A

Republic of NamibiaMinistry of Education, Arts and Culture

NAMIBIA SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY

2019

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Republic of NamibiaMinistry of Education, Arts and Culture

NAMIBIA SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY

2019

Acronyms and Abbreviation VForeword VIIAcknowledgements VIIIExecutive Summary IX

1. Introduction 11.1. A SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY FOR NAMIBIA 11.1.1 Methodology of the NSFP Policy 11.1.2 Organization of the NSFP Policy 2

1.2. BACKGROUND 21.2.1 The Economy 21.2.2 Education 31.2.3 Food and Nutrition Security 3

1.3. THE SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT 41.4 RATIONALE FOR THE SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY 5 PILLAR 1: ENHANCED SCHOOL PARTICIPATION 5 FIGURE 1: THE SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY FRAMEWORK 5 PILLAR 2: ENHANCED HEALTH AND NUTRITION 6 PILLAR 3: SUPPORT TO SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERS 6 PILLAR 4: STRENGTHENED COORDINATION AND SECTORAL LINKAGES 6

1.5 GUIDING PRINCIPLES 61.6 POLICY DIRECTION 7

2. Policy Strategy 83. Implementation Framework 103.1 ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME 103.2 TARGETING 103.3 THE SCHOOL MEAL 103.4 SCHOOL FEEDING INFRASTRUCTURE 103.5 FOOD STORAGE, HANDLING AND PREPARATION 113.6. COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES 113.6.1 Health, Hygiene and Nutrition Education 113.6.2 Water and Sanitation 113.6.3 Micronutrient Supplementation 113.6.4 Control of worm infestation in children 123.6.5 HIV and AIDS Education 123.6.6 School gardens 123.6.7 Psychosocial Support 12

4. Policy Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation 134.1 COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT 134.2 DECENTRALISATION OF NSFP FUNCTIONS 144.3 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS 154.3.1 Role of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture 154.3.2 Role of divisions and units in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture 154.3.3 Roles at decentralised levels 174.3.4 Roles of other ministries 174.3.5 Partnerships 19

4.4 RESOURCE MOBILISATION 204.5 MONITORING AND EVALUATION 204.6 ADVOCACY AND DISSEMINATION 20

5. Conclusion 21 ANNEX 1: BENEFITS OF THE SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY 22 ANNEX 2: BIBLIOGRAPHY 23

CONTENTS

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AU African Union

AUC African Union Commission

CAADP Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme

CESA Continental Education Strategy for Africa

COHA Cost of Hunger in Africa

CSO Civil Society Organisation

DATS Advisory and Training Services

DSPS Special Programs School Division

UNECA UN Economic Commission for Africa

ECD Early Childhood Development

EFA Education for All

ETSIP Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme

EMIS Education Management Information System

FAO Food Agriculture Organisation

FENSI Friends of Education in Namibia Special Initiative

FNSMS Food and Nutrition Security Monitoring System

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GHI Global Hunger Index

GNI Gross National Income

GRN Government of the Republic of Namibia

HDI Human Development Index

HIV/AIDS HumanImmunodeficiencyVirusandAcquiredImmuneDeficiencySyndrome

HPP Harambee Prosperity Plan

HPSI Health Promoting School Initiative

HGSF Home Grown School Feeding

LMIC Lower Middle Income Country

MDGs Millennium Development Goals

MoEAC Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture

MOF Ministry of Finance

MOHSS Ministry of Health and Social Services

MPAT Management Planning, Appraisal and Training

MAWF Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry

NAB Namibian Agronomic Board

NAR Net Attendance Ratio

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

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NAFIN Namibian Alliance for Improved Nutrition

NDHS Namibia Demographic Health Survey

NamVAC Namibia Vulnerability Assessment Committee

NASIS Namibia School Feeding Information Management System

NDP National Development Plan

NDP4 Fourth National Development Plan

NDP5 Fifth National Development Plan

NPC National Planning Commission

NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development

NHIES Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey

NER Net Enrollment Rates

NSFP Namibian School Feeding Programme

OVC Orphans and Vulnerable Children

PCD Partnership for Child Development

PQA Directorate of Programmes and Quality Assurance

SDGs Sustainable Development Goals

SABER System Approach for Better Education Results

SACMEQ Southern and Eastern African Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality

SME Small and Medium-sized Enterprise

TIPEEG Targeted Intervention Programme for employment and Economic Growth

UPE Universal Primary Education

UN United Nations

UNCRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

UNTAG United Nations Transitional Assistance Group

UNU United Nations University

UMIC Upper Middle Income Country

UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund

WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

WFP World Food Programme

WHO World Health Organisation

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TheGovernmentoftheRepublicofNamibiaiscommittedtoensurequalityandinclusiveeducationforallchildren.SchoolFeedingProgrammeis one of the vehicles that has been embraced by the Government to contribute towards the achievement of the vision of education for all Namibianchildren.Namibia’scommitment to theSustainableDevelopmentGoals (SDG2–EndingHunger;SDG4onEquitableQualityEducation) and its adherence to several continental education protocols and the existence of a supportive national policy environment, serves tostrengthenitszealtoinvestinprogrammessuchasschoolfeedingthathelppromoteeducation.Sinceitsinceptionin1991,theschoolfeedingprogrammehasquadrupledinsizetoreachover330,000learnersin1,400schoolsinall14regionsofNamibia.Thisrepresentsacoverageof80percentofallpre-primaryandprimaryschoolsinthecountry.

TheSchoolFeedingPolicyprovidesaframeworkthatwillstrengthentheefficientandeffectivemanagementofschoolfeedinginNamibia.Theguidelinesandtheclarificationofdifferentrolesandresponsibilityarticulatedinthepolicywillimprovecommunication,coordinationandoverallprogrammedelivery.

ThegoalofthispolicyistoprovideaframeworkforimprovingaccesstoqualityandinclusiveeducationforallchildreninNamibia,deliveredbyaschoolfeedingprogrammethatpromotestheconsumptionoflocallyproducedfoodfromsmallholderproducers;enhanceshealthandnutrition of learnerswhile providing social protection to beneficiary households.This policy seeks to contribute to food security, povertyreductionandlocaleconomicdevelopment,andprovidesguidanceonhowtoaddressshort-termhungeramongschoolchildren.Toensuresustainability, the policy provides for linkages between school feeding and smallholder farmers in order to access locally produced foods, supportingnotonlythebeneficiarychildrenbutalsothedevelopmentofmarketsandthelivelihoodsofsmallholderproducers.Owingtothesignificanceofschoolfeeding,thepolicytouchesontheexpansionofschoolfeedingtosecondaryschoolsandEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentCenters(ECDs).Italsohighlightsthesignificanceofhavingconducivelearningenvironmentswithadequatewaterandsanitationfacilitiestopromotegoodhealthandhygieneinschoolsaswellassuitablephysicalinfrastructureforcookingandeating.Itre-echoestheimportanceofinter-sectoralcoordinationasacriticalfactorinthesuccessofschoolfeeding.

Thispolicywasdevelopedthroughanextensiveliteraturereviewcoupledwithwidespreadnationalandsub-nationalconsultations.Across-sectionofactorsandentitieswereconsultedtoprovidetheirviewsonwhattheyenvisagedtheNamibianSchoolFeedingPolicytoaddress.Atthesub-nationallevel;schools,parents,learners,localleaders,privatesectoractorsandregionaldirectorateswereconsulted.Whileatthenationallevel,discussionswereheldwithvariousMinistries,UNAgencies,CivilSocietyandtheprivatesector.Alltheinputfromthedifferentstakeholdersresultedinawell-roundedandconceptualizeddocument.

As school feeding becomes increasingly engraved as one of the important safety net programmes in Namibia, the Ministry will look to integrate innovativemeansofimprovingitsdeliveryandmanagement.WorkwiththeprivatesectorwillbeenhancedundertheframeworkoftheFriendsofEducationinNamibiaSpecialInitiative(FENSI),aswilleffortstoincreasetheparticipationofcommunities,civilsocietyandotheractorsinschool feeding.Asustainableschool feedingwill require thatwework togetherwithallactors tooptimizeourrespectiveexpertiseandresourcesinordertoensureabetterlearningenvironmentandprovideequalopportunityforourchildrentoattainqualityeducation.

Hon. Katrina Hanse-HimarwaMinister of Education, Arts and Culture

FOREWORD

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The development of the Namibian School Feeding Policy went through a rigorous consultative process with various stakeholders at the nationalandsub-nationallevel.Thepolicywassubjectedtoastakeholdervalidationexercisetoensurebothrelevanceandadequacyofthepolicy.ThispolicywillhelpconsolidatecollectiveeffortsbyallrelevantstakeholderstostrengthentheimplementationofschoolfeedinginNamibia, resulting in a programme that is well coordinated and that ensures all learners in pre-primary and primary schools, especially those fromvulnerablecommunities,benefitfromanutritiousschoolmealeachschoolday.

Sincereappreciationgoes to thecoordination team from theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulture (MoEAC):Ms.EddaBohn:DirectorProgrammeandQualityAssurance(PQA),forherleadershipduringthisprocesssupportedbyMsJoyMamili:DeputyDirector,Management,Planning,AppraisalandTraining(MPAT),PQA.

UtmostappreciationgoestoMs.JenniferBitonde:CountryRepresentative(former)ofWorldFoodProgramme(WFP),Namibiaforheroverallcoordinationandguidanceintheformulationofthispolicy;Mr.BaimankaySankoh:CountryRepresentativeofWFP,forfollowingthroughthecompletionofthepolicy;Dr.SithabisoGandure:WFPConsultantfordraftingthepolicy;Ms.JoyMamili:DeputyDirector,MPAT,PQADirectorate,MoEAC,forhertechnicalsupportandparticipationinthefieldlevelconsultations;Ms.AgnesMukubonda:SeniorAdministrativeOfficer,MPAT,PQA,MoEACforparticipation infield levelconsultations.Further,werecognize thesignificant roleplayedby theRegionalDirectoratesofEducation,Circuits,SchoolBoards,Parents,SchoolPrincipalsandteachersaswellaslearnersduringtheconsultationphaseofthepolicy.

Specialrecognitionfortechnicalsupport,guidanceandadministrativecoordinationgoesto:Mr.ElvisGonzaOdeke,ProgrammeCoordinatorforSchoolFeeding,WFPNamibiaattachedtoPQA,MoEACaswellasMs.GloriaKamwi,ProgrammeOfficerinchargeofSocialProtection,theCommunicationsandAdministrationteamatWFP.Finally,appreciationtotheNationalPlanningCommissionfortheirtechnicalguidanceduring the policy formulation and approval process. Lastly, we greatly acknowledge and appreciate the technical support and overallcoordinationbytheUNWorldFoodProgrammetowardsthecompletionofthisveryimportantinitiative.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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I. IntroductionThispolicylaysdownthemandate,goalandobjectivesofschoolfeedinginNamibiaandestablishestheprinciplesgoverningtheplanning,implementation andmanagement of theNamibianSchool FeedingProgramme (NSFP). It sets out the roles and responsibilities of keystakeholders inGovernment,privatesector,civilsocietyandthelocalcommunities.Theover-archinggoalofthepolicy istocontributetoimprovedequitableaccess,quality learningandeducationforallchildren inNamibia. Itestablishesschool feedingasasignificantsafetynet, that addresses hunger especially for food insecure households and lays emphasis on the role of school feeding in addressing health andnutritionoflearnersthroughtheprovisionofadiversifiednutritiousdiet,whichcontributestotheirabilitytoconcentrateinclass.Inthelong term, it has the potential to contribute positively to strengthening the human development capacity of the nation by improving education, increasingchancesofchildrenattainingrewardingemploymentandsignificantlyreducingsocio-economicinequalities.

To ensure sustainability, the policy advocates for the linkage of the NSFP to locally produced foods thereby bringing diversity to school meals while increasing income for smallholderproducers.Thespecificobjectivesof thepolicyare: (1)Enhanceaccess, retentionand learningoutcomesthroughtimelyaccesstodiversenutritiousfoodinschools;(2)Enhancenutritionandhealthoflearnersthroughprovisionofbalancedand fortifiedmeals; (3) Support smallholder producers by linking them to theNamibia School Feeding Programme and; (4) Strengthencoordinationandsectorallinkagesinthemanagement,implementationandmonitoringoftheNamibiaSchoolFeedingProgramme.

This policy situates the NSFP within international best practices and agreements and within regional and national strategic frameworks such asNamibia’sVision2030,NationalDevelopmentPlans(NDP1,2,3,4and5),theHarambeeProperityPlan(HPP)andtheNamibianZeroHunger Strategy and Roadmap, as well as other national policies especially those relating to education, poverty and social safety nets, food andnutritionandvulnerablechildren.Theseframeworkscollectivelyadvocatefortherightofachildtoeducationandrecognizeschoolfeedingasakeydriverofincreasingaccesstoeducation,especiallyforchildrenfromvulnerablecommunities.In1994,theGovernmentofNamibiaandWFPcarriedoutanimpactstudyonschoolfeedingthatrevealedpositiveimpactsofschoolfeedingineliminatingabsenteeism;improvingconcentration,overallschoolattendance,andpassingrates.Today,teachersattesttothepositivebenefitsofschoolfeedingonattendanceandconcentrationlevelsoflearnersowingtotheexpansionofschoolfeedingwhichnowreachesover330,000learnersinall14regions,covering80%ofchildreninneed.

2. Policy StrategiesTheobjectivesoftheschoolfeedingpolicywillbeattainedthroughnumerousstrategiesasoutlinedbelow.Thesestrategieswillbeimplementedin close collaboration and coordination with relevant stakeholders within Government, UN agencies, Civil Society, the private sector and the schoolcommunitythrough collaborative efforts with the MoEAC. The policy Implementation Action Plan (2019-2024) will guide the execution of the

policy. The MoEAC will take a lead in coordinating the implementation of these strategies and ensuring robust systems to monitor, account and

reporton the progress of their implementation to stakeholders.

Atotalof13strategieshavebeenidentifiedtodrivetheimplementationofthispolicy.

