Free school meals programme can significantly boost Ukraine’s health and economy: new WHO/Europe policy brief

In times of war and economic hardship, investing in children's health and education becomes critical for a nation's future prosperity. To support Ukraine and strengthen the great potential of the country, currently facing a devastating military conflict, WHO/Europe has produced a policy brief "Expanding the national school meals programme in Ukraine".

This policy brief advocates for a universal free school meals (UFSM) system, a policy whereby all students within a school, region or country receive a school meal at no cost. This not only can improve children's health and academic performance but can also be beneficial for the economy.

It is estimated that a UFSM policy will be able to create around 55 000 new jobs in schools and corresponding farms and businesses that support the production of school meals. Research has also found that through these benefits to agriculture, education, health and social protection, there is a return of $9 for each $1 invested - a nine-fold return on investment.

Benefits for children's health

"We realized that the idea of feeding children nutritiously in wartime becomes even more difficult to implement, yet even more important. Because our children and our teachers demonstrated true heroism, they did not interrupt their studies. Therefore, it is our desire to support children and teachers, in particular, with food which determines the quality of education," said the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska in 2023, while opening the construction of Ukraine's first kitchen factory in Bucha.

Today, Ukraine is keeping a focus on safeguarding children's health in the long run. When school children have access to quality, nutritious food, it unlocks their potential for both physical and academic well-being, and helps protect them from noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, obesity and diabetes for many years to come.

"WHO commends Ukraine for investing in children's health and nutrition in the time of war. This proposed universal free school meals policy will bring long-term economic and health benefits for the country, and contribute to strengthening the foundation that all children need and deserve," said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

UFSM programme in Ukraine: economic advantages

Besides the direct physical and mental health benefits for schoolchildren stemming from UFSM, this set of policy measures will also allow Ukraine to:

• decrease food insecurity and improve financial resources for families;
• create around 55 000 new jobs in schools, agriculture and food-producing businesses;
• provide a nine-fold return on investment - equivalent to $9 for each $1 spent - through benefits to the agriculture, education, health and social protection sectors; and
• secure long-term health-care savings because of the reductions in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer on a nation-wide scale.

WHO/Europe brief to empower Ukrainian decision-makers

Empowering Ukrainian decision-makers to choose the best available options, the WHO/Europe policy brief provides an overview of several effective UFSM systems implemented in different parts of the world, highlighting strengths and limitations of each model.

In addition, the brief flags the main factors that can make the UFSM system sustainable - from the continuity of external funding to the usage of underutilized restaurants, satellite kitchens and hubs that can reduce the costs of the programme.

The WHO/Europe policy brief allows relevant stakeholders to create an effective school meals programme, tailored to the Ukrainian context, that will contribute to creating a healthier and more prosperous future for all.

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