Vegetables Go to School (VGtS)

Malnutrition affects negatively all aspects of an individual’s health and development and limits societies’ economic and social development. Children who consume inadequate quality and quantity of food have diminished cognitive ability, poorer school performance and retarded growth. In the five countries targeted by the Vegetables go to School (VGtS) project (Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines) undernutrition of children is a serious concern and governments develop strategies to improve the nutrition of children. It is well understood that malnutrition derives not just from inadequate food, but from interactions linking health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Schools offer an ideal entry point for multi-facet nutrition and health interventions. Despite more than fifty years of experience with school garden programs, the evidence that these programs contribute to nutritional, educational and economic outcomes is not well documented. VGtS aims to learn in a structured way from school garden programs and collect data to improve their efficacy, quantify outcomes and support policy work.

Contribute to improved nutritional security in the target countries through school vegetable gardens linked to other school-based health, nutrition and environmental initiatives with close participation of local communities.

School teachers and children

Policy makers in the different ministries of the respective countries (Agriculture, Health, Education)

Outcome 1: Increased capacities, knowledge and evidence on school gardens, nutrition and WASH interventions and their impact on health and nutrition of school children (aged 8-15). 

Outcome 2: Policy framework for school gardens linked with nutrition and WASH interventions initiated through collaboration between Ministry of Education and Agriculture and other key ministries.

Erwartete Resultate:  

• Policy briefs on school gardens integrated with nutrition and WASH interventions are elaborated for all 5 countries
• Roadmaps for a policy framework to scale out school vegetable gardens and how to link them to other community-based interventions are available for all 5 countries
• 141 schools have integrated school vegetable garden programs, reaching 42’000 school children aged 8-15
• 650 home gardens are established in Bhutan and Burkina Faso

Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

• 136 schools participating in integrated school garden programs collecting scientific evidence
• Web-based collaborative research environment established and 200 teachers trained
• Randomised stepwise control trial to measure effects of school gardens on knowledge, attitudes and behavior undertaken in Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Indonesia and Nepal
• Intervention studies with a cluster randomised trial design on the links between Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) and school vegetable gardens conducted in Burkina Faso and Nepal
• Inter-ministerial national task forces of representatives from Ministry of Agriculture, Education and Health established in Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Indonesia and Nepal

SUN multi-stakeholder platforms in the respective countries; SDC projects on nutrition in the region or global (SN4A global, NMA global, CHAIN: Cambodia, ENUFF: Laos).

Phase 2 01.07.2016 - 30.06.2017   (Completed)