Japan has committed JPY 200 million (≈ US $1.36 M) to support Lesotho’s national school feeding programme, benefiting 50,000 pre-primary children and linking smallholder farmers to schools—boosting attendance, nutrition, and local food systems.
1. Introduction
Lesotho, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has long struggled with chronic food insecurity, exacerbated by erratic weather patterns, high unemployment, and poverty. The situation became especially dire following the recent El Niño-induced drought, which devastated crops and increased malnutrition risks for children. In response to this worsening crisis, Japan renewed its development support in 2025 by pledging JPY 200 million (approximately US $1.36 million) to strengthen Lesotho’s national school feeding programme.
This contribution, delivered through the World Food Programme (WFP), aims to feed 50,000 pre-primary children over 12 months, while also boosting local food systems by linking schools with smallholder farmers. This dual-purpose strategy enhances both food and nutrition security and contributes to broader socio-economic resilience.
2. Why Lesotho Needs Targeted Food and Nutrition Support
Lesotho faces significant development hurdles. Over 30% of its population—about 700,000 people—experience food insecurity. The government’s recent declaration of a food emergency (July 2024 – March 2025) reflects the urgent need for external support.
In rural and peri-urban areas, many children attend school hungry or drop out entirely due to the lack of food. Malnutrition during early childhood not only stunts physical development but also impairs cognitive ability and academic achievement. This reality makes the school feeding programme one of the country’s most critical social safety nets.
3. Details of Japan’s Contribution
3.1 Scope and Purpose
Japan’s US $1.36 million grant is earmarked for daily school meals at Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centres across Lesotho. The initiative will benefit 50,000 children, prioritising nutritional balance and meal regularity.
3.2 Meal Components
The meals include fortified maize meal, rice, and canned fish—designed to provide protein, essential micronutrients, and caloric support. These meals supplement existing porridge and address iron and vitamin deficiencies common among young children.
3.3 Local Procurement Strategy
By purchasing ingredients from local smallholder farmers, the programme injects income into rural economies and helps build sustainable food supply chains. This approach also reduces reliance on imported food and supports food sovereignty.
4. Multidimensional Impact
4.1 Improved Attendance and Cognitive Function
Children who eat nutritious meals at school show higher attendance and improved focus, which translates into better educational outcomes over time.
4.2 Combating Malnutrition
By delivering meals rich in protein and vitamins, the programme helps reduce stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions among preschool-aged children.
4.3 Empowering Smallholder Farmers
Stable demand from schools provides farmers with income security and incentives to expand their operations. Many participating farmers are women, who reinvest earnings into their households and communities.
5. Japan’s Broader Development Strategy
5.1 Human Security Focus
Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme prioritises human security—including access to food, education, and healthcare. This contribution aligns with that vision.
5.2 Long-Term Partnership with Lesotho
Since 2019, Japan has donated more than US $13 million to WFP operations in Lesotho. This continuity reflects Japan’s commitment to stable, long-term development partnerships.
5.3 Synergies with Other Interventions
Japan’s support also strengthens complementary programmes like climate-smart agriculture, mother-and-child nutrition clubs, and early childhood development initiatives.
6. Community and Human Stories
In districts like Mokhotlong and Thaba-Tseka, school staff have already noted improvements in attendance and energy levels among students. Mothers report relief knowing their children receive a warm meal at school, while local farmers express pride in seeing their produce used for a national cause.
Children, once distracted by hunger, now sing and learn with more energy. The programme not only feeds bellies but restores dignity and hope.
7. Broader Significance
7.1 Breaking Intergenerational Poverty
Nutrition and education are foundational to lifting families out of poverty. By investing early, the programme creates a positive feedback loop that supports long-term development.
7.2 A Model for Other African Countries
Lesotho’s home-grown school feeding model is scalable and adaptable. With the right international support, similar programmes can be replicated across food-insecure regions of Africa.
7.3 Policy Alignment with SDGs
Japan’s intervention supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 13: Climate Action (via support to climate-resilient agriculture)
For full details on the SDGs framework, visit the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals portal.
8. The Way Forward
8.1 Sustaining and Expanding the Programme
To cover all pre-primary learners and possibly extend to primary schools, Lesotho and its partners will need to scale operations, expand farmer engagement, and ensure sustained funding.
8.2 Resilience to Climate Shocks
Investments in irrigation, seed varieties, and early warning systems will help keep the food pipeline resilient despite droughts or price fluctuations.
8.3 Institutional Ownership
As Lesotho develops capacity to manage school feeding independently, lessons learned from Japan-WFP partnerships will be vital in designing sustainable, government-led models.
9. Integrating School Feeding into National Education Policy
Lesotho’s Ministry of Education has begun integrating school feeding into its broader education policy framework, ensuring that nutritional support is not treated as an auxiliary service, but as a critical component of the learning process. By embedding school feeding into curriculum development, teacher training, and school budgeting, the country is building a sustainable system where nutrition and learning go hand in hand.
The policy shift acknowledges that hungry children cannot learn effectively. School feeding is now positioned as a strategic tool for reducing dropout rates and improving academic performance, particularly in underserved rural regions. This alignment between education and nutrition signals a forward-thinking approach to human capital development.
10. Innovation and Digital Monitoring of School Feeding Programmes
To increase efficiency and transparency, the school feeding programme in Lesotho is adopting digital technologies for monitoring and evaluation. Tablets and mobile data platforms are used to track attendance, meal distribution, and farmer supply chains in real time. This digital transformation allows stakeholders to optimize food delivery logistics, reduce waste, and ensure that children receive their meals consistently.
Moreover, the data collected supports evidence-based decision-making and helps identify gaps in service delivery. By treating school feeding as both a social investment and a measurable performance metric, Lesotho is setting a new standard for integrated development in Southern Africa.
Conclusion
Japan’s 2025 support to Lesotho’s school feeding programme represents more than just a food security intervention. It is an investment in human dignity, rural empowerment, and long-term national development. By integrating nutrition into education and connecting smallholder farmers to reliable markets, this initiative exemplifies a comprehensive, forward-looking development model. It also showcases how strategic international partnerships, like that between Japan and Lesotho, can yield transformative results in even the most challenging environments.
