ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (BG) – The African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the Central African Republic (CAR) and development organizations, commemorated the 10th Anniversary of the African Day of School Feeding in Bangui.

Under the theme “A Decade of Nourishment: Celebrating the Past, Securing a Just Future,” the event highlighted progress in school feeding programs and reaffirmed commitments to expanding these initiatives across Africa.

While broader celebrations began on Feb. 28, the official ADSF is observed on March 1, following its designation by the African Union (AU) in 2016, the AU said in a statement on Wednesday.

School feeding programs play a significant role in improving education, child well-being, and food security across the continent.

The high-level gathering included H.E. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of CAR; H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation; representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP), AUDA-NEPAD, and government ministers.

CAR’s Minister of Education, H.E. Simplice Aurélien Zingas, emphasized school feeding as a critical tool for education and social equity.

Belhocine reinforced the AU’s commitment to expanding homegrown school meal programs under Agenda 2063.

The Bangui Declaration, presented at the event, reaffirmed AU Member States’ pledges to strengthen domestic financing, integrate local agricultural production, and enhance multi-sectoral coordination to sustain school feeding initiatives.

Fernanda Pacobahyba, President of Brazil’s National Fund for the Development of Education, highlighted Brazil’s school feeding model, serving 40 million students annually.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain praised Africa’s progress, noting that 87 million children now benefit from school meals, up from 66 million in 2022. She acknowledged AU Member States’ growing financial contributions, now covering 70% of school feeding funds.

As part of the event, the AU launched the #AfricaEducatesHer campaign, promoting girls’ education and addressing barriers such as poverty and gender discrimination.

The commemoration concluded with a school visit, where President Touadéra and Belhocine engaged with students and educators, witnessing the impact of school feeding programs firsthand.