How do publicly procured school meals programmes in sub-Saharan Africa improve nutritional outcomes for children and adolescents: a mixed-methods systematic review.

This review aimed to (i) synthesise evidence of the impact of publicly procured school meals programmes on nutritional outcomes of children/adolescents (5-18 years) in sub-Saharan Africa and (ii) identify challenges and facilitators to implementing effective school meals programmes. Mixed-methods systematic review ( Sub-Saharan Africa. Children/adolescents (5-18 years), parents, school personnel and government officials. Thirty-three studies (twenty-six qualitative, seven quantitative) from nine sub-Saharan African countries were included. Six studies found a positive impact of publicly procured school meals programmes on nutritional outcomes (wasting ( As many challenges remain, strengthening implementation (and therefore the nutritional impact) of school meals programmes in sub-Saharan Africa requires bold commitment and improved coordination at multiple levels of governance.