The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program
The federal McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program is named after former Senator George McGovern (D-SD) and former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) for their long-standing commitment to U.S. government efforts in school feeding and child nutrition around the world. Congress first authorized the program as part of the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, better known as the 2002 farm bill. It has always had bipartisan support.
The McGovern-Dole program’s purpose is to reduce hunger and promote literacy and primary education, especially for girls. It does this by providing school meals and by carrying out other activities that boost the impact of providing these meals. So far, McGovern-Dole has reached 40 million children with food at school. It is currently active in 24 countries.
Over the years, the McGovern-Dole program has led to important improvements in children’s food security and nutritional status and in school enrollment, attendance, and gender parity. It has been proven effective in getting children, particularly girls, into school and helping them stay in school. School meals improve students’ ability to concentrate and learn. They also strengthen food security for the children’s families. In the longer term, educating girls is critical to ending hunger and malnutrition in future generations.
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Briefing Paper: A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Nutrition. Assessing USAID's Progress.
Better nutrition is a necessary component of a country’s capacity to achieve development goals such as economic growth and improved public health.
The U.S. Contribution to Ending Global Malnutrition
Worldwide, maternal and child malnutrition causes millions of deaths each year. In some countries, it holds entire generations back from reaching their economic potential.
For Faith
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement
This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-African people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
Sermon by David Beckmann at Duke University Chapel
Remarks delivered October 1, 2017 at Duke University Chapel in Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
Thank you for inviting me to preach here at Duke University Chapel. And I especially want to thank the Bread for the World members who have come this morning.
Bruce Puckett urged...
For Advocacy
U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $250 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $250 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.