{"id":5793,"date":"2025-08-27T18:03:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T18:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/area_of_expertise\/food-systems\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T23:14:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T23:14:59","slug":"food-systems","status":"publish","type":"area_of_expertise","link":"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/area_of_expertise\/food-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability are straining the world’s food systems, or the networks that communities use to grow, process, and deliver food. When these systems falter, hunger and malnutrition rise, farmers lose income, and families struggle to meet basic needs.<\/p>\n

Global Communities helps repair and reimagine these systems so they can feed families today and sustain livelihoods tomorrow. We work alongside local leaders, farmers, and businesses to build resilience at every step – from seed to market to school meal.<\/p>\n\t

Farmers are adopting climate-smart practices and diversifying their crops, while women and youth are stepping into leadership and shaping more equitable economies. Schools are sourcing and serving local food, strengthening both nutrition for children and demand for small producers.<\/p>\n

Grounded in decades of experience and fueled by partnerships across governments, local organizations, and the private sector, we address the entire food system to secure nutrition and income long after a crisis ends. Deep partnership with communities is the key to building solutions that outlast disruption and create lasting opportunity.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTransforming The Systems That Fuel Families\t<\/h3>\n\t

\n\t\t\t\tTogether with families, farmers, teachers, cooperatives, local governments and private partners, we’re building food systems that nourish, empower and endure – no matter what lies ahead.\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t
\n

\n\t\t\tImpact\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

1 million+<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

children reached with daily school meals
across five countries in 2024<\/p>\n\t\t\t

16,500<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

of farmers supported with training, market access
and climate-smart agriculture<\/p>\n\t\t\t

21,000<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

households in Ethiopia supported in transitioning to regenerative grazing<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFeatured Program\t<\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\tNourishing Futures Through School Meals\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\"Madagascar_Mianatra\n\t\t\t\tEvery day, millions of children arrive at school too hungry to learn. Global Communities partners with governments, donors, and communities to change that-designing sustainable, locally sourced school meals programs that do more than fill plates.\nThese programs fuel learning, strengthen families, and transform local food systems by connecting farmers, teachers, and parents in a shared mission to nourish the next generation.\nFrom climate-smart school gardens and fuel-efficient cookstoves to women-led savings groups and classroom nutrition lessons, our holistic approach ensures every meal contributes to healthier children, stronger communities, and more resilient food systems.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tResources\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIntegrated Fleet Management System\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n Global Communities (GC) created and is utilizing an Integrated Fleet Management System (IFMS)which optimizes fleet performance by focusing on improving users’ experience while maximizingcost- effectiveness….\n \t\tBriefs & Case Studies<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReabren los comedores escolares guatemaltecos tras el cierre de COVID-19\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n Por primera vez en casi cuatro a\u00f1os, vuelven a prepararse comidas escolares en las cocinas de las escuelas guatemaltecas tras su cierre total o parcial…\n \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tGlobal Health<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tProgram Stories<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpecial Study on Migration for the MCGOVERN-United States Program\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n Unidos is a project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program that aims to…\n \t\tBriefs & Case Studies<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tGlobal Health<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMianatra Madagascar Project Brief-FR\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n En 2021, l’USDA a confi\u00e9 \u00e0 Global Communities le premier projet McGovern-Dole International Food forEducation and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) au Madagascar. Global Communities dirigera la…\n \t\tBriefs & Case Studies<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst Teacher Groups – a Community-Based Early Learning Initiative, Improves Parenting Practices and Child Development in Northern Tanzania\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n The First Teacher Group intervention improved children’s socio-emotional development, emergent numeracy, and gross and fine motor development, and with a trend toward better emergent literacy…\n \t\tBriefs & Case Studies<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMianatra Project Brief\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n In 2021, USDA awarded Global Communities with the first McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) project in Madagascar.\n \t\tBriefs & Case Studies<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tGlobal Health<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGu\u00eda Metodol\u00f3gica de Investigaci\u00f3n Participativa para la Acci\u00f3n (IPA) para el Abordaje ye Seguimiento des Rumores sobre COVID-19\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n La Investigaci\u00f3n Participativa para la Acci\u00f3n (IPA) comprende un esfuerzo metodol\u00f3gico singular que involucra directamente a participantes en procesos de investigaci\u00f3n, reflexi\u00f3n y acci\u00f3n sobre…\n \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tGlobal Health<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tToolkits & Manuals<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProgram Brief: USDA McGovern-Dole Educamos Program in Guatemala\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n Since 2010, Project Concern International, a Global Communities Partner (PCI) has implemented school feeding programs in Guatemala with funding from USDA’s McGovern-Dole International Food for…\n \t\tBriefs & Case Studies<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMcGovern-Dole Integrated School Feeding WASH Overview\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n \t\tCapacity Materials<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tGlobal Health<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProgram Brief: USDA Nuestra Cosecha LRP Program in Guatemala\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n In 2018, USDA funded a Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement (LRP) program, called Nuestra Cosecha (meaning “Our Harvest”), to complement the three existing McGovern-Dole…\n \t\tBriefs & Case Studies<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \/ \n\t\t \t\tFood Systems<\/a>\n\t\t\n

\n\t\t\tNews\t<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"GCMD3515-Enhanced-NR\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow One Community School is Raising the Bar in Southern Madagascar\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\tDecember 22, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\n

Passing Madagascar’s national primary school exit exam (CEPE) is a major milestone for students across the country. For 13-year-old Yves Rosalin, it became a point of pride for his entire community. His high score earned him the title of laureate award winner, distinguishing him as the top student in Beloha district. Yves Rosalin’s achievement reflects…<\/p>\n Read More about How One Community School is Raising the Bar in Southern Madagascar<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Guatemala_School-Feeding-Program-1_International-School-Meals-Day\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFive Reasons Why School Meals Matter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\tMarch 12, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\n

School meals are more than just a plate of food; they are the cornerstone of nurturing the next generation in places around the world where children face hunger. That’s why Global Communities is proud to implement integrated school feeding projects that help deliver essential nutrition, education and health services to over 435,000 pre- and primary…<\/p>\n Read More about Five Reasons Why School Meals Matter<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Guatemala_UNIDOS_Bilingual-Education\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPromoting Bilingual Education in Multicultural Societies to Enhance Student Literacy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\tAugust 21, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\n

By Leonel Arguello, Director of Integrated School Feeding Programs As a Nicaraguan, I grew up in a multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual country with a large Indigenous population. English and French were the mandatory languages in public and private schools during my school years. Sadly, we were never taught our Indigenous languages, not even simple phrases…<\/p>\n Read More about Promoting Bilingual Education in Multicultural Societies to Enhance Student Literacy<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t