Under policy objective 1:Enhanceaccess,retentionandlearningoutcomesthroughtimelyaccesstodiversenutritiousfoodinschools;the followingstrategieswill guide implementation: (a)Ensure timelydeliveryof food toschools; (b)Expandandupgradeschool feedinginfrastructure;and(c)ScaleupschoolfeedingprogrammetosecondaryschoolsandEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentCenters(ECDs).

Under policy object 2:Enhancenutritionandhealthoflearnersthroughprovisionofbalancedandfortifiedmeals;thefollowingstrategieswillguideimplementation:(a)Explore/ensurethediversificationofnutritiousmealsinschools;(b)Enhancehealth,hygieneandnutritioneducationinschools;and(c)Promoteandstrengthenfoodqualityandsafety.

Under policy objective 3: SupportsmallholderproducersbylinkingthemtotheNamibiaSchoolFeedingProgramme;thefollowingstrategieswillguideimplementation:(a)Promotediversificationofschoolmealsthroughsourcingoflocallyproducedandavailablefoods;(b)Strengthenthecapacityofsmallholderproducerstosupplylocallyproducedandavailablefoodstoschools;and(c)Strengthenthecapacityofregions,circuitsandschoolstoprocurelocallyavailablefoods.

Finally, under policy objective 4: Strengthen coordination and sectoral linkages in the management, implementation and monitoring of theNamibiaSchoolFeedingProgramme;thefollowingstrategieswillguideimplementation:(a)AcceleratethedecentralizationofNSFP;(b)Enhancemonitoring,evaluationandreporting;(c)Strengthenmulti-sectoralcoordinationandpartnershipsforschoolfeeding;andfinally,(d)Strengthenadvocacyforschoolfeeding.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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3. Policy Implementation, Monitoring and EvaluationTheOfficeoftheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillprovideoverallpolicyguidance,technicaloversightandcoordinationonschoolfeeding. Itwill pursueandpromotemulti-sectoral programmeswith links to agriculture,water and sanitation, health, nutrition and socialprotection.TheNSFPwillbecoordinatedandmanagedwithin theDepartmentofFormalEducation in theDirectorateofProgrammesandQualityAssurance(PQA)andtheDivisionofManagementPlanningAppraisalandTraining(MPAT).StrategicengagementsontheNSFPatthenationallevelshalltakeplacewithintheFoodandNutritionSecurityCouncil,whichischairedandover-seenbytheOfficeofthePrimeMinister.

At the regional level, school feeding will be discussed within existing platforms that have relevant key Ministries responsible for agriculture, waterandsanitation, fisheries,poverty, forestry,gender,healthandnutritionand ruraldevelopment.TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulture has delegated various educational functions to the Regional Councils, including the implementation and management of school feedingprogramme.Assuch, thepolicyadvocatesfor thedecentralizationofprocurementofschool feedingsuppliesandservicesto theregions,andschoollevel.Further,itstrivestoensurethatatleast75%offoodusedinschoolfeedingislocallysourcedfromsmallholderproducersandparticularlyfromwomengroups.

4. Roles and Responsibilities of StakeholdersThe Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture:Theimplementationoftheschoolfeedingprogrammeismulti-sectoralinnaturegivenitsdiverseneeds.Assuch,theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillplayasignificantroleincoordinatingandensuringtheparticipationofotheractorsintheexecutionoftheschoolfeedingprogramme.At thenational level, theMoEACwillprovideoverallstrategicguidanceandmanagementof theprogrammeimplementation,monitoringandevaluation,andserveastheprimarychannelofcommunicationonNSFPmatters. While the Regional Education Directorates will be responsible for overall coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of school feeding, including the procurement of school feeding supplies, Circuits on the other hand, will coordinate and supervise the implementationofschoolfeedinginandattheschoollevel,workingthroughschoolfeedingfocalpoints.Thepolicyfurtheradvocatesforanactive role of the school boards in the management of school feeding, including in the procurement of school feeding supplies, management ofmoniesraisedforschoolfeedingandstrengtheningofcommunityparticipation.Communityparticipationwillbestronglyenhancedtofosterownership.

Roles of other Ministries and Government Institutions:ThepolicystronglyadvocatesfortheactiveparticipationofotherlineMinistriesincomplementingschoolfeedingalongtheirrespectivemandates.Itemphasizestheestablishmentofstrongpartnershipsamongstdevelopmentpartners,theprivatesectorandcivilsocietyorganisations.ThepolicyalsorecognizestheimportanceofsustainablefundingasanassuranceofqualityschoolfeedingandthereforeadvocatesthewideningoftheMoEAC’sresourcebasebyengagingarangeofpartnersincludingtheprivatesectoraswellasdevelopmentpartners.

ConclusionHealthy,well-fedchildrenlearnbetter.Schoolfeedingprogrammeshelpgetchildrenintoschoolandhelptokeepthemthere,resultinginreducedabsenteeismandthroughaddressingshort-termhungerenhancecognitiveabilitiesforchildren.Inthelong-term,schoolfeedinghas the potential to contribute positively to strengthening the human development capacity of the nation, by improving the education level ofthepopulationtherebyincreasingtheirchancesofattainingrewardingemploymentandsignificantlyreducingsocio-economicdisparities.The MoEAC will coordinate the management and implementation of the Namibian School Feeding Programme, while working in close collaborationwithsisterMinistries,theprivatesector,civilsociety,regionalcouncils,UNagencies,schoolsandcommunities.Byembracinga multi-sectoral approach, this policy expands the ownership and implementation responsibilities of school feeding to all sectors hence strengtheningsectoralcommitment.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. A School Feeding Policy for NamibiaThispolicyprovides themandate,goalandobjectivesofschool feeding inNamibia. Itestablishes theprinciplesgoverning theplanning,implementation,monitoringandmanagementoftheNamibianSchoolFeedingProgramme(NSFP),andsetsouttherolesandresponsibilitiesofkeystakeholdersingovernment,privatesector,civilsocietyandthelocalcommunities.ThepolicysituatesNSFPwithininternationalbestpracticesandagreementsandwithinnationalstrategicframeworksinparticular,Namibia’sVision2030,NationalDevelopmentPlans(NDP1,2,3,4and5),theEducationAct(ActNo.16of2001)andothernationalpoliciesespeciallythoserelatingtoeducation,povertyandsocialsafetynets,foodandnutritionandvulnerablechildren.

The policy aims to improve the equitable access, improved learning and education for all children inNamibia. It provides guidance foraddressing short- term hunger among school going children and emphasises the role of school feeding as a social safety net particularly forfoodinsecurehouseholds.Further,thepolicyprovidesguidanceforimprovedhealthandnutritionoflearnersthroughtheprovisionofadiversifiednutritiousdietwhichcontributestoimprovedschoolattendance,participationandcompletion.Toensuresustainability,thepolicyprovidesforlinkagesbetweentheNSFPandlocallyproducedfoods,supportingnotonlythebeneficiarychildrenbutalsothedevelopmentofmarketsandthelivelihoodsofsmallholderproducers.

Thispolicydrawsontheextensiveinternationalandregionalsupportforschoolfeedingwhichisprovidedforinvariouspoliciesanddeclarations.Internationally,theseincludetheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChild(UNCRC),1990.Article24stateseverychild’srighttogoodqualityhealthcare,cleanwaterandnutritiousfoodwhilearticle28explainseverychild’srighttoaneducation.

TheEducationforAll(EFA)declarationoftheDakarFrameworkforAction,whichwassignedatthe2000WorldEducationForumandendorsedatthe2007DakarHigh-LevelGrouponEducationforAll,callsforintensifiedeffortstowardsschoolfeedingasanimportantmulti-sectoralapproachandsafetynetforbuildinginclusiveeducationsystems.Inaddition,schoolfeedingaddressestheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)2,4and5onendinghunger,achievingfoodsecurityandimprovednutritionandpromotingsustainableagriculture;ensuringinclusiveandequitablequalityeducationandpromotinglifelonglearningopportunitiesforall,aswellaspromotinggenderequalityandempowermentofallwomenandgirls.

Thedevelopmentofthispolicyalsofulfilsoneoftheinternationallyagreedstandardsofgoodpracticedeemedessentialforeffectiveschoolhealthandschoolfeedingprogrammes,laidoutintheSystemsApproachforBetterEducationResults(SABER).Theschoolhealthandschoolfeedingframeworks are mutually reinforcing - for example, delivery of micronutrients and deworming, provides a supportive environment for the delivery of schoolfeeding.ThisschoolfeedingpolicyisinformedbythegeneralschoolhealthframeworkandtheNamibiaSchoolfeedingSABERexerciseconductedin2012.BothframeworksprovideastrongfoundationthatstrengthensandimprovesthequalityofimplementationoftheNSFP.

Atacontinent-widelevel,schoolfeedingisreceivingincreasinglyhighlevelpoliticalsupportandcommitment.In2003,theComprehensiveAfricaDevelopmentProgramme(CAADP)andtheNewPartnershipforAfrica’sDevelopment(NEPAD)programme,raisedtheimportanceoflinkingschoolfeedingtolocalproductionandpurchasesthroughHomeGrownSchoolFeeding(HGSF).Inthisway,schoolfeedinghaspotentialforstimulatinglocaleconomiesandprovidinglocalfarmersandbusinesseswithastructuredmarketfortheirgoodsandservices. TheMalabodeclarationsignedbytheAfricanUnionin2014throughoneof itsgoal“Endinghunger inAfricaby2025”alsopromotestheconsumptionof locally produced foodsand school feedingprogrammes that source foods from local farmersandproducers.Further, inJanuary2016,AfricanMinistersofEducationadoptedtheContinentalEducationStrategyforAfrica(CESA2016-2025),astheframeworkfortransformativeeducationandtrainingsysteminAfricaandendorsedtheadoptionofHomeGrownSchoolFeedingasa“strategytoimproveeducation,boostlocaleconomiesandsmallholderagricultureandadvancetheSDGs.”Assuch,March1stofeachyearwasinstitutedastheAfricaDayofSchoolFeedingbytheAssemblyofHeadsofStateandgovernmentduringthe26thAUsummitin2016.

ThispolicyisalsoinformedbythefindingsofCostofHungerinAfrica(COHA)studiesledbytheAfricanUnionCommission(AUC)andtheNewPartnershipforAfrica’sDevelopment(NEPAD)PlanningandCoordinatingAgencyandsupportedbytheUNEconomicCommissionforAfrica(ECA)andtheUNWorldFoodProgramme(WFP)1.COHAwasinitiatedtoraisetheprofileofmalnutritioninAfricabydemonstratingthesocialandeconomicimpactofchildundernutritiononhealth,educationandlabourproductivity.Aspartofothergovernmentinterventions,this school feeding policy will contribute to addressing undernutrition and thereby assisting in reducing the costs to the health and education sectorsandtheNamibianeconomyingeneral.

1.1.1 Methodology of the NSFP PolicyThis policy was developed based on a rigorous desk review of documents ranging from national, regional and international frameworks and policiesaroundfoodsecurity,hungerandsocialprotection.Italsoentailedextensiveconsultationswitharangeofstakeholdersatthenational,regional and school level in which discussions were held with various ministries, Government institutions, Government programmes, Regional Councils, Regional Education Directorates, School Administration and Management, School Boards, parents, learners and the private sector inall14Regionsof thecountry, toestablishwhat theywished tobeaddressed in theschool feedingpolicy.Themethodsused togatherinformationincluded:Aninceptionmeetingwithkeystakeholders,keyinformantinterviews,focusgroupdiscussionsandobservation.Aftertheseconsultations,amulti-stakeholdervalidationworkshopwasheldtoreviewthepolicy.ParticipantsinthisworkshopthattookplaceinOctober2016,includedseniorofficialsoftheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulture,representativesfromlineMinistries,UNagencyrepresentatives,private sector, Institutes of higher learning, Government programmes and forums such as NAFIN, and Regional Education Directorates.

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1.1.2 Organisation of the Namibia Social Feeding Programme (NSFP) PolicyThe NSFP aims to drive interventions that relieve short-term hunger, improved health and access to education of school learners, these are interventions that are believed to have the potential to contribute positively to strengthening the human development capacity of the nation, by improving the educationlevelofthepopulation,increasingtheirchancesofattainingrewardingemploymentandsignificantlyreducingsocio-economicinequalities.

• Chapteroneprovidesthebackgroundtotheeconomic,education,andfoodandnutritionsecurityinNamibia,highlightingareflectionofwhatstatusisontheground.Inaddition,thepolicycontext,rationaleandguidingprinciplesoftheNSFPareexplainedinthischapter.

• Chaptertwopavesthepolicydirectionbynarratingthevision,mission,overallgoalandspecificobjectivesofthepolicy.

• Chapter threecaptures thepolicystrategies througha reflectionof theeligibilityand targetingmeasures forschool feedingand theprogrammeoperations.Inthischapter,thepolicyrecognizestheroleforcomplementaryservicesthatareneededtomaximizetheimpactoftheschoolfeedingprogramme,theserangesfromhealthandhygienetopsychosocialsupport.

• Chapterfourprovidesanoverviewofhowthepolicywillbeimplemented,coordinated,monitoredandevaluated.ThisgoesintohighlightingtherolesandresponsibilitiesofthevariousrelevantstakeholdersinvolvedinimplementingtheNSFP.Inaddition,thechapterendswithhowresourceswillbemobilizedtofundthepolicyinadditiontoadvocacyanddisseminationmechanismsforthepolicy.Thepolicythenendswithconclusionandbiography.

• Andfinally, thepolicyhasan ImplementationActionPlan thatoutlinesstrategies,expectedoutputsandactivitieswithcorrespondingactorsandanticipatedtimelinesofachievement.Theactivityplanisalsocosted.

