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Research ArticleArticle
Open Access

Food for thought? Experimental Evidence on the Learning Impacts of a Large-Scale School Feeding Program

Elisabetta Aurino, Aulo Gelli, Clement Adamba, Isaac Osei-Akoto and Harold Alderman
Published online before print December 14, 2020, 1019-10515R1; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.58.3.1019-10515R1
Elisabetta Aurino
Research fellow at the Department of Economics and Public Policy, Imperial College London (UK).
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Aulo Gelli
Senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (US).
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Clement Adamba
Research fellow at the School of Education and Leadership, University of Ghana (Ghana).
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Isaac Osei-Akoto
Senior research fellow at the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research at the University of Ghana (Ghana).
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Harold Alderman
Senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (US).
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Abstract

There is limited experimental evidence on the effects of large-scale, government-led interventions on human capital in resource-constrained settings. We report results from a randomized trial of the government of Ghana’s school feeding. After two years, the program led to moderate average increases in math and literacy standardized scores among pupils in treatment communities, and to larger achievement gains for girls and disadvantaged children and regions. Improvements in child schooling, cognition, and nutrition constituted suggestive impact mechanisms, especially for educationally-disadvantaged groups. The program combined equitable human capital accumulation with social protection, contributing to the “learning for all” sustainable development agenda.

This open access article is distributed under the terms of the CC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and is freely available online at: http://jhr.uwpress.org

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Food for thought? Experimental Evidence on the Learning Impacts of a Large-Scale School Feeding Program
Elisabetta Aurino, Aulo Gelli, Clement Adamba, Isaac Osei-Akoto, Harold Alderman
Journal of Human Resources Dec 2020, 1019-10515R1; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.58.3.1019-10515R1

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Food for thought? Experimental Evidence on the Learning Impacts of a Large-Scale School Feeding Program
Elisabetta Aurino, Aulo Gelli, Clement Adamba, Isaac Osei-Akoto, Harold Alderman
Journal of Human Resources Dec 2020, 1019-10515R1; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.58.3.1019-10515R1
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