Senegal/Rufisque: CICODEV supports the central kitchen and vending machines around nine schools

The Pan-African Institute for Citizenship, Consumers and Development (CICODEV), together with the Groupe de recherche et de réalisation pour le développement rural (Grdr), has granted financial support to the central kitchen of the Lycée moderne de Rufisque and the vending machines around nine schools in this department of the Dakar region (west).

To provide access to quality food and combat food vulnerability in schools, the project's partners have decided to support the central kitchen, which is supplied largely with local agricultural and processed products, explained Mamadou Siby, CICODEV's program assistant for sustainable access to healthy food, during a visit to the school this week.Mamadou Siby, CICODEV's program assistant for sustainable access to healthy food, explained during a visit to beneficiary schools this week.

This central kitchen, supplied with local produce, serves hot meals to 9 schools in the department.

A large number of children do not eat at the canteen and buy a sandwich or sweets on the spot from vendors set up in or around the schools", he explained.

A study carried out by CICODEV identified problems with the food sold in the vicinity of schools in the department of Rufisque.

The study showed that "there is a significant supply of local products that can replace these imported products, but the combination of low availability, accentuated by low visibility, and the sometimes high selling price of these local products is an obstacle to their consumption by the greatest number of people".

The survey conducted by CICODEV in 2024 in 9 schools identified the food products offered to pupils, and gathered their opinions on the local food products or dishes they would like to eat, explained Mr. Siby.

To improve this food offering, CICODEV and its partners have organized training for women vendors in the vicinity of the schools with nutritionists and dieticians, to improve the food offer proposed to pupils.

To give impetus to this change, financial support was provided to the women who will manage the central kitchen that will supply the school canteens in the beneficiary schools. Since Thursday, CICODEV Africa has been handing out cheques and aprons to beneficiaries in various schools.

The project is part of the Rufisque Territorial Plan Implementation Support Program (AMOPAR), supported by the French Development Agency (AFD).

It's a salutary initiative that supports student nutrition in an area where there are many deprived families.said one of the initiative's beneficiaries, Pend Gueye Mbaye, Headmistress of Ecole Gouye Mouride.

For her, the installation of the school canteen will greatly motivate the pupils and improve their academic performance.

It's a difficult area where children come to school without having breakfast and stay at school even at lunchtime without eating," said Penda Gueye Mbaye.

The Rufisque Departmental Council (CDR), with the support of Grdr and CICODEV Afrique, is committed to drawing up a sustainable Territorial Food Plan (PAT) aimed at preserving agricultural areas, stimulating food processing and improving the quality of food.server agricultural areas, stimulate agri-food processing and improve the food and nutritional security of local residents, especially schoolchildren.

Source: aps.sn/