World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director has pledged to increase Gambia’s school feeding programme from 160, 000 students to 300,000 students.
WFP envoy led by Yasuhiro Tsumura met Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Dr. Mamadou Tangara, in his office in Banjul.
The discussion was centered on practically increasing the intensity of school feeding programme in The Gambia. Both sides agreed to increase the coverage of school feeding programme from 160, 000 students to 300,000 students.
Foreign Minister Tangara commended the great strides registered by WFP in the area of food security and agriculture across the continent, including The Gambia.
He used the opportunity to assure Mr. Tsumura of Gambia’s participation in the virtual summit and the signing of the Declaration by the President H.E. Adama Barrow for the country to join the Global School Meals Coalition.
Briefing Foreign Minister Tangara about the work of WFP in relation to the school feeding programme, Mr Yasuhiro Tsumura said his organisation will increase the volume of school feeding programme The Gambia received from 160,000 students to 300,000 students throughout the country. He said the initiative has been supported by the Government of The Gambia by incorporating a school feeding programme in its national budget. Few African countries include school feeding programme in their national budgets, thus thanking The Gambia for the policy.
This year, there will be an increase in the coverage of school feeding programme for areas that have not been covered, he added. WFP Representative observed that with the advent of COVID-19, studies have revealed that approximately 200,000,000 students missed the school feeding programme globally.
