The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, (MBSSE) in partnership with the European Union and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening monitoring, accountability and evidence-based decision-making for the country’s National School Feeding Programme.
Supported by a EUR 2 million contribution from the European Union, the two-year initiative will strengthen the Government’s capacity to generate, manage and use reliable data to oversee school feeding activities. It is expected to contribute to improved school feeding outcomes for more than one million children across Sierra Leone.
The initiative was formally launched at an inception meeting on 9 November 2026 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, bringing together representatives of MBSSE, the National School Feeding Secretariat, European Union, WFP, other government institutions, district education authorities and development partners.
As the National School Feeding Programme expands, the need for accurate, timely and accessible information is becoming increasingly important. Current monitoring arrangements rely significantly on manual processes and fragmented data-collection mechanisms, which can limit the availability of real-time information needed for effective programme management.
The new initiative seeks to address these challenges by strengthening national monitoring capacity, reporting processes, data-quality controls and the use of evidence in programme management. Digital solutions, including Open Data Kit and School Connect, will support real-time monitoring, improve data management and enable faster evidence-based decisions.
The initiative places government leadership and national capacity at its centre, helping ensure that decision makers have better information to understand what is happening in schools and identify where improvements are needed.
In his statement, the Minster of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey said that over the next 24 months with technical support from WFP and financial support from the EU the School Feeding Secretariat will move from activity counting to evidence management.
“Strengthening our monitoring and evaluation system will enable us to better understand what is working, identify gaps and ensure that resources reach the children and schools that need them. This initiative will help us make decisions based on reliable evidence and strengthen accountability across the programme,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Abdul Deen Sesay said:
“The European Union is pleased to support this initiative through the provision of Euros 2 million to the WFP to strengthen the M &E system of the School Feeding Secretariatin terms of improving the tools, processes, capacity and information system that enables more effective management and oversight of the school feeding programme.”
WFP will work alongside government institutions and partners as the initiative develops stronger monitoring systems. The inception meeting will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to review the proposed Monitoring and Evaluation framework, clarify institutional responsibilities and agree on priorities and immediate actions for implementation.
“This initiative will support the Government in developing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system for the National school feeding programme, bringing together common standards, digital monitoring tools, stronger field-level capacity and mechanisms for community feedback.” Said Andrew Odero, WFP Representative and Country Director adding it will strengthen the ability of the national School Feeding Secretariat to bring that information together and put it to use.
Beyond technology, the initiative is expected to strengthen the institutional capacity needed to collect, analyse and use information routinely. This will help transform monitoring from simply reporting activities into a practical management tool for improving programme effectiveness and accountability.
The partnership comes at an important moment as Sierra Leone continues expanding its National School Feeding Programme. With more children benefiting from school meals, stronger information systems will be essential to understanding programme performance, improving delivery and ensuring that investments translate into tangible results for schoolchildren.
