The European Union has contributed 2.6 Million Euro to the School Feeding Programme in The Gambia. The life span of the Programme was from December 2009 to July 2012 and the implementing organisation was the World Food Programme (WFP).

The Programme was set up in order to militate against the impact of the 2008 food crisis and completes the World Food Programme (WFP) funded Programme that is already running in the rural area by focusing on the urban area which is greatly affected by the crisis.

Apart from targeting nutrition by providing a nutritious breakfast and lunch to approximately 52,500 children, the School Feeding Programme contributes to improving learning, attendance and enrolment in primary schools, particularly of girls.

The Programme is also funding a Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping of the Food Security Situation in The Gambia. 40% of The Gambia's 1.7 million population is under 15 years.

Approximately 63% of the rural and 57% of the urban populations live in poverty. Many are leaving the rural area to move to the cities and the agricultural sector (the prime sector of the economy) suffers a number of constraints to improve food security and reduce poverty.