Voucher school feeding pilot (VSFP) activity : final evaluation report

This evaluation answers three evaluation questions (EQs), regarding VSFP’s influence on parents’ school enrollment decision (EQ1), the probable impacts of pilot discontinuity on enrollment (EQ2), and canteen sustainability after VSFP ends (EQ3). The evaluation team (ET) conducted a desk review, 17 key informant interviews, and 25 focus group discussions. Alongside school data on student enrollment, attendance, and performance, the ET used these multiple data sources to analyze and draw findings, conclusions, and recommendations about VSFP. For EQ1, the evaluation concluded that school canteens are closely connected to parents’ decision to enroll their children. Other motivating factors include low tuition and education quality. However, for the most vulnerable, canteens factor significantly into families’ economic and livelihood decisions. For EQ2, the ET concluded that the canteen has a clear impact on attendance. Whether or not a child eats at school factors strongly into parents’ decisions about how frequently children go to school, and motivates students to arrive before school, and stay throughout the day. Overall, the ET found that school attendance frequency would decline if VSFP ends. For EQ3, stakeholders considered ways to continue the school feeding activities after VSFP. FPDI is actively seeking support for VSFP’s continuation, however, area families face difficult economic situations, limiting most community stakeholders’ ability to materially contribute to ensure program continuity.