Evaluation of a school feeding programme linked to agriculture production in Mali

ISRCTN ISRCTN76705891
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN76705891
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
14/05/2012
Registration date
12/07/2012
Last edited
19/05/2015
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Providing food through schools has well documented benefits in terms of the education, health and nutrition of school children. However, there is limited evidence regarding the benefits of sourcing the food from small-holder farmers through ‘home-grown’ school feeding approaches. This study aims to evaluate the impact of school feeding programmes sourced from small-holder farmers on small-holder food security, as well as on school children’s education, health and nutrition in Mali.

Who can participate?
Primary school age children and small-holder farmer households in targeted villages in Mali.

What does the study involve?
Households and schools will be randomly assigned to one of the following three groups:
1. Regular school feeding programme group: these are schools and villages where the standard Government programme is implemented, with Mayors responsible for sourcing the food.
2. Home-grown school feeding and social accountability group (HGSF+): these are schools and villages were the programme is implemented in addition to training of community organisations and local government on food sourcing, nutrition education, and feedback monitoring.
3. Control group: these are schools and household from villages were the intervention will not be implemented.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
School feeding programmes have been shown to have benefits in terms of school enrolment, attendance and drop-out. The main risks are issues related to inappropriate food management and preparation. Training activities will be provided to reduce this risk.

Where is the study run from?
The Partnership for Child Development offices in Bamako, Mali.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study is underway and will be completed in December 2014.

Who is funding the study?
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA).

Who is the main contact?
Dr Lesley Drake
Lesley.Drake@imperial.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Lesley Drake
Scientific

Partnership for Child Development, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Imperial College London
London
W2 1PG
United Kingdom

Email Lesley.Drake@imperial.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised control trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)School
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleCommunity participation and the links between agriculture, nutrition and education: design of a randomised field experiment of 'home-grown' school feeding in Mali
Study objectivesSchool feeding programmes provide well documented direct benefits to school children and their families. Emerging evidence also suggests that they can provide a stable market for goods and services. This is the first randomised control trial that will examine this in detail.
Ethics approval(s)Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSchool health and nutrition
InterventionThe evaluation will measure outcomes at child, household and school level. Households and schools will be randomly assigned to the intervention. Three treatment arms are envisaged:

Control group:
These are schools and household from villages were the intervention will not be implemented. The intervention will be delayed by at least two years in these villages, preferably without informing schools and households.

Regular school feeding programme group:
These are schools and villages where the standard Government programme is implemented, with Mayors responsible for the food procurement.

Home grown school feeding and social accountability group (HGSF+):
These are schools and villages were the programme is implemented in addition to a capacity building component including training of community-based organisations and local government on food procurement, nutrition education, and feedback monitoring.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureSmall-holder farmer income, school participation and learning, and community involvement in the programme
Secondary outcome measures1. Nutritional status (anthropometry)
2. Diet-diversity
Overall study start date01/02/2012
Completion date01/04/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupMixed
SexBoth
Target number of participantsThe study population includes 5700 children, 1740 households, 116 schools and 58 mayors. Households will be selected at random from village level listings.
Key inclusion criteriaPrimary school age children (aged 5-15) and their families, small holder farmers
Key exclusion criteriaHouseholds with children not of primary school age
Date of first enrolment01/02/2012
Date of final enrolment01/04/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • Mali
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Imperial College London
London
W2 1PG
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Imperial College London (UK)
University/education

c/o Prof. Neil Furguson
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
St Mary's Campus
London
W2 1PG
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/041kmwe10

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Government organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Alternative name(s)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Foundation, BMGF, B&MGF, GF
Location
United States of America

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 21/02/2013 Yes No