National Consultant – Documenting Journey of School Feeding in Cambodia

JOB TITLE: National Consultant – Documenting Journey of School Feeding in Cambodia

TYPE OF CONTRACT: National Consultant (SSA) – Lumpsum based

UNIT/DIVISION: WFP Cambodia Country Office/Programme

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Phnom Penh, Cambodia

DURATION: As soon as possible to November 2026 or until deliverable completed

REPORTING: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the School Feeding Programme Policy Officer (International consultant), and under the overall supervision of the School Feeding Team Lead.

BACKGROUND:

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Cambodia since 1979. The current WFP Cambodia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2024-2028 aims to complement and contribute to the Government’s efforts to achieve zero hunger through supporting social protection, climate and disaster risk management and food security and nutrition. Working across the humanitarian-development nexus, WFP has long supported national efforts to establish and strengthen the social protection system, focusing on social assistance, in close partnership with government institutions at the national and sub-national levels.

Since 1999, WFP has been working jointly with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) to implement school feeding programme through the provision of hot, nutritious meals and cash / food scholarships and Take-Home Ration (THR), to combat short term hunger of vulnerable pre-primary and primary school children. The programme was launched in 64 schools in Takeo Province, reaching over 37,000 schoolchildren. To date, school feeding has benefited over two million school children with much work already done to transition the programme to a nationally managed and funded programme. The programme currently reaches over 300,000 children in Cambodia and has an increasing focus on supporting the sustainability of the government’s school feeding programme. In 2022, the Government joined the School Meals Coalition.

The programme is aligned with national policy frameworks: The National Social Protection Policy Framework (NSPPF 2024-2035) provides a road map for building a strong, resilient, and inclusive social protection system in Cambodia. School feeding programme is one of the interventions to provide safe and healthy nutrition to Cambodian children to promote social protection, improve food security, increase access to education and contribute to agricultural development and local economic growth. In September 2024, the School Feeding Policy (2024 – 2035) was endorsed by the Prime Minister with the vision to contribute to human capital development by providing education, skills, nutrition and health support needed to foster a prosperous Cambodian society. School Feeding is also part of the Education Strategic Plan (2024-2028), to contribute to quality, inclusive and equitable education.

The programme has evolved significantly over two decades through various changes / milestones such as:

• Changes in programme objectives: from primarily as a safety net function to more development-oriented approach to achieve multiple outcomes across education, health and nutrition, social protection, local economy and agriculture, resulting into integration of more components into the programme

• Changes in scale and geographical coverage, with provinces added, graduated or phased out of the programme based on shifting priorities, needs and resources availability

• Changes in policy and governance frameworks: Strengthened through the Policy Action Plan (2024-2035), Sub-Decree 65, and the establishment of the inter-ministerial school feeding steering committee, reinforcing coordination, accountability, and government ownership.

·       Suspensions and adaptations during shocks e.g. Covid-19 pandemic or other shocks

• Shift from a donor funded programme to progress towards national investment, ownership and management

• Changes in implementation models – in-kind school meals, take home rations (food scholarship), take home rations (cash scholarship), local sourcing - Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) or a combination

• Changes in benefits and meal types - Inclusion of more diversified meals, sourced locally or adapting to supply chain constraints by reducing meal rations

• Evolving roles of key stakeholders – MoEYS, Ministries and institutions, WFP, USDA, KOICA and other donors, communities and other stakeholders to reflect changing programme priorities and implementation needs.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

In Cambodia, there has been significant and systematic progress of school feeding programme transition towards national ownership. Whilst the key milestones have been documented, such as handover and integration of the scholarship programme into national systems and the roadmap to nationally owned school feeding programme, information gaps still exist regarding the programme’s progression. These include changes in coverage, targeting, and beneficiary categories over time as well as how the programme has impacted lives and beneficiaries who have participated over the past two decades. The Royal Government of Cambodia, WFP, key partners such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), NGOs, communities and the private sector have been part of the school feeding programme journey. It is worth documenting the journey, successes, and how various decisions were made to act as future reference for policy makers and implementers as well as contribute to building regional and global knowledge base for sustainable school feeding programmes.

ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent will be responsible for documenting the historical evolvement of school feeding programmes in Cambodia from 1999 – 2028, including those funded by USDA, KOICA and other partners through:

• Conducting a desk review of literature on the school feeding programme (policies, legislation, strategies, guidelines, SABER reports, project and programme reports, etc.…)  as well as any documents from other in-country actors about school feeding.

• Reviewing and collecting data on the key questions required to develop the case study including:

  • Arranging for and conducting Interviews with government partners / champions who have been instrumental in the school feeding agenda across the timeline of the evolution of the programme (MoEYS, GS-NSPC, MAFF and other relevant institutions).

  • Arranging for and conducting interviews with beneficiaries to document stories (before and after) on how the programme has shaped their lives, including photos and pictures

  • Arranging for and conducting Interviews with relevant WFP teams and staff in the Country Office (including Area Office), APARO / GHQ (where relevant) who have supported the school feeding programme.

  • Arranging for and conducting interviews with donors and other key stakeholders who may have played a role in shaping the programme (USDA, KOICA, NGOs, and other partners.

• Producing and submitting notes for the records from the interviews, answers to key questions required for the case study, and a report synthesizing findings highlighting lessons and best practices including success factors and challenges for the school feeding programme

• Draft the case study and secure endorsement of the final product from different actors.

  • Highlighting key milestones, beneficiary stories, testimonials, challenges, opportunities, lessons and programme changes that have taken place over the years and contributed to developing the model in Cambodia towards national ownership, self-reliance and lasting impact

EXPECTED MAIN OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES:

Deliverable 1: Review of Comparable Publications and Inception Report

The consultant shall identify and review relevant programme journey documentation, case studies, success stories, and similar publications produced by UN agencies, international organizations, and NGOs. The review shall identify good practices in storytelling, document structure, visual presentation, and dissemination that can be adapted for the Cambodia School Feeding Programme case study and beneficiary stories.

Based on the document review and an initial review of relevant programme materials, the consultant shall prepare an Inception Report outlining the proposed methodology, workplan, document structure, key themes, target audiences, and recommended approach for developing the case study and beneficiary stories. The report shall also summarize key lessons and recommendations derived from the review of comparable publications.

Deliverable 2: Stakeholder Consultations and Information Gathering

The consultant shall organize and facilitate consultation meetings with key WFP stakeholders, including the School Feeding (SF), Communications, and Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) units, to gather information and agree on the scope, content, key messages, and presentation approach for the case study and beneficiary stories.

The consultant shall also consult relevant government counterparts, development partners, former beneficiaries, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to collect insights, testimonials, and perspectives on the evolution, achievements, lessons learned, and impact of the Cambodia School Feeding Programme.

Deliverable 3: Draft Case Study and Former Beneficiaries’ Stories on the Cambodia School Feeding Programme

The consultant shall prepare a draft case study documenting the evolution of the Cambodia School Feeding Programme, highlighting key milestones, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and the programme’s transition to government ownership. The case study shall incorporate perspectives from government counterparts, development partners, WFP, and other relevant stakeholders, and document the contributions of major donor partners, including USDA and KOICA.

The consultant shall also develop a series of human-interest stories featuring former beneficiaries who now serve in various roles within government, communities, and wider society, demonstrating the long-term impact of the programme.

The draft shall include relevant data visualizations (e.g., charts, graphics, timelines, and infographics) to effectively present programme achievements and impact. The consultant will work closely with the RAM unit on data and evidence generation, and with the Communications unit to ensure compelling and audience-appropriate storytelling.

Deliverable 4: Presentation and Finalization of the Case Study and Beneficiary Stories

The consultant shall present the final case study and beneficiary stories to WFP and relevant stakeholders, highlighting key findings, major milestones, lessons learned, and the overall programme journey. The presentation shall provide an opportunity to validate the final products, share key messages, and discuss recommendations for dissemination and future use of the documentation.

After the presentation, the consultant shall revise and finalize the case study and beneficiary stories based on feedback from WFP. The final products shall be evidence-based, visually engaging, and professionally presented, effectively communicating the journey, achievements, impact, sustainability, and legacy of the Cambodia School Feeding Programme and its transition to government ownership.

Payment schedule for this output-based contract (USD 12,000)

Payment will be made in line with the below schedule, contingent upon receipt of the stated deliverables and WFP’s certification of satisfactory performance and outputs

• Payment 1: July-August 2026, USD 1,200

• Payment 2: August-September 2026, USD 3,600

• Payment 3: September-October 2026, USD 3,600

• Payment 4: October-November 2026USD 3,600

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced university degree in Development Studies, Economics, Nutrition, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or other relevant disciplines

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in school feeding, social protection or related field

• Familiarity with the Cambodia school feeding programme, context, relevant national policies and implementation structures is highly desirable

• Demonstrated experience engaging with senior government officials and/or working with national/sub-national government entities.

• Ability to concisely and clearly express ideas and concepts in written and oral form and to communicate with various stakeholders.

• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English; Khmer language proficiency is a strong asset

• Commitment and willingness to work independently, with limited regular supervision; s/he must demonstrate adaptability and flexibility, client orientation, proven ethical practice, initiative, and concern for accuracy and quality; and

• A strong commitment to delivering timely and high-quality results (i.e., credible findings and recommendations that are used for improving strategic decisions).

• Strong analytical, research capacities, writing and presentation skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

 Desirable Knowledge and Skills:

• Understanding and demonstrating ability to engage and maintain network with various stakeholders, in particular the Government stakeholders, development partners and other actors,

• Good facilitation skills and analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills;

• Ability to convey an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders;

• Ability to participate in open dialogue and value diverse opinions, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment;

• Ability to work independently in a timely and organized manner;

• Ability to work in a team and multi-task as needed.