1.2. Background

1.2.1 The EconomyTheNamibianeconomyhasbeengrowingsteadilysinceindependence,maintaininganaveragegrowthrateof5%peryearsince20092.Itishowever,expectedtoslackento45percentand43percentfor2015and2016respectively3 mainly due to the El Niño induced drought Nonetheless,growthisexpectedtobestrongandriseto5.9percentin2017supportedbytheminingindustry,recoveryoftheagriculturesectorandstrongerperformancefromtheserviceindustries.Namibiaisclassifiedasanupper-middleincomecountrybutwithaGinicoefficientestimatedat0.5971,thecountrymanifestsoneofthemostunequalincomedistributionsintheworld.4

Significant progress has beenmade in reducing poverty over the past decade, although the outcomes are uneven across the country.Povertydeclinedsignificantlybetween2001and2011from37.9percentto26.9percentwithalargestdeclineunderseverepovertyfrom23percentto15.3percent5largelyduetothecountry’scomprehensivepolicyonsocialsafetynets.Povertyisstilldeepandwidespread,largelyconcentratedintheruralareasat26.9percentcomparedto10percentinurbanareas.ItisalsoestimatedthatoneinthreechildreninNamibiagrowupinhouseholdsthatarepoorandofthe15.3percentofthepopulationinseverepoverty,18.3percentarechildren6.PovertyhaslonglastingimpactsonthelivesofchildreninNamibiaparticularlyintermsoftheirhealthandeducation.Theimpactofpovertyalsoextendstothechildren’semotionalandpsychosocialwell-being.

TheNamibianGovernmenthasmadesignificantachievementsinaddressingtheoverallsocialandeconomicdimensionsofhealth,educationandimprovingpeople’sgeneralstandardsofliving.Itisforthisreason,thatNamibiahadaHumanDevelopmentIndexof0.628in2014,whichisanincreasefromthe0.578recordedin1990,andwasranked126thoutof188countries.7 This means that Namibia has made impressive improvementsinaccesstohealthandlifeexpectancy,whichisnowestimatedat64.8years.Accesstoeducation,however,hasgrownataslowerrate.Theadultmeanyearsofschoolingof6.2arestilllowandareflectionofacountrythatlacksasufficientlyeducatedworkforce.Unemploymenthasremainedhighat28.1percentandtendstobeconcentratedamongsttheyouth(15–34years)at39percentandwomenat32percentcomparedto24percentamongmen.

Although,Namibia’seconomicgrowthhashelpedcontributetopovertyreduction,theeffectshavebeenuneven.Vision2030andtheNationalDevelopmentPlans(NDPs)arethemainvehiclesforbringingpositivechangeintheeconomyandpeople’swell-being.Sinceindependence,theGovernmentoftheRepublicofNamibia(GRN),hasimplementedanumberofinterventionstargetedatemploymentcreationandeconomicgrowthsuchastheTargetedInterventionProgrammeforEmploymentandEconomicGrowth(TIPEEG2011/12-2013/14)whichparticularlyfocusesonyouthemployment.

Further, Namibia has one of the most comprehensive social safety net programmes in Southern Africa meant to address poverty and inequalities.Withinthiscontext,theschoolfeedingpolicycontributestovariousinitiativesandespeciallythoseaimedatpovertyreduction,employmentcreationandrevitalizationoflocalmarkets.

1 The World Bank2 Bank of Namibia Economic Outlook3 MinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulture(2013);SectorPolicyonInclusiveEd4 NationalStatisticsAgency,2013:2009/10NationalHouseholdIncomeandExpenditureSurvey(NHIES)5 NamibiaPovertyMapping,20156 NationalStatisticsAgency,2013:ChildPovertyinNamibia–aChildCentredAnalysisoftheNHIES2009/10 7 HumanDevelopmentReport,2015

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1.2.2 EducationNamibia’scommitmenttoimprovingeducationisclearlyreflectedintheconstitutionandattendantpolicies.Educationisarightandprimaryschoolattendancecompulsoryandfreeuntilcompletionofsecondarylevels.Investmentineducationhasbeenveryhighwiththeshareofeducationinthenationalbudgetbeingconsistentlyoneofthehighestatabout22percent.Theseinvestments,whichhaveenabledprovisionofbasicschoolinfrastructureandlearningmaterialsaswellasschoolfeeding,haveledtotheattainmentofhighlevelsofaccessatprimarylevel.

Theprimarynetenrolmentratein2012forGrade1-7wasveryhighat99.7%8.However,thehighlevelofaccessatprimaryschoolisnotreflectedatthesecondarylevel.Thereisatrendofnon-retentionofprimary-phaselearnersthroughtothesecondaryphase,wherethenetenrolmentwas57.8%in20129.Survivalratessuggestthat40%ofgirlsand39%ofboysreachedgrade12in201210.NetEnrolmentRates(NER)are lower in rural areas thanurbanareas; generally, increasewith increasingwealthof householdbut showanevendistributionbetweenboysandgirlsreflectinggenderparityatbothprimaryandsecondarylevelsthroughoutthecountry11.Inadditiontoenrolment,theextenttowhichlearnersattendschoolregularlyandconsistentlyisimportantforacademicachievement.TheNetAttendanceRatios(NAR)forprimaryandsecondarylevelsalsodisplayssimilarhighlevelsof90%inprimaryandlowlevelsof50%insecondary12.

Non-retention of learners in secondary levels is a challenge for the country as it means more children are dropping out or do not have access atthislevel.Thereislittledrop-outbeforegrade7butitincreasesstronglyingrade8andagainingrade10withthefrequencyhigherforboysthan girls13.Thisshowsthatagrowingnumberofadolescentsareoutofschoolandthoseofseniorsecondaryschoolage(17-19years)arealmosttwicemorelikelytobeoutofschoolthanthoseinjuniorsecondary(14-16years).Thosemostlikelytodropoutaretheeducationallymarginalised children affected by physical location and distance to school, orphans, children affected and impacted by HIV/AIDS, children with special needs, children in informal settlements, children living and working on the street and teenage mothers14.DespitethelearnerpregnancypolicyinNamibia,manyschoolgirlsstilldropoutduetopregnancy.Dailyschoolmealsaregenerallyastrongincentiveforchildrentoremainatschool.

Relatedtohighdrop-outs,arehighrepetitionrates(18%,21%and30%)observedamonggrade1,5and8respectively15.Girlswerefoundtohave lowerrepetitionratesthanboysuptograde8while thesituationwasreversed in thehighergrades.High levelsofdrop-outandrepetition reflects a system that is strugglingwith providing quality education and poses significant financial and education costs to theNamibianeconomy.AccordingtoSouthernandEasternAfricanConsortiumforMonitoringEducationQuality(SACMEQIII)results,thegeneralcompetenceleveloflearnersisstilllowcomparedtoothersouthernandeasternAfricancountries.Besidespoverty,thequalityofeducationisinfluencedbyotherdiversesocio-economicandculturalfactorsincludingprotectingchildrenfromviolence,exploitationandabuseandhavinglearners who are healthy and well-nourished and ready to learn and develop skills in areas such as gender, health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS16.In response, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture put in place a number of strategies to guide implementation of programmes aimed at providingholisticqualityeducation.AmongthesearetheStrategicandAnnualPlans,thenationalschoolsafetyprogramme,theintegratedschoolhealthprogrammeandtheEducationandTrainingSectorImprovementProgramme(ETSIP)whichhavebeenimplementedwithgreatsuccessincertainareasoftheeducationsystem.

The expansion of school feeding is included in the ETSIP in component four on meeting the needs of orphans and vulnerable children, in the sub-programonHIVandAIDS.Asearlyas1994,theimpactstudyconductedbytheGovernmentofNamibiaandWFPhighlightedthepositiveimpactofschoolfeedingonchildrenaged17.Thestudyrevealedpositiveimpactsofschoolfeedingintermsofeliminatingabsenteeism,improvingconcentration,overallschoolattendance,andpassingrates.Today,teachersattesttothepositivebenefitsofschoolfeedingonattendanceandconcentration levelsof learners.Assuch, thegovernmenthas trebled thesizeof the leanersduring thepast5years toover330,000recordedinMay2016,covering80%ofchildreninneed.Hence,schoolfeedingisanimportantinterventionfortheMinistryof Education, Arts and Culture that contributes to optimal learning and helps ensure that children who attend school remain healthy and participateproductively.Thisschoolfeedingprovidesaframeworkforincreasingaccesstofoodasameanstoenhanceschoolattendanceandretentionoflearners.

1.2.3 Food and Nutrition SecurityThe food security situation in Namibia is characterised by extreme variability in levels of food production, dependency on large volumes of food imports, disparity in household income levels, high food prices and high levels of child undernutrition18.Foodinsecurityisalsolinkedtostructuralpovertycompoundedbyrecurrentnaturaldisasterswithcyclicaldroughtsandfloodsseverelyaffectingpeople’slivelihoods.In2016/2017seasondue to theElNiñophenomena, theNamibiaVulnerabilityAssessmentCommittee (NamVAC)estimated that729134peoplewereinneedoffoodandlivelihoodassistancecomparedtoanestimated578480peoplein2015/2016season.In2016,NamibiahadaGlobalHungerIndex(GHI)scoreof31.4thatindicatesa‘seriousfoodproblem’andwasranked103th out of 118 countries assessed19.Thisisshowingaworseninghungersituationduetothegrowingprevalenceofundernourishmentobservedsince2000.

8 MinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulture(2013):SectorPolicyonInclusiveEd9 ibid10 1EMIS2012,table3211 UNICEF,2014:RegionalEducationAnalysisforNamibia12 NamibiaDemographicHealthSurvey,201313 UNESCO,2015:SchoolDrop-OutandOut-of-SchoolchildreninNamibia:ANationalReviewDecember2015 14 Namibia’sNationalPolicyOptionsforEducationallyMarginalisedChildren(2000)15 UNICEF,2011:ImprovingQualityandEquityinEducationinNamibia:ATrendandGapAnalysis16 UNICEF,2000:DefiningQualityinEducation17 UNICEFandMinistryofBasicEducationSportandCulture,2002:EducationallymarginalizedChildreninNamibia:AnInventoryofPrograms, InterventionsandDatahttp://wwwstreetchildrenresourcesorg/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/educationally-marginalised-namibiapdf

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Undernutritioniscausedbyanumberoffactorsbutthemostimmediateisinadequateintakeoffoodintermsofeitherquantityorqualityofnutrients, as well as poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illnesses, or a combination of these factors20.Alackofaccesstoadequate,diversifieddietandinfectionresultinvariousformsofnutritionproblems.Foodinsecurity,poorhygieneandsanitationandlackofaccesstohealthcarearepartoftheunderlyingcausesofmalnutrition.Malnutritioninearlychildhoodresultsintostuntingthataffectscognitivedevelopment, low intelligent quotient and poor academic performance. In the school going children, poor nutrition affects concentration,attendanceandacademicperformance.

Thebasicdiet inNamibia is inadequate in termsofdiversityandquality; the insufficiency includesbothmacronutrientssuchasprotein,fatsandcarbohydratesaswellasmicronutrientslikeiron,vitaminA,zincandiodine.Therefore,interventionssuchasschoolfeeding,foodfortification,dietarydiversificationandmicronutrientsupplementationareessentialinmitigatingtheoccurrenceofmalnutritioninchildren.

TheGovernmenthasputinplaceanumberofmeasurestoimproveagricultureproductivityparticularlyofsmallholderfarmers;improvefoodaccessandaddressnutrition challenges.These range from researchanddevelopmentof drought resistant cropand livestock varieties;fortificationinitiatives;implementationoftheGreenSchemeProgrammeandothers.Toaddressmalnutritioninparticular,NamibiajoinedtheScalingUpNutritionmovementin2011followingtheformationoftheNamibiaAllianceforImprovedNutrition(NAFIN).Multiplemicronutrientsupplementation programmes have been delivered to address micro-nutrient deficiency among children. Through the school-feedingprogramme,childrenalsohaveaccesstofoodfortifiedwithmicro-nutrientsnecessaryfortheirgrowthandwell-being.

ThisschoolfeedingpolicyenhancesandstrengthensongoinginitiativesthatareintendedtoensurefoodandnutritionsecurityinNamibia.Tostimulate agriculture production and improve access to food, the policy establishes and recommends pathways for linking school feeding to smallholderfarmers,ensuringthemaguaranteedmarketandincomeflow.Thislinkageprovidesforasourceofdiversifiedfoodfortheschoolfeedingprogrammeatlocallevel.Further,thepolicyprovidesmechanismsandguidelinesfortheprovisionofnutritiousmealsrichinmicro-nutrientsincludingvitaminA,iodineandiron,thusimprovingthelearningabilitiesofchildren.Adolescentsandespeciallygirlswhoareatriskofmicro-nutrientdeficienciesandkeytoreversingthecycleofhungerandmalnutritionreceivespecialattentioninthispolicy.Hence,thepolicygivesguidanceforextendingNSFPtosecondaryschoolssothattheadolescentsarecovered.

1.3. The School Feeding Policy in the Context of National Policy DevelopmentThenationalSchoolFeedingPolicyissupportedbyvariousnationalpolicydocumentsthatadvocateforschoolfeeding.Article95,sectionjoftheconstitutionoftheRepublicofNamibiadefinesasoneofitsprinciplestheneedforadoptingpoliciesaimedat“consistentplanningtoraiseandmaintainanacceptablelevelofnutritionandstandardoflivingoftheNamibianpeopleandtoimprovepublichealth.”Similarly,Vision2030,foresees,“Ahealthyandfood-securednation.”Onthisbasis,theNationalDevelopmentPlans(NDP1,2,3,4and5)emphasiseenhancedqualityoflifeensuringthatallNamibiansenjoyahighstandardofliving.NationalDevelopmentPlan5,inparticular,advocatesforthereformationandexpansionofschoolfeedingprogramme.The1995foodandnutritionpolicyforNamibiaalsorecognisedtheroleoftheschoolfeedingprogrammeinimprovingaccesstofoodtochildreninschools.Thispolicyisalsoinlinewiththe2015NamibiaAgriculturePolicyobjectives,thatseekstoincreaseincomesandimprovehouseholdfoodandnutritionsecurity,aswellaspromotefoodsafety. ManyofthefoodandnutritioninsecuritychallengesinNamibiaarelargelyaresultofpovertyexacerbatedbyclimaterisks.ExtremeeventssuchasdroughtsareendemicinNamibiaandcausesignificantimpactsonpeople’slivelihoods.ThroughtheNationalDroughtPolicyandStrategyof1997,theGovernmentpromotesschoolfeedingasasocialandnutritionsafetynetandpledgesfinancialsupportforscalinguptheNSFPduringdroughtemergencies.TheEducationSectorPolicyonOrphansandVulnerableChildrenof2006notesthatpoornutritionamongschoolchildren isamajorcontributingfactor to learningperformanceandacknowledgestheNSFPasan idealvehicleforsupplementinglearners’nutrition,allowingthemtobenefitfullyfromeducationalopportunities.

