Wawira Njiru wins German Africa Prize Award for innovative school feeding program

In a statement released on Wednesday, the German Africa Foundation said its jury recognised Wawira Njiru’s work in connecting food security with economic participation and strengthening local value chains.

According to the GAF, as global conflicts continue to rise, food security remains crucial worldwide.

Njiru founded the not-for-profit social enterprise Food4Education (F4E) in 2012. Through F4E, she has worked with families, schools, smallholder farmers and governments to build robust national systems.

Njiru’s innovation has combined school feeding with local food production, job creation and economic development.

“What began as a project providing meals for just 25 schoolchildren now reaches more than 660,000 children at over 1,900 schools across Kenya, with more than 200 million meals served and counting.

Unlike traditional aid-dependent models, F4E designs and delivers school feeding as a locally rooted system sustained by shared investment: family contributions, government funding and catalytic philanthropy work together to secure long-term financial sustainability,” the statement read in part.

F4E’s digital platform has enabled several Kenyans to contribute towards meals through wearable Near Field Communication (NFC) wristbands or cards. The technology has enabled precise planning, procurement, production and distribution across its kitchens in Nairobi.

The GAF said that, as a result, F4E has provided nutritious meals for roughly 30 cents, while keeping food waste below 2 per cent.

The GAF reported that about 80 per cent of what F4E serves originates from small-scale farmers, providing reliability. Through its growing operations, the organisation has also employed approximately 6,000 people, the majority of them women and young people.

F4E has now crossed borders to share its lessons, technology and operational expertise through partnerships with African governments, including Zambia.

Through the German Africa Prize, the Foundation highlights individuals whose ideas and work provide inspiration for addressing global challenges beyond their countries of origin.