Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation

The analytical framework for the Kenya case study follows the set of standards developed in Rethinking School Feeding, to examine school feeding programmes. These are standards namely of: design and implementation, policy frameworks, institutional capacity and coordination and funding and community participation. In order to measure the impact of school feeding in Kenyan schools, case study Njaa Marufuku Kenya (NMK) employed the before and after methodology comparing benchmark indicators before and after the NMK Programme. Key impact indicators for community groups and private sector organization included changes in acreage and livestock holdings, productivity, incomes, technology uptake and establishments of revolving funds. Key indicators for the community Nutrition and School Meals Programme included pupil enrolment, performance and reduction in absenteeism in schools.

Organisation and Management of the Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) Programme in Kenya.

Various management units have been constituted that include the secretariat, the PCU and the District Coodinating Unit (DCU).The main decision making organ is the Joint national Steering Committee (JSC). The JSC approves the annual work plans and budgets and monitors the implementation of the programme activities. The Njaa Marufuku Kenya (NMK) secretariat oversees the day to day operations of the programme and maintains linkages with the Ministry of Education, Health, the Agriculture Sector Coordination Unit (ASCU) and other stakeholders involved in food security and nutrition activities. The district coordinating units and the divitional teachers are responsible for implementation of the HGSF activities at the district level in close collaboration with targeted communities and schools. The Parent Coordinating Units provide backstopping and monitor implementation process by the DCUs. Every school in the country is required to have a School Management Committee (SMC). According to the NMK guidelines, the actual implementation of the Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) is done by the School Feeding Programme Committee (SFMC). This is a sub-committee of SMC. It consists of at least three parent’s representatives who are not members of SMC, the school head teacher as the secretary and the teacher in charge of the School Feeding Programme (SFP) as member. The SFMC prepares the list of requirements and budgets, mobilises resources from the community and establishes strategies to facilitate sustainability of SFP among other activities.

In some schools the Monitoring and Evaluation is carried out by the DCU and receives assistance from line ministries once quarterly while in other schools the DCU unit involves parents. Monitoring is also done by the School Management Committee (SMC) reports written to the DCU and parents. Furthermore, all relevant line ministries, school meals and SMC do monthly monitoring, and the district internal auditor and active NGOs in the area participate in the M&E.