In 2024, more than 473 million children — nearly one in six worldwide — lived in areas affected by conflict, exposing them to heightened risks of disrupted education, malnutrition, and loss of essential services. According to data from the Global Survey of School Meal Programs , 17% of programs globally were impacted by conflict in 2022, demonstrating their widespread implementation in such contexts to address children’s nutritional needs, incentivize school attendance and grade completion, and provide social protection for vulnerable households. Yet despite their widespread use, the evidence on the effectiveness of these programs in conflict settings has not been systematically synthesized.
This webinar draws on a forthcoming scoping review of studies published between 2000 and 2025, mapping the available evidence of school feeding programs in emergencies across education, nutrition, and other wellbeing outcomes. By highlighting where programs have been effective and where evidence is inconclusive, the review aims to validate and refine the emerging conceptual framework for SFPs in conflict-affected contexts. The webinar will also feature challenges and lessons learned from Ethiopia’s experience operating in times of humanitarian crisis.
Welcome & Overview: Presentation of Global Survey of School Meal Programs Data on Conflict
- Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF)
The Effectiveness of School Feeding Programs in Conflict Zones: A Scoping Review
- Evan Anthony, Community Disaster Program Manager, American Red Cross
Ethiopia’s School Meal Program: Lessons Learned During Times of Humanitarian Crisis
- Yohanese Wogasso, CEO for Educational Programs and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Education, Government of Ethiopia
Q&A Moderator
- Samuel Scott, Research Fellow, IFPRI
Closing Remarks
- Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF)