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World Food Program USA and the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) have announced a new three-year partnership worth $12 million to expand school feeding programs across several countries, including Ghana.
Under the agreement, each organization will contribute $2 million annually to support the World Food Programme’s (WFP) homegrown school meals initiative. The expanded collaboration builds on a successful pilot project launched in 2024, which provided nutritious meals to more than 653,000 children in four countries.
Speaking on the initiative, World Food Program USA President and CEO, Barron Segar, said the partnership comes at a crucial time as both organizations work together to ensure children receive the nutrition needed for healthy growth and effective learning.
Beginning in 2026, the program will support school meal initiatives in Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Madagascar and Nicaragua, while continuing existing efforts in Uganda and Nepal. Additional countries are expected to be included in subsequent years.
LCIF Chairperson Fabrício Oliveira said the initiative aligns with the Lions’ mission of fighting hunger and supporting vulnerable children. He noted that local Lions clubs will help build community ownership to ensure the sustainability of the programs beyond the initial funding period.
The homegrown school meals model sources food locally and is designed to improve children’s nutrition while creating economic opportunities for farmers and strengthening local food systems. Studies show that school feeding programs can increase school enrollment by 12 percent for girls and 9 percent for students overall.
During the pilot phase, the partnership supported more than 10,000 farmers, supplied over 827 metric tonnes of food, introduced clean cooking technologies and strengthened cooperation with local governments.
The World Food Programme remains the world’s largest provider of school meals, while LCIF continues to support humanitarian projects through its global network of 1.4 million Lions members. Together, the two organizations aim to reduce hunger, improve education outcomes and create lasting benefits for communities around the world.