TheNationalPolicyOptionsforEducationallyMarginalisedChildren,2000acknowledgesthatlearners,whowalkalongdistancetoschool,oftenwithouthavingeatenanybreakfastbeforeleavinghomeinthemorning,finditdifficulttoconcentrateonschoolworkduringtheday,andseestheschoolfeedingprogrammeasthemainincentiveforchildrenfrompoorfamiliesattendingschool.TheNationalPolicyforSchoolHealth,2008providesforaComprehensiveSchoolHealthProgrammethatrecognisestheimportanceofschoolfeedinginrelievingshort-termhungerandbeingasourcefornutritiousmeals.

Similarly, theNationalPolicyonHIV/AIDSfor theEducationSector,2001callsonHeadsofEducational Institutionswherenecessary, tofacilitate the access ofOrphans andVulnerableChildren to school feeding schemes. Likewise, theNationalPlan ofAction forOrphansandotherVulnerableChildren (2006-2010) requires theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureand theMinistryofGenderEqualityandChildWelfare toensureadequateprovisionofmeals toOrphansandVulnerableChildren (OVC)attendingschoolsandEarlyChildhoodDevelopment.Namibia’sNationalAgendaforChildren(2012-2016)has,asitsfirstkeycommitmentthat“allchildrenarehealthyandwellnourished.”Oneoftheprioritystrategies(2.2.7)isthereforeto,“Expandandimprovethequalityofschoolfeedingprogrammes.”Thisschoolfeedingpolicythereforepromotesgoodhealthandnutritioninschoolsandinparticular,amongvulnerablegirlsandboys.

18 GovernmentofNamibia,2016:TheFoodandNutritionSecurityStrategicReviewReport19 IFPRI,2016:2016GlobalHungerIndexReport20 DFID,2011:Theneglectedcrisisofundernutrition:Evidenceforaction

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TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureMinisterialstatementofintentinMay2015enteredacontractandpromisetothepublicforthenextfiveyearsinwhichtheMinisterprioritisedexpansionandimprovementoftheschoolfeedingprogrammeasameansforenhancingaccesstoeducationinNamibia.Morebroadly,theschoolfeedingpolicycontributestotheGovernment’sstrategyforendinghungerandachievinginclusiveeconomicgrowththroughcreationofmeaningfulemploymentandreducingincomeinequalities.Assuch,thecontributionofschoolfeedingtoavisionofaNamibiawithouthungeriselucidatedinthecountry’sZeroHungerRoadMap(2016-2020)forthenextfiveyears.

Similarly,theHarambeeProsperityPlan(HPP),launchedinMarch2016emphasisestheimportanceoftargetedsafetynetsincludingschoolfeedinginaddressinghungerandpoverty.

1.4. Rationale for the School Feeding PolicyTheschoolfeedingpolicydefinesNamibia’slongtermapproachtoschoolfeeding.Intheimmediateperiod,schoolfeedingrelievesshort-termhungerandcontributestoimprovedhealthofschoollearnersandtheiraccesstoeducation.Inthelongterm,ithasthepotentialtocontributepositively to strengthening the human development capacity of the nation, by improving education level of the population, increasing their chancesofattainingrewardingemploymentandsignificantlyreducingsocio-economicinequalities.Themainbenefitsofschoolfeedingaregroupedintofourpillarsandreflectedinfigure1toinclude:

PILLAR 1: ENHANCED SCHOOL PARTICIPATIONAccess to food by children enrolled in school and particularly, those who are poor and food insecure, alleviates their immediate hunger thereby increasingtheirconcentrationandattentionspan.Thiscontributestoimprovedschoolparticipationintermsofenrolmentandattendanceaswellaslearningachievementandcognitivedevelopment.Studieshavefoundparticularlystrongassociationbetweenschoolfeedingandnetprimaryschoolattendance.Evidencehasshownthatschoolfeedinghelptogetchildrenintoschoolandhelpstokeepthemtherethroughenhancing enrolment and reducing absenteeism and once in school, they contribute to their learning achievement and cognitive abilities21.Therearepotentialbenefitsonchildren’scognitiveabilitiesandeducationalachievementwhenthefoodprovidedisfortifiedandcombinedwithdeworming22.Thispolicypromotesenrolment,attendanceandlearningachievementbyensuringtheNSFPprovidesnutritiousandbalancedmeals.Inaddition,thepolicystrengthenstheeffortstowardsintegrationofdewormingintotheschoolfeedingprogramme.Thecombinationofthesestrategieswillcontributetoimprovedacademicperformanceandeducationalattainment.

Besidesfoodaccessandeducationbenefitsforthechildren,schoolfeedinghasamultipliereffectathouseholdlevel.Schoolfeedingplaysanimportantroleasasocialsafetynetbytransferringresourcestohouseholdsofthevalueofthefoodgiventochildrenenrolledinschool.Bysodoing,schoolfeedingincreaseshouseholdfoodavailability.Actingasasafetynet,itreduceshouseholdvulnerabilityandriskbyprovidingprotection against shocks and preventing them from engaging in risky coping strategies such as selling of household or productive assets and/orwithdrawingchildrenfromschool.

ACCESS TO FOOD THROUGH SCHOOL MEALS

SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERS

Increased micronutrient

availability

Structured demand for food

Regular supply of food

Diverse nutritious food produced /

supplied

Improved smallholder productivity

Improved incomes

Improved food availability

Improved food security

Immediate hunger alleviated

Improved Educational Attainment

Improved Human Capital Development

Improved Nutrition and Health

Reduced poverty and improved local economic development

Complementary Services: School health and nutrition education, hygiene, water and sanitation, deworming, HIV/AIDS education, micronutrientsupplementation,gardens,phsycosocialsupport.

Improved cognitive abilities

Decreased Illness

Increased school participation

Increased concentration & learning, increased grade progression, reduced drop outs

Enhanced school enrollment

& attendance

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PILLAR 2: ENHANCED HEALTH AND NUTRITIONNutritionalandhealthstatushaveastrongbearingonachild’slearningandperformanceinschool.Researchhasshownthatchildrendeficientof certain nutrients in their diet, particularly iron and iodine, or suffering from parasitic infections or other diseases perform far less than healthy and well-nourished children23.Weakhealthandpoornutritionamongschool-agechildrendiminishtheircognitivedevelopmenteitherthroughphysiological changes or by reducing their ability to participate in learning experiences or both24.

Theschoolfeedingpolicywillaimtoenhancethenutritionandhealthoflearnersbyimprovingthediversityandqualityofdietsandprovidingfoodsthathavebeenfortifiedwithessentialmicro-nutrients.Thiswillcontributetobetterhealthandimprovedresistancetoinfectionsandsicknessesthatwouldotherwisepreventchildrenfromattendingschool.Nutritioneducationthroughexistingcurriculaisanotherimportantareaunderthispillar.Itwillprovidechildrenwiththeknowledge,skillsandmotivationtomakegooddecisionsondietandlifestylechoicesthuspromotingastrongbasisforahealthyandactivelife.Thenutritioneducationcanalsobeusedtoeducatefuturemothers(andfathers)abouttheimportanceofnutritioninthefirstthousanddaysofachild’slife.

PILLAR 3: SUPPORT TO SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERSApartfromtheeducationalandnutritionalbenefitsoflearners,evidencehasshownthatschoolfeedingcanhelpcreateastabledemandforfoodatthe local level, which in turn has multiplier effects on the local economy, food security and poverty reduction at household and community levels25.

The school feeding policy promotes the linkage of the NSFP to smallholder producers through the procurement and use of locally and domestically producedfood.Thiswillcreateaguaranteedandstructuredmarketforsmallholderproducersandinturn,willincreasetheavailabilityoflocalfreshproduceintheschoolmenu.Thereareadditionalbenefitsforallactorsinvolvedalongtheschoolfeedingvaluechainfromproduction,transportation,processing,andpreparationoffoodwhichcanincludeemploymentcreation,increasedincomegenerationopportunitiesparticularlyforwomen.

PILLAR 4: STRENGTHENED COORDINATION AND SECTORAL LINKAGESInternally, the policy lays emphasis on strengthening coordination and management of the school feeding programme, particularly within the MinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturestructuresatvariouslevels.Additionally,theschoolfeedingpolicypromotesmulti-sectoralcoordinationandbuildingofpartnerships.Itpromoteseffortstowardsmobilisationandcollaborationamongvariousschoolfeedingstakeholdergroups(e.g.government,civilsociety,privatesector,communityandtraditionalauthorities)andsectors(e.g.education,health,agriculture,water,ruraldevelopment)tojointlyachievethepolicyoutcome.Byengagingmultiplesectors,partnerswill leverageknowledge,expertise,reach,andresources,benefitingfromtheircombinedandvariedstrengthsastheyworktowardthesharedschoolfeedingprogrammegoal.TheMinistryofFinancewillbeacriticalpartnerparticularlyinensuringthesustainabilityoftheNSFP.

Effective multi-sectoral coordination and sectoral linkages will eliminate policy implementation barriers and promote policy coherence, facilitate scale-up,andincreasetheimpactoftheschoolfeedingprogramme.

1.5. Guiding PrinciplesThe School Feeding Policy upholds the principles of:

a. Accountability and transparency at all levels The school feeding programme will be implemented in a transparent manner and all stakeholders will be accountable for their role

andinputsintotheprogramme.Essential informationabouttheprogrammewillbeaccessibletoallpeopleincludingthosefrompoorandmarginalized areas and communities . The NSFP monitoring and evaluation system will be strengthened as a means of ensuringaccountabilityand transparency in the implementation of the programme at all levels. The information that the NSFP Monitoring and Evaluation

system generates will be used for raising awareness and promoting transparency and efficiency of the programme.

b. Efficientandqualitydeliveryofschoolfeedingservices Efficiencyindeliveryandprovisionofschoolfeedingserviceswillbetheresponsibilityofallstakeholdersinvolvedintheschoolfeeding

programme.Thequalityofserviceswillbebasedonhealthandnutritionstandardsthatarealignedtothenationalpolicyframeworksrelatedtohealth,nutrition,foodsafety,waterandsanitationandenvironment.

c. Socialequityandgenderconsiderations Theschoolfeedingprogrammewillcontributetosocialequityandaddressgenderandsocialinequalitiesineducationthroughcommunities,

parentsandteachers.Specialattentionwillbepaidtomarginalizedandpoorcommunitiesmakingsurethemostdisadvantagedchildrengetmost of the benefits.School feedingwill be sensitive to the needs, rights and entitlements of themost disadvantaged childrenincludingchildrenlivingwithdisabilities,thoseaffectedbyHIVandAIDS,pregnantchildrenandOrphansandVulnerableChildren.Schoolfeedingwillbebasedontheprinciplesofnon-discriminationandinclusivity.

21 Bundyetal,2009:Rethinkingschoolfeeding:socialsafetynets,childdevelopmentandtheeducationsector22 Adelman,S;Gilligan,DOandLehrerK,2008:HoweffectiveareFood-for-EducationPrograms?ACriticalReassessment23 ThePartnershipforChildDevelopment,1999:SchoolFeedingPrograms:Improvingeffectivenessandincreasingthebenefittoeducation:Aguide forprogrammanagers.24 Ibid 25 Bundyetal,2009:Rethinkingschoolfeeding:socialsafetynets,childdevelopmentandtheeducationsector

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d. Community participation and ownership Communitieswillplayanactivepartandhaveasignificantdegreeofinfluence,involvementanddecisionmakingintheimplementationof

theschoolfeedingprogramme.Thepolicywillsupportinterventionsthatpromotecommunityownershipoftheschoolfeedingprogrammeinordertodeveloptheirconfidenceandskillstosustaintheservicesdelivered.Thiswillincludewherepossible,supportinginitiativesthatcreatepartnershipswith local businesses, civil society and faith- based organisations to strengthen school feeding. Thispolicyadvocatesforinfrastructure development in schools and raises awareness of school feeding in order to generate income to complement school feeding activities.Schools will become centres of excellence for communities, which will experience the benefits of being associated with development

activities in the school setting/environment.

e. Adequatestaffingandcapacitybuilding Thepolicy seeks toensure that adequate staff is available for the implementationof the school feedingprogrammeat all levels. It

supports government and its partners to engage in robust capacity development initiatives and regular training in order to ensure that policyobjectivesareachieved.Institutionalcapacitydevelopmentwillstrengthenthemanagementoftheschoolfeedingprogrammeandenhanceservicedelivery.

1.6. Policy Direction

1.6.1 VisionTocreateanenablingenvironmentforlearningbyreducinghungeramongschoolchildren,optimisetheirhealthandnutrition.

1.6.2 MissionTosupporttheprovisionofbalancedanddiversifiedmealsatschoolsthatpromotesnutritionandhealthoflearners.

1.6.3 GoalToprovideaframeworkforimprovingschoolattendanceandretention,nutritionandhealthandlearningoutcomesofallchildreninNamibia.

1.6.4 Policy ObjectivesTheoverarchingobjectivesoftheschoolfeedingpolicyareto:

• Enhanceaccess,retentionandlearningoutcomesthroughtimelyaccesstodiversenutritiousfoodinschools.• Enhancenutritionandhealthoflearnersthroughprovisionofbalancedandfortifiedmeals.• SupportsmallholderproducersbylinkingthemtotheNamibiaSchoolFeedingProgramme.• Strengthen coordination and sectoral linkages in the management, implementation and monitoring of the Namibia School Feeding

Programme.

