Table 6.
School meal provision framework table for middle-income countries.
| Ghana | Brazil | India | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aims and objectives | To tackle poverty and improve nutritional status of communities (42) To increase enrollment and attendance (42) |
To reduce the number of malnourished children and improve the rates of school enrollment (43) To address the levels of overweight and obesity (43) |
To improve the nutritional status of schoolchildren and improve enrollment and retention (44) | To contribute to the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of a nutritious meal to learners (63) |
| Policy | Provide a nutritious hot meal daily prepared using local produce to all primary and kindergarten schoolchildren in the poorest areas (42) | The Zero Hunger Project (Fome Zero) and Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer program address food security as social policy (43) | Part of policy of the Department of School Education and Literacy and the Ministry of Human Resources Development through the National Steering and Monitoring Committee (44) | Policy and guidelines formulated by the Department of Education. The Conditional Grant Framework (CGF) spells out the conditions for financing, the targeting criteria, and the meal composition (63) |
| Implementation and Delivery | Administered at the national regional and district levels. District Implementation Committee (DIC) procures food items and runs program.(42) | The national SFP implemented through the School Feeding Committee, which each municipality or state government is required by law to create (43) | The responsibility for cooking the mid-day meal and its supply is normally delegated to a group or organization such as a local women’s or mother’s self-help group, a local youth club, or a voluntary organization (44) | Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, prepares menu options. Provinces select menus based on social acceptance, availability, and cost. The central government pays service providers for the food procurement (63) |
This table compares the aims and objectives, policy and implementation, and delivery of service between middle-income countries.