President Hakainde Hichilema has called for stronger partnerships, investments as well as practical solutions to improve school meal programmes worldwide. Mr Hichilema has also called for increased investment in research and innovation, stronger supply chains, climate-resilient…

President Hakainde Hichilema has called for stronger partnerships, investments as well as practical solutions to improve school meal programmes worldwide.

Mr Hichilema has also called for increased investment in research and innovation, stronger supply chains, climate-resilient approaches, clean cooking solutions and new financing mechanisms to support sustainable growth.

He has described Zambia’s successful school feeding programme as an investment in education, nutrition, health, agriculture and national development.

The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, in Lusaka today at the official opening of the 2026 Global Child Nutrition Forum.

He noted that Zambia’s home-grown school meals programme now reaches more than 5.6 million learners across all 116 districts.

“The programme links schools with local agricultural production, aiming to provide meals while creating markets for local farmers and supporting community economies,” Mr Hichilema stated.

He further stated that despite the success, challenges persist that include climate shocks affecting food production, supply, gaps in school infrastructure, and limited access to clean cooking technologies.

The President, however, indicated that Zambia is working with nutrition experts, agricultural stakeholders and development partners to diversify school menus and improve their nutritional value across all the 116 districts in the country.

Ukraine First Lady, Olena Zelenska, says Zambia’s success in the School Feeding Programme is well acknowledged and must be a point of reference.

She stressed that the country’s commitment to turning its vision into action continues to impress the global stage.

Ms Zelenska, who attended the Forum virtually, noted that currently despite the war, Ukraine has about 3 million children benefiting from school meals and further called for equal opportunities in nutritional food for all children.

GCNF Executive Director, Arlene Mitchell, noted that despite world challenges, Zambia continues to thrive in School Meals Programme

Ms Mitchell urged participants from around the world to ensure that their actions and decisions on nutrition support the growth and health of children.

Earlier Minister of Education, Harry Kamboni, highlighted that the forum allows strengthening collaborations of sustainable school meals programmes worldwide.

He commended the government for positive reforms and policies such as the free education policy that have allowed millions of children to enroll in school.

The Global Child Nutrition Forum has attracted participants from Kenya, Cameroon, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, the Republic of Yemen and Nigeria.

Others are from Togo, Sri Lanka, the Kingdom of Sweden, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sudan among others.