New Japanese funding helps WFP sustain school meals and nutrition programmes in Guinea-Bissau

This contribution will enable WFP to provide nutritious school meals to approximately 200,000 children nationwide, while also supplying locally produced food supplements and diversified food baskets, including fresh vegetables and fruits to more than 3,000 children under five to help prevent and treat malnutrition.

“We welcome Japan’s continued support, a longstanding partner of WFP in Guinea-Bissau and across the region whose commitment is essential to ensuring that children can continue to access school meals and nutritional support,” said Kinday Samba, WFP’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “We are so grateful to all governments, private sector actors, and institutions that like Japan, support our efforts in protecting the most vulnerable groups during these uncertain times.”

According to the 2025 Global Hunger Index, 22 percent of Guinea-Bissau’s population is undernourished, and nearly one in three children under the age of five suffers from wasting, largely due to limited access to diversified and nutritious diets. Japan’s support comes at a critical time, helping WFP maintain essential programmes amid increasing pressure on food security.

Funding shortfalls during the current school year have already led to a reduction in the number of children receiving daily school meals—from 200,000 to 151,800—and to simplified menus consisting mainly of rice, canned fish and beans, with Japan’s contributions playing a central role in sustaining the programme. Nutrition interventions have also been affected, with the supply of specialized nutritious foods for young children reduced from six months to three months—a 50 percent cut that limits WFP’s capacity to support children during their most critical growth period.

“Japan will continue to engage resolutely in addressing urgent challenges such as hunger and malnutrition, in cooperation with international organizations, including the World Food Programme”, said His Excellency Mr. Takeshi Akamatsu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. “Under all circumstances, the Government of Japan will always place a strong emphasis on humanitarian assistance and continue to implement assistance that is responsive to the needs of the population. Through this support, we hope to deliver food aid to as many people as possible.”

During the 2024–2025 school year, support from the Government of Japan enabled WFP to assist more than 197,000 schoolchildren through the national school feeding programme. In addition, for the first time, Japan’s supplementary emergency funding in 2025 allowed WFP to provide voucher-based food assistance to nearly 2,000 families affected by the 2024 floods in the Oio and Tombali regions.

With this new contribution, WFP will strengthen essential nutrition support while reinforcing local production capacities, through school meals and locally sourced food supplements for young children. This approach is vital for promoting rural development, resilience and more sustainable futures for vulnerable communities.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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