2016年-世界发展银行全球_Armenia_School_Feeding___SABER_Country_Report_2016_22页_497kb

Summary of School Feeding Policies in Armenia

Core Content

This report provides an assessment of school feeding policies and institutions in Armenia, using the World Bank's SABER-School Feeding tool. It highlights the importance of school feeding as a critical component of an effective education system, as it directly affects children's health, nutrition, and educational outcomes. The report also outlines the current status of the school feeding program and identifies key policy goals for its improvement.

Main Policy Goals and Key Information

1. Policy Frameworks

• Status: Established for some aspects, Emerging for others.
• Core Content: School feeding is not explicitly mentioned in the Armenia Development Strategy but is included in the Mid-term Expenditure Framework 2016-18 and the draft Education Development Programme, 2016-25. There is no national school feeding policy, but a Sustainable School Feeding Strategy exists.
• Main Viewpoints:
  • The strategy aims to establish a sustainable school feeding system to improve health, reduce poverty, and increase attendance.
  • The legal framework is not fully developed, and there is a need for a more comprehensive national policy that clearly defines roles and responsibilities.

2. Financial Capacity

• Status: Emerging
• Core Content: School feeding is included in the national planning process and receives stable funding through a budget line. However, the funding is insufficient to meet all program needs.
• Main Viewpoints:
  • National funding accounts for 20% of the total school feeding budget, with WFP contributing the majority (63.5%).
  • The budget is fixed and does not account for inflation or rising costs like electricity and gas.
  • There is a lack of detailed cost analysis for diet diversity and community involvement.
  • The financial system is clear, with laws and acts in place to oversee the program.

3. Institutional Capacity and Coordination

• Status: Emerging
• Core Content: A national-level Interministerial Working Group was established in 2015, but it lacks coordination functions and decision-making power. There is no clear national school feeding management unit.
• Main Viewpoints:
  • The working group was dissolved due to changes in the Ministry of Education and Science and is expected to be reestablished.
  • A regional-level coordination group was established in Vayots Dzor in 2013, but coordination between national and provincial levels is lacking.
  • Institutional frameworks and accountability structures are not yet fully in place.

4. Design and Implementation

• Status: Emerging
• Core Content: A School Feeding Monitoring and Evaluation plan is not integrated into national systems. The program has defined targets, but issues with food safety, compliance with international nutritional standards, and procurement from small farmers persist.
• Main Viewpoints:
  • The current food basket provides 700 kcal per child per day and includes a variety of items.
  • The program has a universal targeting criteria, providing food to all primary school children.
  • School feeding is a key component of the 2014-25 Armenia Development Strategy, contributing to SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and the 2016-20 UNDAF.
  • The transition from donor-funded to government-funded has been partially successful, with 50% of schools in three provinces moving to hot feeding.

5. Community Roles—Reaching Beyond Schools

• Status: Emerging
• Core Content: School management committees exist, but their roles are not clearly defined in any guidelines.
• Main Viewpoints:
  • Community participation is essential for the program's success and transition to national ownership.
  • The program should incorporate local community needs and contributions to ensure sustainability and relevance.

Key Challenges and Recommendations

• Challenges:
  • Lack of a national school feeding policy.
  • Insufficient and fixed national funding.
  • Weak institutional coordination and accountability.
  • Incomplete integration of monitoring and evaluation into national systems.
  • Ambiguous community roles and limited local involvement.
• Recommendations:
  • Develop a comprehensive national school feeding policy.
  • Ensure stable and diversified funding sources, including a national budget line.
  • Strengthen institutional frameworks and coordination mechanisms.
  • Improve the design and implementation of the program, including food safety and nutrition compliance.
  • Clarify the roles of school management committees and promote community participation.

Conclusion

School feeding is an essential tool for improving children's health, nutrition, and educational outcomes in Armenia. While the program has made progress, it remains reliant on external support and lacks a robust policy and institutional framework. Strengthening these elements is crucial for achieving long-term sustainability and effectiveness in the program.