Global Communities to Expand School Feeding Projects in Tanzania and Madagascar

USDA awards $30 million for sustainability activities and new programming

Silver Spring, Md. – On September 21, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) selected Global Communities to expand its presence and programming through two new school feeding projects in Tanzania and Madagascar. The projects, which are funded by the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) Program, are expected to benefit more than 400,000 children in food-insecure countries in Africa with daily school meals.

“During the last two decades, [McGovern-Dole] has had a remarkable track record, benefitting more than 31 million children and families in 48 countries and providing more than 5.5 billion school meals,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a USDA press release. “The need continues today, as the global challenges of war, pandemic and climate change contribute to rising food insecurity.”

In Tanzania, Global Communities will build on more than 10 years implementing integrated school feeding in the Mara Region through the new 5-year $28.5 million project known as Pamoja Tuwalishe (“Together Let’s Feed Them” in Swahili). Pamoja Tuwalishe will focus on strengthening the capacity of program stakeholders to sustain previous McGovern-Dole program achievements in 231 targeted schools. The project will also support the rollout of the Government of Tanzania’s new National School Feeding Guidelines legislation through new programming in 120 schools in the Mara and Dodoma Regions.

In Madagascar, Global Communities will expand its presence and programming through a $1.5 million sub-award to Catholic Relief Services under its new 5-year Mavitrika Mianatra (MaMi) project, which means “to be motivated to learn” in Malagasy. MaMi will be the second McGovern-Dole project in the country, coordinating closely with Global Communities’ existing Mianatra project. Under the new sub-award, Global Communities will expand its presence to Atismo Atsinanana in the Southeast, and will lead the program’s sustainability activities, local and regional procurement activity design and strategy, and green meals approach.

Pamoja Tuwalishe and MaMi are two of 8 new school feeding projects announced by USDA, which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. USDA’S 2022 commitment includes direct financial support for the projects and funding for the purchase and transportation of 43,350 metric tons of nutrient-rich U.S.-grown commodities to be donated to the projects for use in school meals, including fortified rice, vegetable oil, corn-soy blend plus, lentils and beans. The awards also include $23.7 million for the purchase of nearly 13,000 tons of locally or regionally produced commodities, supporting producers and supply chains in the target countries, improving the nutritional diversity of school meals and contributing to the long-term sustainability of the school feeding projects.

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About Global Communities 

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 30 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. Learn more at globalcommunities.org. 

About McGovern-Dole 

Through the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service works with non-profit groups, international organizations and host governments in developing countries to reduce food insecurity, improve nutrition for vulnerable children and their families, and assist low-income, food-deficit countries with establishing successful and sustainable school meal programs. The program also aims to improve children’s health and learning capacity even before they enter school by offering nutrition and support services for pregnant and nursing women, infants and pre-schoolers.