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2. POLICY STRATEGIES

Theschoolfeedingpolicyobjectiveswillbeattainedthroughnumerousstrategiesasoutlinedbelow.Thesestrategieswillbeimplementedin close collaboration and coordination with relevant stakeholders within Government, UN agencies, Civil Society, the private sector and theschoolcommunity.Thepolicyimplementationactionplanwillguidetheexecutionofthepolicyprovisions.TheMoEACwilltakealeadin coordinating the implementation of these strategies and in ensuring robust systems to monitor, account and report on the progress of implementationofthesestrategiestostakeholders.DifferententitiesintheirrespectivemandatedsectoralandtechnicalcapacitieswillsupporttheexecutionofthesestrategiesthroughcollaborativeeffortsandarrangementswiththeMoEAC.

POLICY OBJECTIVE 1Enhanceaccess,retentionandlearningoutcomesthroughtimelyprovisionofdiversenutritiousfoodinschools.

Strategies1.1 Ensure timely delivery of food to schools: Timeliness in delivery of food to schools is fundamental because it ensures availability of

foodforlearnersthroughouttheterm.Thefoodsupplychainwillbestrengthenedthroughrigorousmonitoringofprocurementandfooddeliveryprocessesresultingintimelydeliveryoffoodtoschools.

1.2 Expand and upgrade school feeding infrastructure:Thisstrategywill ensure thatall schoolsareequippedwith the ideal schoolfeedinginfrastructurewhichincludes:akitchenequippedwithadequatecookingstoves,eatingutensilsandastoragefacility.Theuseoffuelsavingstoves/techniquesorotherformsofenergythatareenvironmentallyfriendlyisencouraged.Schoolsareexpectedtohaveschoolfeeding infrastructure that meets the basic food safety and hygiene standards of Namibia.

1.3 Scale up School Feeding Programme to Secondary Schools and Early Childhood Development centers (ECDs): This policy recognizes thesignificanceofexpandingschool feeding tosecondaryschoolsandECDs.Assuch,assessmentswillbeundertakentoestablishtheviabilityoftheexpansion.Schoolsinfoodinsecureareaswillbeprioritizedasmostlearnersandchildrenhavelimitedaccesstofoodallyearround.

POLICY OBJECTIVE 2Enhancenutritionandhealthoflearnersthroughprovisionofbalancedandfortifiedmeals.

Strategies2.1 Ensure/explore means of diversifying school meals:Diversificationofschoolmealswillcontributetoincreaseddietarynutritionin-

takebylearners,hencecontributingtobetterhealth.Thisstrategywillincludetheintroductionofschoolgardens,purchasingoflocallyproducedfoodandengagingtheprivatesectorandthelocalcommunitytosupplementtheschoolmeal.

2.2 Enhance health, hygiene and nutrition education in schools:Thisstrategywillinclude;• Integrationofschool-ledtotalsanitationprogrammeinallschoolsbenefitingfromschool feeding.Thiswillcontributeto increased awarenessandadoptionofgoodsanitationandhygienepracticesinschoolsandinthesurroundingcommunity.

• Integrate deworming into school feeding programme as a means to address worm infestation among learners especially in areas whereprevalenceishigh.

• EnhanceHIV/AIDSEducationattheschoollevelinordertoincreaseawarenessamonglearners.Thisisparticularlycriticalgiventhe highratesofteenagepregnanciesinNamibia.

• Education and sensitization of learners on alcohol and drug abuse in order to increase the awareness of learners on the dangers of alcoholanddrugabuseatanearlystagetherebyimprovingthedecisionstheymakeinthatregard.

• Integrationofpsychosocialsupporttolearnersthatarefacedwithdifferentformsoftrauma.Thiswillhelpaddresscasesofchildren thatarefromabusivefamiliesorthoseaffectedbyfamilydiscord.

• Improvefoodpreparationandhygienestandardsinschoolsthroughcontinuoustrainingofcooksandregularmonitoringofthequality offoodpreparedforlearners.

• Ensureavailabilityofcleanandsafewater,andadequatesanitationfacilitiesinschools.

2.3 Promote and strengthen food quality and safety:Systemsthattrackandreportonfoodqualityandsafetywillbeenhanced.Thiswillbecomplementedwithregularmonitoringandtestingofthequalityoffoodatthesupplierwarehousesandattheschoolleveltoensurethatthefoodmeetstherequiredqualityspecifications.

POLICY OBJECTIVE 3SupportSmallholderproducersbylinkingthemtotheNamibianSchoolFeedingProgramme.

Strategies3.1 Promote the diversification of school meals through sourcing of locally produced and available foods: Based on a feasibility

studythatwasundertakenbytheMoEAC(2016/2017),thereisapotentialforsmallholderfarmerstosupplyschoolswithavarietyoffreshfood.Thisstrategywillsupportthedevelopmentandimplementationofapilotprojectonlinkingschoolstosmallholderproducersinlinewithrecommendationsfromthefeasibilitystudy.Additionally,schoolmealmenuswillbetailoredtolocalandnutritiousfoodpreferences.

3.2 Strengthen the capacity of smallholder producers to supply locally produced and available foods to schools: This strategy will

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supportcapacitystrengtheningofsmallholderfarmerstoproduceavarietyofsurplusfoodthatcanbesuppliedtoschools.Capacitystrengtheningactivitieswillincludetrainingoffarmersingoodagriculturalpractices,adoptionofappropriatetechnologyandmarketing.Farmerswillalsobefacilitated to access agricultural credit and quality inputs such as seeds and tools. Farmers will be encouraged to

form groups as a means of strengthening collective marketing which helps them aggregate adequate volumes of food to meet the demand

fromschools.

3.3 Strengthen the capacity of regions, circuits and schools to procure locally available food: The MoEAC is decentralizing the management of school feeding to regional offices.This strategywill support the decentralization of the procurement of food to theregions and to the school level since this brings the market closer to the communities and results in equitable distribution of marketopportunities .

School

procurement guidelines will be developed to facilitate an efficient and effective procurement process . Accountability

mechanisms

will

be established resulting in regular updates to relevant stakeholders including parents , the school boards , school management and the regional office.

POLICY OBJECTIVE 4Strengthen coordination and sectoral linkages in the management, implementation and monitoring of the Namibia School Feeding Programme (NSFP).

Strategies4.1 Accelerate the decentralization of NSFP: This strategy will ensue full decentralization of the management of school feeding to the

regional/schoollevels.Thestrategywilllayemphasisonempoweringstakeholders,particularlythoseattheregional,circuitandschoollevel,throughrelevanttraining/capacitybuildingandexposuretosuccessfulschoolfeedingprogrammesintheregion.Thiswillexpandtheirknowledgeandskillsandfacilitatetheadoptionofbestpracticesandinnovativewaysofimplementingschoolfeeding.

4.2 Enhance monitoring, evaluation and reporting: Existing mechanisms to monitor, evaluate, report and account for school feeding willbeenhanced.Web-basedreportingsystemssuchastheNamibianSchoolInformationSystem(NaSIS)willbedecentralizedtotheschoollevelandlinkedtotheEducationManagementInformationSystem(EMIS)atthenationallevel.Supplychainmanagementwillbestrengthenedthroughmorerobustmonitoringandevaluationmechanisms.

4.3 Strengthen multisectoral coordination and partnerships for school feeding: The strategy will improve partnerships and coordination for school feeding through advocating for the inclusion of school feeding as an agenda item in forums such as the Food Security and Nutrition Council and the School Health Task Force, and any other relevant forums at the Regional level and through promoting collaborationandpartnershipswithlineMinistriessuchasAgriculture,Poverty,HealthandGenderbothatthenationalandregionallevel.Furthermore, deliberate efforts will be made to engage and leverage private sector partnership for school feeding under the framework of theFriendsofEducationinNamibiaSpecialInitiative(FENSI).

4.4 Strengthen advocacy for school feeding: Healthy,well-fedchildrenlearnbetter.Schoolfeedingprogrammescanhelpgetchildreninto school and help to keep them there resulting in reduced absenteeism and through addressing short-term hunger enhance cognitive abilities forchildren.Awareness raisingof thebenefitsofschool feeding iscriticalandwill continue throughout the life-spanof theprogramme. Stakeholders ranging from the national leadership, regional Councils, School Management and Communities will beinvolvedinadvocatingforschoolfeeding.TVdocumentaries,radiotalkshows,workshops,nationalandinternationaleventssuchasthe Africa Day of School Feeding which takes place on the 1st March of each year, will continue to be used as advocacy platforms for schoolfeeding.

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3.1. Eligibility for School Feeding ProgrammeTheSchoolFeedingPolicycoversallchildrenofschoolageinNamibia.Thepolicyonallgradeseligibleforschoolfeedingwillbeasfollows:

a. Alllearnersenrolledforbasiceducationingrades0–12inpublicschoolsqualifyforschoolfeeding,irrespectiveofage,genderandsocio-economicstatus.

b. Allpre-primaryandprimarylearnersregisteredwiththeGovernmentofNamibiaareeligibleforschoolfeeding.

c. AllsecondarydaylearnersregisteredwiththeGovernmentofNamibiaareeligibleforschoolfeeding.

d. The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture will consider assisting private schools on a case by case basis taking into account learner population, needs and education indicators.

e. AstheEarlyChildhoodDevelopment(ECD)expandstocoverthemajorityofeligiblechildren,theGovernmentofNamibiawillintroduceasuitablyadaptedagesensitivefeedingprogrammetocaterfortheECDcentres.

3.2. TargetingTheSchoolFeedingPolicyappliestoallthegeographicalareasofNamibia.Thefollowingshallguidetargeting:

a. Allpublicschoolsinallthe14regionsofNamibiaareeligibletoparticipateintheschoolfeedingprogramme.

b. Allindividuallearnerswithintheschoolstargetedarefreetobenefitfromthefeedingprogrammewithanemphasisonlearnersfromfoodinsecurehouseholds.

b. Eligibleschoolswillbesupportedtomeetthefollowingminimumrequirements:

i Adequatehygiene,adequatewaterandsanitationfacilities

ii Adequatekitchenandstoragefacilitiesiii Display community commitment

d. SchoolswhichdonotmeettheminimumrequirementsgivenaboveshallbesupportedbytheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureandotherpartnerstomeetthesestandards.

3.3. The School MealChildrenatschoolshallbeprovidedwithmeals.Therationprovidedperchildshalldependonthelengthoftimethechildspendsatschool.The following shall guide the provision of meals:

a. Atleastonenutritiousmealshallbeservedperdayineachschoolbenefitingfromschoolfeeding.

b. Themealshallbesufficientinqualityandquantitytomeetthenutrientrequirementsofthechildrenbasedontheirage.

c. Mealsshallbetailoredtothelocalpreferencesofparticularregions.

d. Fortifiedfoodsshallbeusedinpreparingschoolmealstoenhancethemicronutrientvalueofthemeals.

e. The composition and nutritional content of the meals will be informed by the food and nutrition guidelines for Namibia26.Themealswillbedesignedinconsultationwithnutritionistswithknowledgeoflocalconditions,habitsandpreferencesanddependonthedurationoftheday.

f. For children that spendhalf-dayatschool,therationshallprovide30-40%ofachild’sdailycalorierequirement.Thisshallmeetthefollowingminimumenergyequivalentof:

i 480-720kcalforpre-primary

ii 600-900kcalforprimaryiii 887-1330kcal27 for secondary

g. Mealswillbeservedatmid-morning,ideallyfrom10h00to11h00.

3.4. School Feeding InfrastructureIdealstandardsofNSFPfacilitiesincludeadequateenclosedcookingshelter;coveredeatingshelterandwellventilatedseparateenclosedstoreroom.Thepolicyonschoolinfrastructurewillbeasfollows:

a. SchoolfeedinginfrastructureshallbeconstructedusingthespecificationsprovidedbyMinistryofWorksandTransport.

3. IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK

26 RepublicofNamibia,2000:FoodandnutritionguidelinesforNamibia-foodchoicesforahealthylife27 WHO,FAO,UNU,2004:HumanEnergyRequirements-ReportofaJointFAO/WHO/UNUExpertConsultation,Rome,Italy,17-24October2001.http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5686e/y5686e06htm#bm06

11

b. Everynewschoolshallbesupportedby theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureandpartners inconstructingadequate facilitiesbuilt tospecificationsin(a)abovethatwillhaveadequate,wellventilatedstoragespace,propercookingshelters,dignifiedservingandhygienicshelters.

c. ExistingschoolswillbesupportedbytheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureandpartnerstoupgradethespecifiedfacilitiesin(a)assoonaspossibleandwiththeparticipationandsupportofcommunities.

d. The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture with support from other Ministries will continue to explore alternative fuel sources as a long- termstrategyinenvironmentalconservation.

e. TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillendeavourtoimprovefoodstoragefacilitiesinanefforttominimisefoodlossesandwaste.Insituationsofcarryoverstock,arrangementswillbemadewithotherfoodbasedprogrammestoensurenofoodiswasted.

3.5. Food Storage, Handling and PreparationIn order to optimise child nutrition in schools:

a. The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture shall promote good food safety measures to minimise contamination and nutrient losses duringpreparation.

b. Thecooksshallpreparemealsonlywhentheyareinagoodhealthyphysicalconditiononthedaytheyarescheduledtowork.

c. TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillprovideregulartrainingtocooksonsafefoodhandlingandpreparationofmeals.

3.6. Complementary ServicesThispolicy recognizes thatschool feeding ismosteffectivewhen implementedwithotherservices thatsupportqualityeducation,health,hygieneandnutrition.Whencombinationsofcomplementaryservicesaredeliveredasapackage,theycanmaximisebenefitsonachild’seducationachievement.Hence,theschoolfeedingpolicyrecognisesandsupportsexistingeffortsaimedatimprovingschoolhealth,hygieneandnutritioninschoolsimplementedwithintheframeworkoftheNationalPolicyforSchoolHealth(2008).AmongtheobjectivesoftheNationalPolicy forSchoolHealth is toensure thatschoolsare implementing theHealthPromotingSchools Initiative (HPSI), toprovideeducationtowardshealthybehaviour,toincreaseawareness,preventionandtreatmentofchildhooddiseasesandtoensureregularhealthsurveillance.

