How to Apply
Application Deadline: Jul 9, 2021
Status: Closed
McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program helps support education, child development and food security in low-income, food-deficit countries around the globe. The program provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities, as well as financial and technical assistance, to support school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects.
The key objective of the McGovern-Dole Program is to reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education, especially for girls. By providing school meals, teacher training and related support, McGovern-Dole projects help boost school enrollment and academic performance. At the same time, the program also focuses on improving children’s health and learning capacity before they enter school by offering nutrition programs for pregnant and nursing women, infants and pre-schoolers. Sustainability is an important aspect of the McGovern-Dole Program. FAS and its partner organizations work to ensure that the communities served by the program can ultimately continue the sponsored activities on their own or with support from other sources such as the host government or local community.
McGovern-Dole projects are conducted by nonprofit charitable organizations, cooperatives, the United Nations World Food Program and other international organizations. FAS announces a list of priority countries each year, based on factors such as per-capita income and literacy and malnutrition rates.
The McGovern-Dole Program is named in honor of Ambassador and former U.S. Senator George McGovern and former U.S. Senator Robert Dole in recognition of their tireless efforts to eradicate childhood hunger.
Resources
Regulations
Program Notices
Policies & Procedures
Data and Analysis
Graphic illustrating USDA's role in promoting food security worldwide, which in turn creates new markets for U.S. agricultural exports.
The US Department of Agriculture is working in partnership with the United Nations World Food Program to provide school feeding assistance to more than 260,000 students in Ethiopia.
News and Features
July 2, 2021
International Food Assistance Report FY 2020
June 21, 2021
Led by USDA, U.S. to Join Global School Meals Coalition
Led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United States is joining a global coalition focused on improving the nutrition, health, and education of vulnerable children and adolescents worldwide.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting fiscal year 2021 applications for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, which helps support education, child development and food...
Programs in Action
March 22, 2019
FAS Farm Bill Listening Sessions
On March 22, 2019, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) held listening sessions to solicit input from stakeholders with an interest in agency programs authorized under the Trade Title of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2019. Thanks all the...
December 21, 2016
An Insider’s Journey to Improving Food Security and Literacy in Tanzania
USDA’s McGovern–Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program helps reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education in low-income, food-deficit countries around the world. Today, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)...
