the capacity of administrative officers and staff, contributing to the overall improvement of the School Feeding Programme and the well-being of students.

Using school plots to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits

Establishing productive partnerships with local communities

Study visit to Russia

In September 2014, a study visit to Russia was organized to exchange knowledge and experience in designing and managing school feeding programmes.

This visit provided participants with a firsthand look at successful examples of modernized school feeding systems and allowed them to learn from the advanced practices of their Russian counterparts.

Showcasing practical achievements

The primary goal of the visit was to highlight Russia's accomplishments in implementing pilot projects for modernizing school feeding systems. Participants witnessed how theoretical innovations were transformed into practical solutions, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of school meals.

Exploring school feeding models

Special attention was given to diverse school feeding models in both urban and rural settings. The participants visited standard schools, specialized school feeding centers, and regional staff training facilities. This exposure allowed them to observe a variety of approaches and techniques applied in Russian schools.

Facilitating knowledge exchange

The visit encouraged active discussions on key challenges and opportunities in school feeding. Participants shared experiences on the following topics:

• Developing a regulatory framework for school feeding
• Upgrading school kitchen and canteen equipment
• Implementing diverse school feeding models
• Securing funding and investments for school feeding initiatives
• Promoting healthy eating campaigns and nutrition education
• Increasing community involvement in school feeding initiatives

This study visit not equipped participants with new knowledge and ideas and inspired them to adopt best practices, thus paving the way for improving the school feeding system in Jordan.

Our efforts helped make Jordan's School Feeding Programme more sustainable and efficient, ensuring children have access to high-quality, affordable meals.