Context

This report focuses on the FY 2020-2023 US Department of Agriculture - McGovern-Dole Grant in support of WFP School Feeding Program.

The objectives of this study are to (i) establish benchmark values for all performance indicators included in the Performance Monitoring Plan; (ii) validate program design assumptions; (iii) provide program implementation analysis for the WFP on its role in establishing and implementing effective structures to support the National School Feeding Policy.

Main findings and conclusions

The reports concludes that the program is completely aligned with the Government of Bangladesh’s (GoB) national and sectoral level policies and plans, and the national and local governance structures are considered adequate. The program addresses the needs of the Government with regard to transitioning to a fully- owned national school feeding program. However, streamlining joint monitoring visits would ensure the timely review of program activities and course correction.

Developing community mobilization emerged as one of the priority areas for the project to ensure that the transition from biscuit distribution to hot meals is adapted to the local context. In particular, creating mother groups and building their capacities, developing materials on aspects such as (i) managing school meals and (ii) minimum nutrition requirements emerged as priority areas for the program.

Furthermore, it has been suggested by GoB’s officials that meetings of the Nutrition Coordination Committees are held on a monthly basis in order to facilitate nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions.

The program does not focus on collecting and reporting gender disaggregated data. The project should consider revising the program results framework and include indicators to include gender empowerment and gender equality.

In order to ensure sustainable financing, it is important that the allocation for the project is considered from the revenue budget of the Government. The project can therefore undertake advocacy with the Government for considering financing through revenue budget and providing technical assistance to the MoPME on conducting national cost analysis, cost benefit analysis and identifying alternate funding mechanisms.

Considering that the baseline study highlights adequate availability of water and sanitation facilities in schools, the end term evaluation may consider assessing the extent of improvement needed in the adoption of hygiene practices by the target group. The assessment of this indicator will help measure the impact of health and hygiene education related interventions undertaken by the project.

While there is a one-year delay in the implementation of the primary school meals project, there is no change in the willingness of the Government to move forward with its plan to implement the National School Meals Policy. A feasibility study might be considered to assess if there is a requirement to scale down the targets of the project or to follow an alternative approach to achieve targets.