A new M31 Research policy brief examines Zambia's Home-Grown School Meals (HGSM) programme, which provides locally sourced meals to about one million learners across 39 districts in all ten provinces. Drawing on field research in Monze, Mazabuka and Chisamba districts, the brief finds that the meals are lifting enrolment, attendance and concentration in class, but that narrow diets, fragile supply chains and heavy donor dependence put those gains at risk. It sets out three priorities: diversify the food basket, invest in local supply and storage, and institutionalise funding and training so the programme can last beyond external support.
Home-Grown School Meals: Feeding Zambia's Classrooms, Sustaining the Gains
Zambia's Home-Grown School Meals programme is boosting attendance and nutrition for a million learners. New M31 field research asks what it will take to keep it running beyond donor funding.
.jpg)
Key findings
- The programme provides locally sourced meals to about one million learners across 39 districts in all ten provinces
- School meals are lifting enrolment, attendance and concentration in class
- Narrow diets, fragile supply chains and heavy donor dependence put these gains at risk
Recommendations
- Diversify the food basket
- Invest in local supply and storage
- Institutionalise funding and training so the programme can last beyond external support
Get the full report
The complete findings, methods and recommendations, free to download.
How to cite
M31 Research (2026). Home-Grown School Meals: Feeding Zambia's Classrooms, Sustaining the Gains [Policy brief]. Available at: https://www.m31r.com/publication/home-grown-school-meals-feeding-zambias-classrooms-sustaining-the-gains
Copied
Need evidence for your programme?
Tell us what you need to know and we will propose the right study, evaluation or analysis.