3.6.1 Health, Hygiene and Nutrition EducationNutritionandhealtheducationandpromotinggoodnutritionpracticesinschoolsareknowntohavesignificanteffectinfosteringhealthyeatinghabits.Schoolsprovideanidealsettingtopromotegoodnutritionastheyreachahighproportionofchildrenandadolescentsandprovideopportunitiestodemonstrateandpracticeproductionofnutrientrichfoods,properstorage,handlingandpreparation.Theknowledgeandskillschildrenacquireatschooltricklesdowneasilytohouseholdsandcommunitylevels.Schoolscancontributetoreducingalltypesofnutritionproblems by integrating nutrition in the school curriculum and integrating health interventions such as de-worming, vitamin A supplementation intoroutineschoolactivities.Inordertopromotenutritionandhealtheducationinschools,theGovernmentwill:

a. Ensure nutrition information is integrated in the curriculum of each grade to impart knowledge and skills to children on the importance of goodnutritioninlinewiththeSchoolHealthProgrammeandtheHealthPromotingSchoolInitiative(HPSI).

b. Promote the setupof nutritiondemonstrationgardens suchas kitchen/back yardgardeningat schools.This shall enhance childrenknowledgeandskillsongrowingandconsumptionofmicro-nutrientrichfoods.

c. Promotetheproductionofdiversifiedfoodsinschoolgardensandencourageparticipationofthechildrenintheproductionofthefood.

3.6.2 Water and SanitationProperhygieneandsanitationcoupledwithaccesstocleanandsafewaterisvitalinpropergrowthanddevelopmentofchildren.CompromisedWASHinschoolsencouragesthespreadofinfectionsandparasitesthataffectthehealthandnutritionstatusofthechildren.

To promote proper hygiene and sanitation in schools, the Government will:

• Ensurethateveryschoolhasaccesstosafewaterandsanitationfacilitiestopreventthespreadofinfectionandintestinalparasites.• Ensurethetrainingofteachersandchildrenonproperhygieneandsanitation.Theinformationonhygieneandsanitationwillbeintegrated

intheschoolcurriculumtoenhanceanindepthunderstandingoftheconcepts.• Ensurepromotionofhandwashingactivitiesinschools.• Promoteestablishmentofhygieneclubsinschoolstofosterchildrenparticipationinhygieneandsanitationrelatedactivities.• Expand the School Led Total Sanitation Programme (SLTS).

3.6.3 Micronutrient SupplementationSchoolmealscanprovidebothmacronutrientsandmicronutrients–vitamins,mineralsandessentialtraceelementsnecessaryforenablingchildrendevelopphysicallyandintellectually.Micronutrientdeficiencieshaveanimpactoncognitivegrowth,learningandmentaldevelopment.Micronutrientdeficienciesshouldbeaddressedbypromotinggoodnutritionpracticesandencouragingadiversifieddietinschools.Inorderto enhance micronutrient status of children, the Government will:

a. Promotetheconsumptionoffortifiedfoodsinschoolsinlinewithnationalstandards.

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b. Supportintegrationofmicronutrientsupplementationintoschoolhealthinterventionstoeliminateallvitaminandmineraldeficienciesforallchildren.

c. Supportactivitiestowardsfoodfortificationinthecountry.

d. Promotemonitoringofthenutritionstatusofchildrenincludingtheirmicronutrientstatus.

3.6.4 Control of Worm Infestation in ChildrenIntestinalwormsinchildrenarecausedmostlybypoorhygieneandsanitationandaffecttheirhealthandeducation.Theintestinalwormsfeedonbloodandcausemalabsorptionofnutrientsresultinginirondeficiency,anaemiaandinadequatedietaryintake.Thepoornutrientintakeanddepletedironlevelsinthebodyresultinmalnutrition,poorconcentrationandattendanceinclassandreducedoverallacademicperformance.Onewayofreachingouttochildrenwithsuchinterventionsistointegratedewormingintotheschoolfeedingprogramme.Toachievethis,theGovernment will:

a. SupporttheMinistryofHealthandSocialServicestoundertakedewormingcampaignsinschools.

b. Supporttheconstructionanduseofsanitaryfacilitiesinschools.

c. Improveaccesstocleanandsafewaterinschoolsbylinkingschoolstothenationalgridandconstructionofboreholes.

3.6.5 HIV and AIDS EducationFoodsecurityandgoodnutritionarecriticalforindividuals,householdsandcommunitiesaffectedbyHIV/AIDS.SchoolfeedingisanimportantinterventionthatsupportschildrenimpactedbyHIV/AIDS.ItprovidesaneffectiveplatformforHIV/AIDSpreventioneducationinschoolsandoutreachtoparentsandotheradults in thecommunity.HIV/AIDSawarenessandpreventioneducationprovidesknowledgeandskills foraddressingbehaviouralchangesamongschoolchildrensothattheycanmakeinformeddecisions.

The policy supports initiatives on HIV/AIDS education as follows:

a. PromotionofHIV/AIDSawarenessandpreventioneducationactivitiesintheNSFP.

b. UseoftheNSFPasaplatformtosupportHIV/AIDSawarenessandpreventioneducationcampaignsbyappropriatepartners.

3.6.6 School GardensSchool gardens established near or close to schools are an important vehicle for promoting good health and nutrition.When linked toclassroomlessons,thegardensareimportantinexperientiallearning–demonstratingtochildrenhowtogrowavarietyoffoodsandraisedifferentsmallanimals.Thegardenscanalsobeasourceofdiversefreshfoods(e.g.vegetables, fruits) fortheschoolmeal.Thesimpleproductionmethodsusedcanbereplicatedathome,thuscontributingtobetterhealthandnutritionathouseholdandcommunitylevels.

In terms of school gardens, the policy supports:

a. The establishment of school gardens and the participation of children in gardening activities at school level not as labourers with production targets,butaslearnerswithlearningobjectives.

b. The use of produce from the school gardens to supplement the school feeding programme or to generate income to support school feedingactivities.

3.6.7 Psychosocial SupportAcademic

performance

of

learners

is

affected

by

both

physical

and

psychological

factors.

In

general,

many

factors

influence

the

psychological

state

of

learners,

for

example

the

death

of

a

parent,

lack

of

food,

chronic

illness

and

other

poverty

related

conditions.

Often

under

these

situations

teachers

are

able

to

identify

the

signs

of

psychological

stress

and

most

importantly

can

provide

support

to

the

affected

learners.

The

NSFP addresses not only the physical needs but also provides psychosocial support ensuring that all children are able to concentrate and learn

effectively.

The

policy

provides

for

improvement

and

establishment

of

quality

child-friendly

schools

and

addressing

psychosocial

needs

of

school

children.

28 Bundyetal,2009:Rethinkingschoolfeeding:socialsafetynets,childdevelopmentandtheeducationsector29 RepublicofNamibia,2015:MediumTermExpenditureFramework2015/16–2017/201830 TheNamibianAgronomicBoardpassedaresolutionstipulatingthatby1stApril2017,foodfortificationwillbealicenserequirementforallmillerssupplyingflourtothepublic.

c. Introduction of technologies such as hydroponics to promote the production of fresh vegetables in schools, hence promoting miro-nutrient intake by learners.

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4. POLICY IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Thissectionsetsoutthepolicyprovisionsregardingthecoordinationandmanagementstructure;decentralisationofNSFPfunctions;rolesandresponsibilitiesofstakeholders;resourcemobilisation;monitoringandevaluationoftheNamibianSchoolFeedingProgramme(NSFP).

4.1. Coordination and ManagementTheOfficeof theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillhavetheoverall responsibility formakingpolicydecisions,provideoversightandcoordinationandensure implementationof theNSFP.ThecoordinationandmanagementofNSFPwithin theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureisreflectedinfigure2.ThisGovernmentrecognisesthatschoolfeedinginvolvesanumberofcross-sectoralministriesandstakeholders.TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillleadinthepromotionofmulti-sectoralprogrammeswithlinkstoagriculture,waterandsanitation,health,nutritionandsocialprotection,ensuringeffectivecoordinationoftheNSFP.

FIGURE 2: Coordination and Management Structure of the NSFP

Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture

Sub DivisionHostels and School Feeding Programme

Regional CouncilDirectorate of Education

Division of Programme and Quality Assurance

SchoolsSchool Boards, Principles,

Teachers, Learners and Volunteer Cooks

Regional CouncilDirectorate of Education

SeniorAdministrativeOfficeandAdministrativeOfficer

CircuitInspectorOfficeInspector of Education

DivisionResearch

Information and Publicity

DivisionHIV and AIDS

Management Unit

DivisionDiagnostic

and Advisory Services

DivisionSpecial Programmes

and Schools

DivisionAudit and Quality

Assurance

DivisionManagement,

Planning, Appraisal and Training

DivisionNational Advisory Services

and Supplier, Chain Management

DirectorateProgrammes and Quality Assurance

DirectorateNational Examination

and Assessment

DirectorateNational Institute

for Educational Development

Formal Education Livelong Learning, Arts and CultureFinance and Administration

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The policy sets the following provisions regarding coordination of the NSFP:

a. NSFP will be coordinated and managed within the Department of Formal Education - Directorate of Programmes and Quality Assurance (PQA),DivisionofManagementPlanningAppraisalandTraining(MPAT)andundertheSub-DivisionofSchoolFeeding.

b. ThesubDivisionfortheNSFPhasfourposts–oneControlAdministrationOfficer,oneSeniorAdministrativeOfficerandtwoAdministrativeOfficers.ThesubDivisionheadwhoistheChiefControlofficerwillactasthenationalschoolfeedingcoordinator.

c. Thepolicyproposesthestrengtheningofthesubdivisionofschoolfeedingthroughstaffin-servicetraininginnutrition,qualityassurance,monitoring and evaluation, procurement and logistics to ensure that the management, implementation and reporting on school feeding programmearecoordinatedefficientlyatnationallevel.

d. Ata regional level,NSFPwillbecoordinatedby theSeniorAdministrativeOfficersupportedby theAdministrativeOfficerunder thesupervisionoftheDeputyDirectorforProgrammesandQualityAssurance.

e. Thepolicyproposesastrengtheningofcapacityatregionallevelthroughareviewofjobdescriptions,streamliningofdutiesandtraininginnutrition,qualityassurance,monitoringandevaluation,procurementandlogistics.Thiswillensurethatthemanagement,implementationandreportingonschoolfeedingprogrammearecoordinatedefficientlyatregionallevels.

f. ThefocalpersonforNSFPattheschoollevelshallbeappointedbytheSchoolAdministrationwithinputfromtheschoolboard.

g. In-depth and strategic engagement on the NSFP at the national level shall take place within the soon to be established Food Security andNutritionCouncilintheOfficeofthePrimeMinister.Thenationalcoordinatorshallattendrelevantmulti-sectoraltaskforceswithintheFoodandNutritionCouncilwheretechnicalissuesincludingschoolfeedingwillbediscussed.

h. Establishmentofamulti-sectoralSchoolFeedingTechnicalCoordinationGroup(TCG)withintheMoEACintheDirectorateofProgrammesandQualityAssurance(PQA)toprovidetechnicaladviceontheimplementationoftheNSFP.TheDeputyDirectorofMPAT/thedivisionmanaging school feeding, will be responsible for coordinating the development of the terms of reference for the TCG as well as organising and facilitating bi-annual school feeding coordination meetings, which will be chaired by the Director PQA with the Deputy Director as alternatechair.Theproceedingsofthesemeetingswillbereportedtorelevantstakeholders,includingexistingplatformssuchasFoodSecurity and Nutrition Council and its auxiliary sub-sectors such as the School Health Task Force, Namibia Alliance for Improved Nutrition (NAFIN)etc,throughtheofficeofthePermanentSecretaryMoEAC.ReportswillalsobesharedwiththeCabinetCommitteedesignatedtoover-seetheactivitiesofschoolfeedingprogrammeaswellasRegionalCouncils.

i. Establishment of multi-sectoral school feeding committees within existing platforms at regional level which have relevant key Ministries responsible foragriculture,waterandsanitation,fisheries,poverty, forestry,gender,healthandnutritionand ruraldevelopment.TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureunder the leadershipof theDeputyDirectors,ProgrammeQualityAssurance(PQA), inall14regions ofNamibiawill be responsible for organising and facilitating quarterly coordinationmeetings of the regional school feedingcommittees.ThemeetingswillbechairedbytheDeputyRegionalDirectorsandproceedingsofsuchmeetingssharedwiththeTechnicalCoordinationGroupthroughtheDeputyDirectorinchargeofMPAT.

k. ThepolicypromoteslinkagesofMPATdivisionwithotherdivisionsofPQAthatdealwithschoolhealth(Diagnostic,AdvisoryandTrainingServices(DATS),HIVandAIDSManagementUnit(HAMU)Divisions)andmarginalisedcommunities(SpecialProgrammesandSchools(DSPS)Division).

4.2. Decentralisation of NSFP FunctionsDecentralised school feeding programmes allow greater room for creative implementation of activities that better respond to local needs and contexts, which in turn may foster local community involvement28.Thisschool feedingpolicy is in linewiththeDecentralizationPolicyofNamibia,1997andtheNamibiaDecentralisationEnablingActof2000,(ACTNo.33of2000),whichdevolvesfunctionsandresourcesofMinistriestoeitherRegionalCouncilsorLocalAuthoritiesaccordingly.TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturehasdelegatedvariouseducational functions to the Regional Councils, to the schools and to state owned enterprises. Themanagement at the regional levelconsistoftheDirector,supportedbyDeputyDirector(PQA),InspectorsofEducationandEducationOfficers.Theschoolsareclusteredandschools’clustersareorganisedintocircuitsmanagedbyInspectorsofEducation.Inordertoeffectivelymonitorthedelegationphaseandtoprepareforthedevolutionphase,SectorSpecificServiceDeliveryStandardshavebeendeveloped29.ProcurementmeasuresarecentraltodecentralisationofNSFPfunctions.Thispolicysupportsasfarpossible,procurementofschool feedingsupplieswithinNamibiaandinparticular,fromlocalproducersclosesttotheschools.Italsorecognisesthatacombinationoftheseprocurementmodalitiescouldbeneededtoachieveamaximumlevelofefficiency.ThedecentralisedNSFPfunctionswillbeimplementedbycross-sectoralMinistries,privatesector,civilsocietyandcommunitieswhoserolesandresponsibilitiesareoutlinedinthispolicy.Communityparticipationandownershipofschoolfeedingiscentraltothesuccessoftheprogramme,includingperformanceofcriticalandregularfunctionssuchascooking.

