This webinar will explore the latest global evidence on how school feeding programs drive broad-based returns: boosting education, enhancing health outcomes, supporting local agriculture, and strengthening national development. The session will explore new findings from a randomized control trial (RCT), evaluating the longer-term economic impacts of Ghana’s national school feeding program, and ways this methodology may be relevant to other countries. The webinar will also spotlight the government of Ghana’s efforts to assess the program’s long-term value, and how this has informed its national investment.

Welcome Remarks with Overview of GCNF’s work in school meals and the Global Survey of School Meal Programs

• Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF)

Webinar Series Overview: Research Themes & IFPRI’s Work in School Meals

• Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Presentation of: Assessing the overall benefits of programs enhancing human capital and equity: a new method with an application to school meals

• Harold Alderman, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI

Evaluating Economic Outcomes of Ghana’s School Feeding Program: Reflections from RCT study

• Gloria Folson, Senior Research Fellow, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana

Closing Remarks and Moderator

• Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI