Logistics Review of the School Feeding Programme in Lesotho

2nd February 2026

Project Background

School feeding programmes are vital in improving child nutrition, boosting school attendance and supporting academic performance. In 1997, Transaid commissioned a logistics review of the School Feeding Programme in Lesotho on behalf of Save the Children Fund, with support from TNT United Kingdom Ltd. The programme, supported by the World Food Programme, aimed to provide nutritious meals to primary school children, particularly those at risk of food insecurity.

The review focused on evaluating the performance of the Food Management Unit (FMU) across its national network of warehouses and school delivery operations. It assessed transport capacity, storage conditions, stock management, and the planning and coordination mechanisms in place to ensure timely food distribution.

Results

The review identified several challenges such as  high vehicle downtime due to delayed servicing, incorrect placement of transport fleets, and too many full-time labourers at FMU stores. Additionally, significant volumes of expired food products were found in both stores and schools, pointing to the need for improved stock rotation and expiry tracking systems.

Key recommendations included outsourcing vehicle maintenance, re-allocating vehicle fleets based on regional demand, expanding computer systems for better stock and transport management, and increasing the frequency of deliveries to larger schools. If adopted, these improvements were expected to enhance service quality and ensure that the School Feeding Programme continued to deliver critical nutritional support effectively.