The policy on the decentralisation of NSFP functions is as follows:

a. Procurement of school feeding supplies and services will be decentralised to the regions, and will be carried out according to existing laws andregulations.

b. Wheredeterminedasfeasible,andwiththerecommendationsofregionaloffices,theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillauthorise,andprovideguidelinesandregulationsforprocurementatschoollevels.

c. Effortshouldbemadetoensurethat75%ofthefoodusedinschoolfeedingislocallysourcedfromsmallholderproducers,particularlywomen’sgroupsandthismustguaranteeanuninterruptedsupplyoffood.

d. Thefoodsourcedshouldmeetspecifiednutritionalrequirementsandhealthstandardsasguidedbypoliciesonhealthandnutrition.

15

e. FoodprovidedwillbefortifiedwithessentialvitaminsandmineralsasperfoodfortificationguidanceprovidedbyNamibianAgronomicBoard30.

f. TheNSFPwillensurefoodsafetyinthehandlingoffoodthroughouttheschoolfeedinghandlingchainasguidedbythe2014NamibiaFoodSafetyPolicy.

g. QualityAssuranceandcertificationwillbehandledbytheMinistryofIndustrialization,TradeandSmallandMedium-sizedEnterprises(SMEs).DevelopmentthroughtheNamibiaStandardsInstitutionresponsibleforregulatingallstandardsinthecountry.Thisincludesallstandardsonprocessingandprocessedfoods,foodadditivesorprocessingaids,foodlabellingandpackagingmaterials.

h. Theprocurementprocessshallupholdtransparency,goodgovernanceandaccountabilityatalllevelsandamongallstakeholders.

i. DecentralisationofadequatefinancialandhumanresourcestoenableeffectivemanagementincludingmonitoringandevaluationoftheNSFP.

4.3. Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders

4.3.1 Role of the Ministry of Education, Arts and CultureThe Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has responsibility for the policy implementation and management of the NSFP from the national to theschoollevelandthecoordinationofotherstakeholders.

The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture is the designated institution in charge of the overall management of the school feeding programme inNamibia.ThespecificrolesandresponsibilitiesoftheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureareto:

a. Provideoverallstrategicguidanceandmanagementoftheprogrammeimplementation,monitoringandevaluation.

b. ServeastheprimarychannelofcommunicationonallissuesrelatedtotheNSFP.

c. Leadthemulti-sectoralcoordinationonissuesofschoolhealthandfeedingatnational,regional,circuitandschoollevels.

d. Contributetoprogrammesustainabilitythroughtheefficientmanagementofessentialresources.

e. Providenon-fooditemsasprescribedbythispolicy.

f. CompileandanalyseroutineNSFPreportsonatermandannualbasis,collectingdataonprogrammebeneficiaries,fooddeliveriesandutilisation,andanyfoodlossesanddisparities.

g. Establishandapplyeffectivecontrolmeasuresonfoodproduction,fooddistributionandfoodqualityandpreventanyirregularitiesintheNSFP.

h. Ensure the implementation of this policy and coordinate and provide guidance implementing and controlling the NSFP at central, regional, circuitandschoollevels.

i. Facilitateannualmedicalexamstoensureeachcookishealthyandphysicallyfittopreparethefood.

j. Continuoustraining,inductionandsensitizationoftheNSFPandSchoolHealthProgrammeandotherrelatedprogrammes.

4.3.2 Role of Divisions and Units in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture

SUB-DIVISION OF SCHOOL FEEDINGThe sub division of School Feeding shall:

a. Overseetheplanning,implementation,monitoringandevaluationoftheNSFP.

b. Coordinate school feeding in all relevant units of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and ensure inter-sectoral collaboration among ministriesinvolvedintheNSFP.

c. Represent the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture on the Namibia Food Security and Nutrition Council on issues of school feeding at nationallevel.

d. ConductregularvisitstoregionsandmonitorNSFPfoodsupplychain.

e. Superviseregionalmonitoring,evaluationandthereportingactivities.

f. Compileregionalreportsandstatistics.

g. Facilitatetimelycommunicationofprogrammemattersfromnationaltoregionallevels.

h. Supporttrainingofregionalandcircuitlevelstaffonprogrammemattersandsupportcommunityawareness/sensitisationcampaigns.

i. Maintainoversightandconductperiodicchecksofserviceproviders.

j. DevelopmonitoringandevaluationtoolsandsystemsfortheNSFP.

k. Ensurequalitycontrolandadherencetofoodqualitystandards.

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REGIONAL SCHOOL FEEDING FOCAL POINTTheRegionalschoolfeedingfocalpointwillbetheSeniorAdministrativeOfficerunderthesupervisionoftheDeputyDirector(PQA)orChiefInspectorofEducation (whereapplicable).Thespecific rolesandresponsibilitiesof theDeputyDirector (PQA)andSeniorAdministrativeOfficerwillbethefollowing:

The Deputy Director(PQA)/Chief Inspector of Education shall:

a. Overseetheplanning,implementation,monitoringandevaluationoftheNSFPatregionallevel.

b. Organiseandfacilitatequarterlycoordinationmeetingsoftheregionalschoolfeedingmanagementcommittees.

c. Coordinate school feeding in all relevant units of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and ensure inter-sectoral collaboration among ministriesinvolvedintheNSFPatRegionallevel.

The Senior Administrative Officer shall:

a. Coordinateandmanageprocurementofschoolfeedingsuppliesatregionallevelasprovidedinthispolicy.

b. Maintainoversightandmonitoringofserviceprovidersatregionallevel.

c. Ensurequalitycontrolandadherencetofoodqualitystandards.

d. Review all reports and food orders received from Circuits on all NSFP schools, compile the information and enter the data in the NaSIS foraccessbycentrallevelandotherMoEAClevelswithinternetconnectivity.

e. SupportsensitisationandawarenesscampaignswithNSFPfocalpersonsandSchoolFeedingSub-Committeesatcommunitylevel.

f. Supportschoolsintrainingcommunitymembers(cooks,parents)onproperimplementationoftheprogramme.

g. EnsuretheNSFPisastandardagendaitematroutineregionaleducationmeetings.

INSPECTORS OF EDUCATIONThe inspectors of education shall:

a. CoordinateandsupervisetheimplementationofNSFPinallschoolsintheCircuit,incollaborationwiththeregionalschoolfeedingfocalpoint.

b. Reviewandapproveallreportsfromschoollevel,compileandsummariseasappropriateandforwardtotheRegionalEducationOffice.

c. Supporttheregionalschoolfeedingfocalpointinroutinemonitoringoffoodsupplyandschoolfeedingimplementation.

d. Conduct NSFP training at school level for principals, NSFP focal persons and teachers, and support community sensitisation and awarenesscampaigns.

e. FacilitatetimelycommunicationonmattersrelatedtotheNSFPtoallcircuitschools.

f. EnsuretheNSFPisastandardagendaitematroutinecircuiteducationmeetings.

g. Supportschoolsintrainingcommunitymembers.

SCHOOL BOARDThe School Board shall:

a. AdheretothegeneralrolesandresponsibilitiesspecifiedintheEducationAct(ActNo.16of2001).

b. ManagetheNSFPatschoollevelwithguidancefrominspectorsofeducationandtheregionalschoolfeedingfocalpoint.

c. Form a School Feeding Sub-Committee consisting of a NSFP focal person (typically a teacher) and parents andmembers of thecommunity.Aminimumofthreemeetingsannually(oneperterm)willbeheld.TheSub-CommitteewillbedirectlyresponsiblefortheoperationsoftheprogrammeonadailybasisandwillreporttotheSchoolBoard.

d. EstablishandmaintainaseparateschoolfeedingaccountforallmoneygeneratedfortheNSFPthroughfund-raisingactivities.Thesefundswillbeusedsolelyforthepurposeofimprovingschoolmealsattheschool.

e. Sensitiseandmobilisecommunityparticipation.

f. Coordinateandmanageprocurementofschoolfeedingsuppliesatregionallevelasprovidedinthispolicy.

g. ThroughtheofficeofthePrincipal,ensurethatcooksmeettheminimumhealthandhygienerequirementsandthattotheextentpossible,theygothroughroutinemedicalchecks.Theschoolwillberesponsibleforexpensesassociatedwithsuchchecks.

NSFP FOCAL PERSON AT SCHOOL LEVELThe NSFP focal person shall:

a. Overseetheday-to-daymanagementoftheNSFPatschoollevel,i.e.receptionoffooddeliveriestotheschools,storage,recordingofstocks,countersigningdeliverynotesandfacilitatingcompletionofstandardNSFPreports.ThisrolemayberotatedwithotherNSFPtrainedteachersand/orcommunitymembersastheSchoolBoarddeemsappropriate.

b. Routinelysuperviseprogrammelogistics,includingcookschedules,foodpreparation,compensationforcooks,etc.

17

c. Ensureandsupervisetheproperstorageoffood,releaseofNSFPcommodities,preparationandservicetobeneficiariesonadailybasis.

d. CompleteandsubmittheNSFPSchoolLevelReporttotheschoolprincipalatterm’send.ThisreportwillbeforwardedbytheprincipaltoCircuitlevelalongwithlearnerstatistics.

e. AttendSchoolBoardmeetingsasrequested,participateinSchoolFeedingSub-CommitteemeetingsandcooperatewithmembersonmattersrelatedtotheNSFPanditsmanagement.

4.3.3 Roles at Decentralised Levels

COMMUNITIESThe community shall:

a. Nominatecommunitymemberswhowillattendatleastthreemeetingsperannum(oneperterm),chairedbytheSchoolFeedingSub-CommitteetosensitisecommunitymembersonissuesrelatedtotheNSFPandtoprovideaforumforinformationexchange.

b. Provide construction material when possible and physically construct and provide routine maintenance on the school cooking shelter/kitchenandstoreroom,incoordinationwiththeSchoolBoard.

c. Reporttoschoolofficialsanysuspiciousbehaviourobservedonandaroundtheschoolpremisesandstoreroomfacilities.

d. Participate in fundraising activities to support programme sustainability and to improve school facilities, such as storerooms, kitchens, waterandsanitation,cookingfuelandotherprojects.

e. Practiceenvironmentalconservationsuchasrecycling,wastemanagementetc.

f. Assistwiththeschoolvegetablegarden.

g. ThefollowingadditionalactivitieswillbesupportedbythecommunityasrequestedbytheSchoolBoard:

i Assistwiththesupervisionofhandwashingbeforeandaftermeals.

ii Assistwiththedistributionofdailymeals.iiiAssistwithstoreroomcleaning.

h. Provideadditionalsupporttomonitoringandevaluationasdecidedatschoollevel.

COOKSThe Cook shall:

a. Prepareandservemealsdailytothelearnersatschool.

b. Keepthekitchenandworkareasclean.

c. Washthecookingequipment(pots,measuringdevices,etc.)afterservingfood.

d. Ensurecleanlinessofselfandthattheypracticegoodhygieneinfoodpreparationandservingofthelearners.

e. Ensureenoughfuelisavailableforthenextday’sfoodpreparation.

SCHOOL LEARNERSThe School learner shall:

a. Demonstrateorderlyconduct(properbehaviourwhilequeuingandduringmealtime),toensuretimelyservingoffoodandconsumptionofthemealwithinthe30-minutebreak.

b. Washtheirhandsbeforeandafterconsumingthemeal.

c. Washtheirplate/bowlandspoonafterthemeal(primaryschoolchildren).

4.3.4 Roles of Other MinistriesTheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillleadtheNSFP.OtherministrieswillcollaboratewiththeMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturetoensureharmonizationoftheprovisionsofthispolicy.Thecollaborationwillbecementedbymemorandumofunderstandingthatwillbesignedwitheachministry.TheministriesinvolvedshallincludeMinistryofhealthandSocialServices(MOHSS),MinistryofAgriculture,WaterandForestry(MAWF),MinistryofFisheriesandMarineResources,MinistryofEnvironmentandTourism,MinistryofPovertyEradicationandSocialWelfare,MinistryofurbanandRuralDevelopment,MinistryofWorksandTransport,MinistryofGenderEqualityandChildWelfare(MGECW),NationalPlanningCommissionandtheMinistryofFinance(MOF).

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MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICESThe Ministry of Health and Social welfare shall:

a. Havepolicyandimplementationresponsibilityfortheschoolhealthprogrammeinallschools.

b. Ensurethathealthandnutritioneducationandde-wormingactivitiesareundertaken.

c. Ensure medical checks are made on cooks and diseases such as diarrhoea and suspected sicknesses linked to food poisoning are investigated.

d. Ensurenutritionscreeningoflearnersisundertaken.

e. Regulate consumerhealth relating to foodsafety.Thiswill relate to regulationsandstandardsonschoolmealsandschool feedingfacilities.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, WATER AND FORESTRYThe Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry shall:

a. Supportefforts to link theschool feeding tosmallholder farmers(thismay include trainingof farmers,provisionofagriculture inputs,aggregatingfarmersetc.),toensurearegularsupplyoffoodfortheNSFP.

b. Provideneededinfrastructureincludinginstallationandconstructionofwaterandsanitationfacilities.

c. Providetechnicalassistanceandadvicetoschoolsontheestablishmentofschoolgardens.

d. Enforcefoodsafetyregulationsatproductionandprimaryhandlinglevel,includingsilos,pack-housesandslaughterhouses.

MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCESThe Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources shall

a. Supportaquacultureproductionamongsmallholderfarmers.

b. Linkaquacultureproducerstotheschoolfeedingprogramme.

