United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service |
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An Introduction to the McGovern-Dole ProgramThe McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program is a global school feeding program that promotes education, child development, and food security for some of the world’s poorest children. Named in honor of Ambassador and Senator George McGovern and Senator Robert Dole, the McGovern-Dole Program provides donations of agricultural commodities and financial and technical assistance for school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects in low-income countries. The school feeding and nutrition projects within recipient countries are conducted by nonprofit charitable organizations, cooperatives, the United Nations World Food Program, and other international organizations. USDA invites proposals for projects, which are then carefully reviewed. Proposals are selected based upon several criteria, including the following: (1) the implementing organization's experience in school feeding; (2) additional, non-McGovern-Dole program resources that will be available to implement multi-year, sustainable projects based on assessed needs; (3) targeting of low-income areas with low school attendance or enrollment rates, especially for girls; (4) coordination of supplementary feeding with nutrition programs; and (5) involvement of local institutions and communities. In addition, country eligibility for McGovern-Dole funding is contingent upon the following criteria: (1) country-wide per capita income must be at lower, or lower-middle income standards (using World Bank statistics); (2) the country must have greater than 20 percent prevalence of stunting (WHO data); (3) adult literacy rates must reside below 75 percent; (4) the country must be a net food importer; (5) the government must have preexisting commitments to education; and (6) the country may not have, or have limited civil conflict that could impede implementation of the program.
USDA announces its McGovern-Dole Program solicitation through the FAS website, the FACG, and other avenues. Generally, proposals are due to USDA in the summer and those chosen are announced the following winter. News
Important McGovern-Dole Program Resources
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