Japan reinforces support for Guinea-Bissau with school meals for 200,000 children – Observer

The Japanese government has reinforced support for school meals in Guinea-Bissau, which will reach 200,000 students, 22,000 more than the population covered so far by the World Food Program (WFP) initiative.

The new agreement was made official this Monday, in Bissau, and provides 1.27 million dollars (1.21 million euros) which will allow WFP to purchase 101 tonnes of canned fish and 546 tonnes of rice from Japan.

These foods, according to those responsible, will guarantee, for two years, “hot and nutritious meals for 200 thousand children in 850 schools, starting from the next school year”.

Japan’s aid translates into support for the National School Canteen Program of Guinea-Bissau, which is already benefiting from an identical agreement, formalized in January this year, to supply 247 tons of canned fish to 178,000 students in the primary education.

From the next school year onwards, the number of children served will increase to 200 thousand.

Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of National Education, Herry Mané, thanked Japan for its support and commitment to supporting the nutrition and education of Guinea-Bissau’s children.

“The government of Japan has been an unconditional partner in supporting Guinea-Bissau’s development efforts,” said the official, at the agreement signing ceremony.

The minister highlighted that “the continued cooperation of the people of Japan for the school canteen program, together with the commitment of the World Food Program (WFP) has a tangible impact on the lives of students, ensuring that they are nourished and ready to learn.”

“School feeding is a present investment, with a significant impact in the medium and long term for our children and consequently for the development of human capital and the country’s economy”, he declared.

This support from Japan also allows food products to be purchased from local producers, according to PAM, which is preparing to hand over the management of school meals to the government of Guinea-Bissau.

The new agreement was signed in Bissau by the Minister of National Education, the Japanese ambassador to Senegal, Izawa Osamu, and the PAM representative, Claude Kakule.