The project is for five years (September 1999 - July 2004) and is intended to contribute to the national development objectives as laid down in the Revised Education Policy (1998 - 2003) and the Education Master Plan (1998 - 2006). In line with the Project Review Committee directives, the project is currently undergoing budget revision to accommodate institutional feeding support for 13,500 pre-school children in day-care centres previously supported under the Community Based Food-for-Work project.

The main objectives are to improve access to schools and to increase the quality and relevance of education by, inter alia, creating an incentive for increasing enrolment, attendance and retention, especially for girls. The project targets specifically rural areas where primary enrolment, attendance and retention, particularly of girls, are low. Particular attention is place on food-insecure regions, and on the sustained participation of the communities through the Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) in the management of schools and centeens. The aim is to contribute to the Governments objectives of achieving gender equity in access to basic education as well as improving the quality and relevance of basic education.

The project is providing institutional support through the provision of breakfast and lunch to an average of 60,000 rural day primary school children each year. The commodities being provided and the ration scale used per child are: rice 80g, CSB 50g, vegetable oil 5g, peas/beans 30g. While contributing to the improvement of the nutrition, health and stamina of beneficiary children, the assistance also benefit indirectly, their parents through income transfer. The special arrangements for local purchases will also benefit women rice farmers as it accords them a secured market outlet for their produce.

Geographic Area:

The project covers the Foni districts of Western Division, and all districts of North Bank, Lower Central and Upper River Divisions.

The assistance to day-care centres will also directly benefit some 13,500 pre-school children in food deficit rural areas countrywide . Food ration in the form of breakfast and lunch is provided during the most food insecure periods of the year (May - November). While contributing to improving the health and nutrition of the attending children, the assistance also benefits their mothers through alleviation of time constraints associated with childcare and thus enable them to participate more on other productive activities for the benefit of the households. The access of girls to education is also enhanced through relieving them from taking care of younger siblings.

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