The Role of Education – Vulnerability and the Role of Women and Girls in Alleviating World Hunger and Poverty

Women and Girls Women produce between 60 and 80 % of the food in most developing countries where they have less access to land and credit than men do. Women are the sole breadwinners in one out of three households around the world.

Women are Busy Women in Africa work an average of 50 % longer each day than men. If women had better access to farming land, fertilizers and agricultural training, yields in sub-Saharan Africa would improve by 22 %.

Two thirds of the 75 million children denied access to education around the world are girls. In rural Africa, about 70 percent of  girls do not finish primary school. Women invest an average 90 % of their incomes into their households, whereas men only reinvest about 30 to 40 %.

50 % of all pregnant women in developing countries are anaemic 50 % of all pregnant women in developing countries are anaemic. Iron deficiency causes around 110,000 deaths during child birth each year Malnourished mothers often give birth to underweight babies who are 20 % more likely to die before the age of five. Up to 17 million children are born underweight every year.

Intergenerational Cycle of Hunger Reduced capacity to care for baby Baby Low Birth Weight Small size Elderly Malnourished Reduced Lifespan - Untimely weaning - Frequent infections - Inadequate fetal nutrition - Fetal growth faltering - Risk of premature birth Reduced capacity to care for family Infant Impaired growth Impaired mental development Adult Man Malnourished Impaired stature Micronutrient deficiencies Adult Woman Malnourished Low-pregnancy weight gain Anemic High maternal mortality Growth Faltering Child Stunted Reduced Mental capacity ill-health Delayed entry into workforce Reduced labor productivity Lower earnings potential Chronic morbidity Adolescent Micronutrient deficiencies Stunted – mental & physical - Delayed school entry - ill health - Delayed puberty Adapted from James et. al. (2000) Intergenerational Cycle of Hunger

education WFP also works to support education, the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

nutritious food Good nutrition is essential for sustaining life – 2100 kilocalories per person.

School Feeding (SF) – Nutrition for Education Food aid - Micronutrient fortified biscuits to Gov’t and NGO primary schools Advocacy - mobilisation of School Management Committees – community involvement in their schools Partnership -UNICEF/others and involvement of NGOs in food delivery and monitoring

A Key Objective - Increase Enrollment and Attendance Food attracts children to school In the first year of a program, enrollment increases, attendance increases, absenteeism rates drop, dropout rates decrease

A Child’s Vision of Child-Friendly Schools is our vision Safe, nutritious food Clean water Proper sanitation School gardens A clean school environment

Essential Package Quality of Education - UNICEF Clean drinking water Sanitary latrines Micronutrient Supplementation De-worming School Gardens HIV / AIDS education Improved Infrastructure, including water collection, fuel efficient stoves, kitchen utensils.

School Feeding Results Enrolment and attendance rates increase significantly On a full stomach, a student is able to concentrate and learn Children are assured at least one nutritious meal a day (fewer mouths to feed for parents)

School Feeding Results Children, who otherwise may stay at home or work, are given the opportunity to learn. Parents are motivated to send their children to school instead of sending them to work Often the food aid provided is a vehicle for the critical micronutrients and vitamins – calories, while important, become a secondary objective

School Feeding Results Concentrate and Learn An educated child is a benefit life-long to the family, community and country Education produces a literate, self-reliant and healthy societies

Girls Education Two out of three girls on average don’t go to school in developing countries Very few of those who do, will finish more than four years of schooling A special approach/incentive is required Take-home rations for girls 80 percent attendance required

Girls Education These rations often compensate parents for the loss of their daughters' labour and enable girls to receive an education. Focus on girls has led to widespread success in increasing female attendance rates - in some schools by more than 300 percent.

Girls Education While girls without a primary education marry as early as age 11 and may have up to seven children before they are 18 girls who go to school marry later and have fewer children: less than three on average

Girls Education An educated girl marries later Has fewer children who live longer Spaced births More children survive Her children are more healthy Less exploited Less HIV risk More likely to educate their own children!!!

Girls Education Each year of a mother's schooling results in a five to 10 percent decrease in the mortality rate of her children. World Bank studies concluded that an extra year of education, beyond the national average, boosts girls' subsequent wages by roughly 10-20 percent

EXIT STRATEGY Setting milestones for achievement Government commitment Community contributions Technical support to build school feeding capacity Programme leadership and communication Involving the private sector

In service to the hungry poor