For many years during Liberia’s civil war, schools were not safe places, and malnutrition was rife. While children have returned to school in greater numbers, convincing more families to keep their children in school remains difficult.. International Relief and Development (IRD) will use commodities and funds provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement a three-year “Food for Education” program that will improve this situation for 30,000 primary school children annually in Montserrado, Margibi, and Grand Cape Mount counties.

During the first year of the project, starting in September 2010, IRD will cooperate with local producers to prepare and deliver to each participating school child a locally produced protein-enriched beverage and cookie package. In addition to providing needed protein and energy supplements to children, local manufacture of these products will help generate jobs. During the first semester of the initial school year, IRD and local partners will also provide a traditional school feeding program using bulgar wheat, yellow split peas, and vegetable oil donated by USDA.

Other incentives provided by the project to encourage children to stay in school include development of school-based farms and gardens (with creation of associated clubs), strengthening of parent-teacher-student associations (PTSAs), funds for basic facility renovation, funds for construction of handpumps and gender-segregated latrines, where needed, and deworming campaigns.

IRD recognizes that strengthened and empowered PTSAs are a key means of improving the quality of primary education. Parents and community members will be encouraged to help manage schools and take ownership of their children’s education through project-associated tasks such as managing the distribution of project-provided food items, assisting with the school farms and gardens, and helping to administer funds generated from school gardens and school farms.

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