Challenges

In the Republic of Congo, 33.3% of families face food insecurity, particularly in rural areas, and 19.6% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. Domestic food production covers only 30% of the country’s needs, making it heavily dependent on imports. Processing and storage of food are mainly artisanal and often inadequate, contributing to product and nutrient loss. Farmers, largely organized in associations of family farms and cooperatives, continue to rely on traditional, labor-intensive techniques. Access to markets remains limited, especially in remote regions, and women face inequalities in accessing land. There is also limited institutional capacity to support smallholders due to weak rural infrastructure, insufficient technical assistance, and poor access to equipment. Addressing these challenges requires investment in infrastructure, diversification of agricultural production, training, and empowerment of women and indigenous peoples to link agriculture with school feeding and food security.

Toward a Solution

Launched in June 2023, the Seeds for Tomorrow project aims to improve food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers, their families, and schoolchildren in the Republic of Congo, supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The initiative follows a dual-level approach: building institutional capacity and empowering grassroots actors.

At the institutional level, the project supports policymakers and technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP) and the Ministry of Pre-school, Primary, Secondary Education and Literacy (MEPPSA) through a training-of-trainers model and on-the-job coaching. At the community level, it works directly with i) smallholder farmer associations and cooperatives by providing equipment, tailored training, and field demonstrations delivered by ministry expertsl and ii) school communities by providing trainings on food procurement and menu design.  These efforts aim to link smallholder producers with institutional markets via homegrown school feeding (HGSF) programmes.

The project supports 10 schools and 10 smallholder associations across threel departments in the Republic of Congo. Funded through the India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Fund managed by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), this initiative is jointly implemented by the Governments of Brazil and the Republic of Congo with technical support from the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil (Brazil CoE) and WFP Republic of Congo.

At its core, the project promotes South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) as a pathway to knowledge exchange, institutional strengthening, and adaptation of proven practices. Activities include study visits to Brazil, policy dialogues, trainings, in-field demonstrations, and technical workshops to foster shared understanding and national ownership.

In 2024, technical workshops and field visits were held with farmers and school committees to build local capacity. A Congolese delegation also participated in the 2024 Global Child Nutrition Forum in Japan, presenting the country’s school feeding strategy and learning from other Global South nations. These actions led to high-level political engagement, including the Republic of Congo’s commitment to the Global School Meals Coalition in February 2025.

Participatory design has been key to the project’s success. From the start, scoping missions, planning sessions, and regular engagement involved local authorities, school representatives, and farming communities. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities supported strong coordination and accountability. Inspired by Brazil’s approach, the project introduced institutional mentoring, farmer-to-farmer exchanges, and customized training materials adapted to the Congolese context. A dual governance mechanism—comprising a Steering Committee for political oversight and a Technical Committee for implementation—ensured coordinated action and alignment with national food security and nutrition priorities.

The initiative has also laid the groundwork for long-term sustainability. It contributed to the revision of the national school feeding policy and the decision by the Government of Congo to develop a transition strategy (2026–2030) from a WFP-led to a country-led, home-grown school feeding programme as envisioned by the  MEPSA-WFP MoU signed in October 2024.

The project demonstrates the adaptability and scalability of SSTC approaches. Rooted in local knowledge and national priorities, it promotes inclusive engagement while strengthening systems. With conditions such as political will, stable institutions, strong community structures, and sustained funding in place, the model is replicable in similar contexts, both regionally and globally.

Key Lessons Learned:

• Strong governance is essential. A dual governance structure enabled cross-sectoral collaboration, high-level oversight, and operational coordination. It ensured alignment with national policies, fostered local ownership, and facilitated adaptive project management.
• Government ownership drives sustainability. Leadership from MAEP and MEPPSA aligned the project with national priorities and strategies, enabling a smooth scale-up process and paving the way for full national ownership.
• Defined roles improve accountability. Early clarification of responsibilities supported effective implementation, stakeholder coordination, and integration of technical solutions into policy frameworks.
• Tailored South-South practices enhance relevance. Contextualizing lessons from Brazil through policy dialogue, study visits, and peer learning ensured they were adapted effectively to the Congolese context.

By linking school meals to local agriculture through a participatory, government-led process supported by SSTC, the Seeds for Tomorrow project is advancing a sustainable transformation in the Republic of Congo’s food systems and education sector.