In Chad, hunger is a major obstacle to participating in school. Discover how the school canteens set up by SWISSAID and the World Food Programme (WFP) in the south and east of the country guarantee every child a daily meal.
Country, Region:
Provinces of Ouaddaï, Sila, Wadi Fira and Ennedi-Est
Length:
November 2025 - June 2026
Beneficiaries:
110,241 students from 155 schools
Total project budget:
628,593 CHF
The project aims to:
It is exactly 12:15 PM in the village of Bakassa. The screeching sound of chalk scraping on some slate boards stops; silence suddenly falls over the wood and straw sheds that serve as classrooms. Under the large mango tree in the courtyard, large pots release an enticing smell. As the fragrances make their way into the classrooms, bellies can be heard faintly grumbling.
In this village of Logone Oriental, in southern Chad, the school canteen represents much more than a simple catering service. For many students, it guarantees a balanced meal every day, acts as a shield against food insecurity, and contributes to better learning conditions. A benefit also appreciated by parents.
Seeing the many children crowding around, it is difficult to imagine that only a few years ago, the classes were almost empty. “The children said they were tired or sick. Many turned back as early as the first recess,” recalls the chief of Mballa, a village not far away which also benefits from a school canteen.
In Chad, school absenteeism is a systemic problem: more than half of the children do not finish the primary cycle. This absence has serious consequences for their future, particularly for girls.
8 out of 10 children from the poorest households are not in school. A child born into a poor family is 2.5 times more likely to never set foot in a classroom than a child from a privileged background.
Only 1.7% of adult women in Chad have reached a secondary education level (compared to about 10% for men). This lack of schooling limits access to health information, civic rights, and economic opportunities.
In Chad, the human capital index, measuring the set of skills of an individual and their economic value, is one of the lowest in the world (below 0.40). This means that a child born today will only reach 40% of their productive potential as an adult, due to gaps in health and education.
To address this urgency, SWISSAID and the World Food Programme (WFP) launched a joint school canteen project. The goal is simple: provide every enrolled child with a daily meal to encourage regular attendance.
12-year-old Etienne Allahodji shares what kind of impact the project has left on his life: “At home, there are seven of us children. We don’t always have enough food. When I come to school, I know that at noon, I will definitely have something to eat.”
The project also provides resources for the construction of improved stoves that consume less wood for cooking, the creation of food storages, access to drinking water, and better student care.
Many women work in school cafeterias. Here, the cooks at the public school in Sandana are Suzanne Monbaye, 33, Haroun Hawa, 25, Clarisse Nerabaye, 32, and Rosine Dene-adoum, 22. Together, they prepare the meals and place them on aluminum trays to distribute to the students.
At home, there are seven of us children. We don’t always have enough food. When I come to school, I know that at noon, I will definitely have something to eat.
Etienne Allahodji, a 12-year-old schoolboy, benefits from school meals. This allows him to learn with a full stomach, without having to worry about finding food.
Since the conflict in Sudan erupted in 2023 , over a million people have sought refuge in neighboring Chad. Among them, hundreds of thousands of children. In refugee camps in eastern Chad, such as Farchana, schools are stretched to their breaking point.
Leveraging its local network and emergency aid experience, SWISSAID naturally extended its collaboration with the WFP to schools hosting refugees. This geographical and human proximity allows for targeted aid where resources are most scarce.
SWISSAID is committed to a sustainable development rooted in the local economy. Instead of relying on imported goods, the canteens are stocked with grains, fruits, and vegetables grown by local farming families. This ensures children receive fresh, nutritious food while simultaneously boosting the local food production.
In the shade of the large trees of Bakassa, the students discuss joyfully between two mouthfuls of boule, a firm semolina made from millet or sorghum flour, accompanied by okra sauce. When asked how these meals have changed their lives, the answers echo that of 3rd-grader Gervais Djasrabé: “When my belly is full, I study well.”
Madji Celestin, a local school principal, confirms this shift: “Thanks to the canteen, we see a drop in absences and better concentration in class. Children who have eaten are more attentive and motivated.”
A child who studies with a full stomach can focus entirely on learning and enjoy the experience of school. These canteens are a precious tool for academic success and, in the long term, the development of the society.
*Photo credit: Salomon Djekorgee Dainyoo at Fairpicture
