The first shipment of the $28.5 million McGovern-Dole School Feeding supplies has arrived in The Gambia from the United States. On Wednesday, Ambassador Sharon Cromer observed the storage of the supplies at the WFP-CRS warehouse in Kanifing, along with the WFP Country Director, Miranda Sende, Catholic Relief Services and Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education officials.
In September 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, announced the assistance to support school feeding program in The Gambia to be implemented by CRS.
Phase 1 of the school feeding program has received the following supplies: 1350 metric tons of rice, 130 metric tons of oil, 119 metric tons of lentils, and 178 metric tons of black beans. All supplies are fortified to meet the nutritional needs of the school children.
The program aims to provide food for school-going children across the country, with a particular focus on underserved regions. The program will also source food locally, fostering community engagement and economic development by supporting local farmers and producers.