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISMThe Ministry of Environment and Tourism shall:

a. Promoteenvironmentalconservationsuchastreeplantingandreforestationprojects,andclimatesmarttechnologiesaroundschoolsandcommunities,wherepossible.

b. Promoteenergysavinglightingandcookingsuchasuseofsolarenergy.

c. Facilitateconservanciesinthesupplyofgamemeattotheschoolfeedingprogramme.

d. AssisttheMoEACwiththeestablishmentofEnvironmentalClubsatSchoollevels.

MINISTRY OF POVERTY ERADICATION AND SOCIAL WELFAREThe Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare shall:

a. SupporttheexpansionandscaleupoftheNSFPasasocialsafetynet..

b. Supportresearch,innovationandadvocatefortheprogrammewithinitslargerpovertyeradicationstrategy.

c. SupporttheintegrationofNSFPwithinthewidernationalsocialprotectionframework.

MINISTRY OF URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENTThe Ministry of Urban and Rural Development shall:

a. Support schools and communities establish school feeding facilities using Food for Work, Cash for Work or any other conditional social safetynetschemesintheprocessprovidingjobopportunitiesandcontributingtothedevelopmentofcommunityassets.

b. SupportthedecentralisationoftheNSFPtotheRegionallevelbyprovidingadvisoryservices,technicalsupportandcapacitybuilding.

c. Support the coordination of the NSFP and ensuring that school feeding is made visible and promoted within the regional Council coordinationmeetings.

d. Registerandissuelicensestoallfoodserviceandbusinessoperatorswithinspecificregionalauthorities.

e. Sensitizeandengagetraditionalleadersabouttheschoolfeedingprogrammeandtoallocatelandforestablishingcommunitygardens.

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MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT The Ministry of Works and Transport shall:

a. Supportschoolsinerectingandimprovingexistingschoolfeedinginfrastructureparticularlyrelatingtostorageandcooking.

MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITY AND CHILD WELFARE (MGCW) TheMinistryofGenderEqualityandChildWelfare(MGCW)shall:

a. Ensuregenderequalityandequitablesocio-economicdevelopmentofwomenandmenaswellasboysandgirlsisachievedintheNSFP.

b. TakeresponsibilityforprovidingschoolmealstochildreninEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentcentersacrossthecountry.

c. Take a lead in developing an integrated approach to supporting ECDs with clear mandates for the key stakeholders: The Ministry of GenderEqualityandChildWelfare,theMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureandtheMinistryofHealthandSocialServices.

NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION (NPC) TheNationalPlanningCommission(NPC)shall:

a. FacilitatetheintegrationoftheNSFPinNationalDevelopmentPlans(NDPs).

b. ProvideguidanceonmonitoringandevaluationoftheNSFP.

c. PromotevisibilityandassesscontributionofNSFPtohumancapitaldevelopment,localeconomicdevelopmentandpovertyreduction.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE The Ministry of Finance shall:

a. ProvidethecriticalsupporttotheNSFPwhenitcomestofundingallocationsnecessaryforthesmoothimplementationoftheactivities.

b. SupportcapacitybuildingofschoolfeedingimplementerstomaximiseimpactofNSFPimplementation.

4.3.5 PartnershipsEliminatinghungeramongschoolchildrenandimprovingaccessandqualityofeducationrequiresbroadpartnershipswithvariousorganisations,sectorsandimplementersoperatingatvariousscales(nationaltocommunitylevels).Thispolicyrecognisestheroleofdevelopmentpartners,theprivatesectorandcivilsocietyorganisationsinachievingtheschoolfeedingobjectives.Inrecognitionoffurtherunexploitedbenefitsofthese partnerships, this policy will expand and formalise the partnership between NSFP and the private sector and local and international developmentpartnersinordertomaximisetheimpactoftheprogramme.

PRIVATE SECTORThe private sector has supported a number of NSFP services including provision of donations of food and construction of facilities among others.Nevertheless,thesupporthasbeeninformalwithoutclearlydefinedmechanismsandmodeofengagement.Thepolicyonprivatesector partnerships will include but not limited to:

a. DevelopmentofinnovativetechnologyandproductsforimprovingtheefficiencyandeffectivenessoftheNSFP(e.g.energysavingstoves).

b. Contributions in cash and kind towards food and non-food NSFP items including support to essential services and infrastructure in areas ofagriculture,health,nutrition,waterandsanitation.Thisshallideallybeprovidedonaregularbasisforenhancedsustainabilityoftheprogramme.

c. Technicalandfinancialsupporttosmallholderfarmersandproducerstopromotelocalproductionandprocessingoffooditems.

d. Expandingsmallholderfarmeropportunitiesandknow-how(newproducts,agriculturalinputs,food,energycomponents)thatcouldbeusedinschoolfeeding.

e. Supportingschoolfeedingadvocacyandawarenesscampaigns.

CIVIL SOCIETYThepolicypromotespartnershipsofNSFPwiththecivilsociety.Civilsocietiesareessentialinraisingawareness,resourcemobilisationandcapacitybuildingintheNSFP.

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNINGThe Government recognizes the importance and the role of the institutes of higher learning in the implementation of the school feeding programme.TheInstitutionsofhigherlearningwillplayaroleinresearch,monitoringandevaluationoftheNSFP.

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LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSLocalanddevelopmentpartnersandmorespecifically the World Food Programme ,havealsocontributedimmenselytothedesign,managementandimplementation of theschoolfeedingprogramme . TheMinistryofEducation ,ArtsandCulturewillcoordinatelocalandinternational developmentpartnersinvolved in School feeding. The policy with regard to partnerships with the local and development partners will be as follows:

a. Technicalsupporttotheplanning,implementation,monitoringandevaluationoftheNSFP.

b. Support capacity building of all stakeholders involved in NSFP.

c. WFP has extensive experience in school feeding and logistics and it will continue to work with Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and otherdevelopmentpartnersinprovidingtechnicalassistancetotheNSFP.

4.4. Resource MobilisationQualityprovisionofschoolfeedingservicesrequiressecureandsustainablefunding.BudgetallocationspecifictoschoolfeedinganddecentralizedtoRegionalCouncillevelwillenhancethesecurityandsustainabilityofschoolfeedingprogrammefunding.TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillseekstablefundingandbudgets,whichisaprerequisiteforlong-termsustainabilityoftheschoolfeedingprogramme.

Thefinancingoftheschoolfeedingprogrammeshallbeasfollows:

a. The inclusion of school feeding as a priority in the planning and budgeting of government of Namibia through the Ministry of Education, Arts andCulture.

b. The school feeding budget will include operational and over-head costs to facilitate the effective management and implementation of the programme.

c. Thebudgetforschoolfeedingwillbeusedspecificallyforschoolfeedinganditsrelatedoperationalandmanagementactivitiesbothatthenationalandregionallevel.

d. Stakeholdersthatarepartofthispolicyshallbeexpectedtobudgetormobiliseresourcesfortheiractivities,projectsandprogrammesthatsupporttheNSFP.

e. The MoEAC will seek additional funding to address gaps within the programme through collaboration with development partners and public-privatepartnerships.

f. Remunerationofcookswillbeconsideredwhendeemedfeasibleandsustainablefurthertoresourceavailability.Otherwise,thepolicyrecommends that the school board and parents nominate the cooks and incentivize them as appropriate and consider cooking a communitycontribution.

4.5. Monitoring and EvaluationThemonitoringandevaluationofthispolicywillbedoneatboththepolicyandprogrammeimplementationlevels.Theobjectivesoutlinedinthispolicywillbeassignedclearindicatorsthatwillbemeasuredeachyeartoassesstheirachievementofoutcomes.Manyofthesearealreadyinexistence,andwidelyusedbytherelevantministries.

TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturealreadyhasindicatorsanddataoneducationaloutcomes(enrolment,retentionandperformance)captured by the EducationManagement Information System (EMIS). TheNamibia Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) has indicators fornutritionaloutcomes.Effortsshouldbemadetoincludechildrenbetweentheages6-14yearsintheDHSsampleframe.AllthesewillbefurtherdevelopedandsystematicallydevelopedintoaperformancemanagementframeworkfortheNSFPpolicy.

TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturehasalsoestablishedawebbasedNamibiaSchoolFeedingInformationManagementSystem(NaSIS)toenhancemonitoring,dataanalysisandreportingoftheNSFPwhichwillfeedintotheoverallmonitoringandevaluationofthispolicy.

The implementation of this policy will be monitored through an annual implementation report, and comprehensive evaluation will be carried out every3-5years.TheevaluationwillfeedintotheNSFPfive-yearroadmapand/orthepolicyimplementationactionplan.

4.6. Advocacy and DisseminationUpontheapprovaloftheNamibiaSchoolFeedingPolicy,variousawarenessstrategieswillbeundertaken.Thepolicywillbecommunicatedwidely to relevantMinistriesat thecentral, regionalaswell asconstituency levels.Partners including institutionsofhigher learning,privatesector, civil society, UN, international and national development partners shall be given electronic copies through email for dissemination to theirrespectivenetworks.InstitutionsatthedecentralisedlevelsarecentraltotheimplementationoftheNSFPparticularlyschools,parentsandcommunitiesingeneral.Hardcopiesofthepolicywillbedistributedtoschools.Further,thebroadcastmedia,bothtelevisionandradio,printmediainallthelocallanguageswillbeusedinordertoraiseawarenessontheexistenceofthispolicy.ForwiderdisseminationtothepublicinNamibiaandelsewhere,thepolicywillbemadeavailableontheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCultureWebsite.

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5. CONCLUSION

Improvingtheschoolfeedingprogrammeisanimperativeforhumandevelopmentandeconomicgrowth.ItisanintegralpartofNamibiaprioritiestoachievingthevision2030forlongtermdevelopment.Thisissobecauseofthereturnsthatarederivedfromgoodnutritionforschoolchildrenbothintheirimmediateandlongertermcapabilities.Besidesrelievingshort-termhungerandcontributingtoimprovedhealthofschoollearnersandtheiraccesstoeducation.Inthelongterm,ithasthepotentialtocontributepositivelytostrengtheningthehumandevelopmentcapacityofthenationbyimprovingeducationlevelofthepopulation,increasingtheirchancesofattainingrewardingemploymentandsignificantlyreducingsocio-economicinequalities.

Thispolicyintendstoimprovetheschoolfeedingprogrammeandmaximisethebenefitsofschoolfeeding.Thesebenefitsrangefrom;Enhancedschoolparticipation,Enhancedhealthandnutrition,SupporttosmallholderproducersandStrengthenedcoordinationandsectorallinkages.

TheMinistryofEducation,ArtsandCulturewillleadtheoverallcoordinationforthepolicyimplementation.However,giventheinter-connectednessof the policy issues to other sectors, successful results-oriented implementation will depend on full participation, commitment and accountability ofallstakeholders.Thesewillrequiretheinvolvementofmulti-stakeholdersandseverallineministriesaswellasprivatesectors,developmentpartners,civil society, thecommunityand thebeneficiaries themselves.TheNSFPwillbedecentralized to the regional levelwithinexistingplatformswhichhaverelevantkeyMinistriesresponsible foragriculture,waterandsanitation,fisheries,poverty, forestry,gender,healthandnutritionandruraldevelopment.Itisexpectedthatbyembracingamulti-sectoralperspectiveandhavingthecustodiantothehigherlevel,thepolicy expands ownership and implementation responsibilities to all sectors which will result in increased sectorial commitments and opportunities forimprovedsupport.

ThispolicyreinforcesNamibia’sgovernmentcommitmentto improvingquality, inclusiveeducationwhichiscentralto longtermdevelopmenteffortsandgrowthforNamibia.

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ANNEX 1: BENEFITS OF THE SCHOOL FEEDING POLICY

Basedonresearchevidence,thepolicyhighlightsthefollowingbenefits:

a. Alleviationofshort-termhungertoimprovequalityoflearning Provision of meals will alleviate short-term hunger, increase attention span, and facilitate learning, ensuring the children remain at school

ratherthangoingawaytofindfood.Childrenwhoarehungryhavedifficultyinconcentratingandperformingdifficulttasksevenwhentheyarewellnourished.

b. Increased enrolment, attendance, retention and completion rates Schoolfeedingwillhelptogetchildrenintoschoolandhelptokeepthemthere.Oncelearnersareinschool, theirachievementand

cognitiveabilitieswillbeimproved.

c. Improved nutrition and health Provisionofdiversifiedandfortifiedfoodswillimprovethechildren’smicronutrientandmacronutrientintaketherebyleadingtoenhanced

nutritionandchildhealth,increasedlearningperformance.

d. Social protection Thepolicywillstrengthenthebenefitofschoolfeedingasasafetynet.TheNSFPwill transferresourcestohouseholdsofthevalue

of the food given to the children enrolled in schools thereby averting negative livelihood coping strategies and allowing investments in productiveassets.

e. Reductionofgenderandsocialinequalities Schoolfeedingwilladdressgenderandsocialinequalitiesineducationbyensuringthattheneeds,rightsandentitlementsofthemost

disadvantaged girls and boys including children living with disabilities, those affected by HIV and AIDS, pregnant children and Orphans andVulnerableChildrenareaddressedinaninclusivemanner.

f. Enhanced local economic development, food security and poverty reduction By promoting procurement of food from smallholder producers, school feeding will stimulate local economies, increase small producers’

incomesandatthesametimeincreasetheprovisionoffreshanddiversifiedfoods.

g. Increased knowledge and skills School feeding will develop knowledge and skills of children to appreciate the inter-relationships and linkages between various sectors-

education,health,nutrition,agriculture,waterandsanitation,HIV/AIDSetc.andhowtheseinfluencesandshapetheirwell-being.Thiswouldbeachievedthroughreinforcingtheintegrationofnutrition,HIV/AIDsandschoolgardensintotheschoolcurriculum.

h. Improved synergies and policy coherence School feeding will enhance opportunities for strengthening partnerships and inter-sector coordination particularly between education,

health,agriculturenutritionandsocialprotectionsectorsincludingcommunityparticipationandownership.

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NOTES

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Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, GovernmentOfficePark(LutherStreet),Windhoek Private Bag 13186, Windhoek

Tel:+264-61-293-3111Fax:+264-61-224-277