Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Food 4 Education (F4E) provides daily meals to 436,000 children across nine counties. Each meal meets 60% to 70% of the recommended caloric dietary intake for children, twice the portion size of the average program of this type. To ensure meals meet nutritional needs, each meal has a high protein-to-carbohydrate ratio and incorporates staple foods that children enjoy.

F4E’s model integrates centralized kitchens, technology-driven meal distribution, and community engagement to reduce chronic malnutrition while strengthening their communities. Unlike similar programs where each school produces meals in its own kitchen, F4E uses centralized kitchens that then distribute meals to schools. These kitchens use eco-friendly practices, like recycling bottles and paper and passing organic waste to farms for composting.[3] These practices lead to just a 1% food wastage rate. That’s a fraction of the average wastage rate of 5% in the global food service industry and 31% in the U.S.[4].

The organization buys food in large quantities to take advantage of costs at scale, storing reserves centrally.[5] By purchasing directly from small farms, F4E provides a stable and reliable market for their produce with fair prices.[6]

F4E’s Tap2Eat system uses physical wristbands linked to a student account, which track meals for all students and contain funds from families who contribute payments. Students tap their wristbands to collect lunches, streamlining mealtime and allowing F4E to better track and forecast meal distribution.

Community members staff F4E kitchens, increasing local buy-in for the program while providing well-paying jobs. Its 4,201 employees, 79% of whom are women, earn 2.5 to 5 times the typical wage of that position in Kenya. Students’ families contribute about 15 cents per meal, less than half the average that they would otherwise pay. For those who cannot pay, F4E fully subsidizes the cost of meals. F4E treats families as customers, encouraging feedback on the program so that F4E can continually improve.

In 2023, Food for Education’s program led to a 27% increase in enrollment in early development centers and a 12% to 37% increase in enrollment in public primary partner schools, with 100% of students meeting minimum dietary diversity and nutrition goals.[7]

School feeding models that provide students with low-cost meals have been proven to address child malnutrition and improve educational outcomes. A review of studies of the model in sub-Saharan Africa shows a positive correlation between school feeding programs and educational outcomes, including attendance rates, enrollment, and academic performance.[8]

The World Food Programme’s review of school feeding programs showed significant reductions in malnutrition and anemia among children receiving school meals. Their analysis also found that programs in Kenya generate returns of up to $9 for every $1 invested due to the jobs the programs create, as well as the pivotal role school feeding programs play in building a healthy, educated population.[9]

Philanthropy covers approximately 65% of Food 4 Education’s costs. Local government covers most of the rest, with meal fees paid by parents covering a small percentage. Additional philanthropic support will enable the organization to scale its operations and expand its model to other African countries by 2030. Learn more: https://food4education.org/

Global FoodBanking Network creates, sustains, certifies, and strengthens food banks. For more guidance on food-related funding, see CHIP’s Food Funder Compass.