EOI: Development of Best Practice School Feeding Guidelines in Nigeria

The Strategic Partnerships for Agroecology and Climate Justice in West Africa (SPAC-West Africa) Nigeria Project, funded by ActionAid International’s Transformative Impact Fund (3-year project), aims to improve food and nutrition security and enhance agroecological skills of 120,000 Smallholder Women Farmers (SHWFs) and young people. This is to be achieved by facilitating access to early-maturing seeds, seedlings, livestock, and poultry, thereby supporting agroecological practices, indigenous seeds, and the preservation of agrobiodiversity for increased yields.

Through agroecology budget monitoring, tracking, and advocacy to expand fiscal spaces, rightsholders will benefit from increased budget allocations for agriculture. The project will also establish and scale 26 model agroecological farms led by SHWFs to increase the adoption of agroecological practices. Implementation is ongoing in Jigawa, Delta, Ebonyi, Ondo, Taraba, the FCT, and at the national level.

As part of its integrated food systems approach, ActionAid Nigeria is implementing an Innovative Integrated School Feeding Model under the Innovative Action for School Feeding Programme (Innovative Action) in Taraba State with the technical and financial support of the ECOWAS Commission and the financial participation of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. Innovative Action is designed to strengthen the Policy Engagement Framework for the institutionalisation of school feeding programmes in Nigeria, while increasing sustainable access to healthy, balanced meals for pupils in the border communities of Taraba State. Innovative Action on School Feeding Project, links smallholder farmers, particularly women, to school feeding programmes. This model promotes locally sourced, nutritious, and agroecologically produced food while strengthening livelihoods and improving child nutrition outcomes.

Rationale

School feeding programmes in Nigeria, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), have significantly improved school enrolment, retention, and nutrition outcomes. However, challenges remain around sustainability, nutrition quality, water and sanitation, deworming of school pupils, local sourcing, integration of smallholder farmers, gender inclusion, and climate resilience.

There is currently limited documentation and standardisation of best practices from innovative and integrated school feeding models, particularly those that link agroecology, local food systems, and women-led agricultural production, water, sanitation, and health.

To address this gap, ActionAid Nigeria seeks to engage a qualified consultant to develop Practice School Feeding Guidelines. The guidelines will serve as a practical and evidence-based tool to support government, development partners, and practitioners in designing and implementing inclusive, nutrition-sensitive, climate-resilient, and locally driven school feeding programmes.

Objectives

The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop a Best Practice School Feeding Guideline that promotes innovative, integrated, and sustainable school feeding approaches.

Specific objectives include:

• Develop a comprehensive, evidence-based guideline on best practices in school feeding, drawing from ActionAid Nigeria’s innovative integrated model and other national and global experiences.
• Promote linkages between school feeding programmes and smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, within agroecological value chains.
• Integrate key cross-cutting issues, including nutrition, gender equality, climate resilience, local procurement, and community ownership. 

Methodology

The methodology will include, but not be limited to:

• Desk reviews and analysis

Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Review and document global, regional, and national best practices in school feeding.
2. Analyse ActionAid Nigeria’s innovative integrated school feeding model and extract key lessons.
3. Develop a structured Best Practice School Feeding Guideline covering:
   • Programme design and implementation
   • Local food procurement and value chain integration
   • Nutrition standards and menu planning
   • Gender-responsive and inclusive approaches
   • Climate-resilient and agroecological linkages
   • Governance, accountability, and community participation
4. Develop practical tools, templates, and implementation recommendations.
5. Facilitate a validation workshop with key stakeholders.
6. Finalise the guideline, incorporating stakeholder feedback.
7. Support the dissemination of the guideline through stakeholder engagement, policy dialogues, and communication materials.

Required profile for consultant:

The consultant (she/he) should have the following qualifications and experience:

• Advanced degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Agriculture, Food Systems, Development Studies, or related fields.
• Proven experience in school feeding programmes, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, food safety or food systems programming.
• At least 10–15 years of experience in policy development, research, or programme design in Nigeria or West Africa.
• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s school feeding landscape (NHGSFP and state-level programmes).
• Experience working with government, development partners, and civil society.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate stakeholder consultations and multi-sectoral processes.
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
• Evidence of similar assignments conducted.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will report to the Food Systems Specialist, ActionAid Nigeria, who will confirm satisfactory completion of the assignment before final payment.

Ownership of Output

Outputs of the work done as stipulated in the call for expression of interest belong to ActionAid Nigeria

Submission of expression of interest

Please send your expression of interest (detailing your approach to the assignment) and profile/CV in one Microsoft Word document to: procurement.nigeria@actionaid.org on or before 7th May 2026. 

Applications should be titled:

Consultancy (your name/firm ****) : Development and Dissemination of Best Practice School Feeding Guidelines in Nigeria

Women, youth and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.