School canteens are essential for students in beneficiary schools in Itasy. 11,000 students from 29 schools in the Itasy region will receive hot and nutritious meals every school day during the 2026-2027 school year, thanks to a new partnership between the World Food Programme (WFP), World Food Program USA, and the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). This partnership was officially launched on September 9, 2026, at the public primary school of Ambohitrinimanga, in the commune of Ambatomirahavavy, marking a new phase in expanding the school canteen program based on local products implemented by the WFP in Madagascar, thanks to a joint contribution of approximately one million dollars, or nearly 4.6 billion ariary, from World Food Program USA and LCIF.

This project aligns with the local production-based school canteen model supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, where meals are prepared from agricultural products sourced from communities. This approach simultaneously improves children's nutrition and supports small-scale farmers, thereby strengthening local food systems and economies.

Working Together. "School feeding based on local production brings together nutrition, education, and resilience on a single platform," emphasized WFP Representative in Madagascar, Tania Goossens. For his part, the Director General of Educational Establishments at the Ministry of National Education, Manalazato Clémentine, stressed that school feeding is an essential investment in children's futures, enabling them to improve school attendance, learn in better conditions, and grow in good health. This view is shared by Lion CMJp Stefan Andrianisa, Governor of District 417, who indicated that this project realizes the synergy between LCIF's international financial power and District 417's field action. "Our local clubs will mobilize their expertise to deploy integrated high-impact actions for students and communities in Itasy, according to our motto 'Working Together, For a Common Legacy'," he specified.

Active Role. As part of this partnership, members of Lions Clubs in District 417 will play an active role on the ground with the 29 schools involved, through complementary activities integrated into the program. Fighting hunger and supporting youth constitute one of the priority areas for Lions International in general, and for Lions in District 417 in Madagascar in particular. A pilot approach being tested under this partnership consists of direct purchases between schools and farmer organizations, with WFP support for all logistics and transport aspects. It aims to strengthen the sustainability of the school feeding program based on local purchases.

In Madagascar, the local purchase-based school feeding model supports 243,000 children in 673 schools in the South, Southeast, and Central Highlands regions.