FACTORS INFLUENCING SUCCESS OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM IN ADDIS ABABA: THE CASE OF ARADA SUB

Abstract

School feeding program in Addis Ababa currently face significant gap in program success. Research has shown that different difficulties confront the implementation of the school feeding program effectiveness and sustainability. This study aims to investigate factors influencing success of school feeding program to increase effectiveness and sustainability of the program. Based on a review of the literature on the success of program and theories of those factors (program planning, financial management, community participation, and monitoring and evaluation), a survey questionnaire was distributed to concerned parties ground the relation to the program and additional interviews were engaged with officials and key informants to be more clear and triangulate the questionnaire responses. Respondents were selected purposefully from offices related to the program implementation and schools where the program was run and asked to respond the applicability of the listed factors on the program. Analysis of the responses demonstrated that those identified factors were associated with the success of the school feeding program. The result indicates that program planning, financial management, community participation, and monitoring and evaluation dose have an influence on the success of school feeding program. On this basis, it is recommended that the school feeding program implementers take those factors as a key element to be effective and build sustainable program. Further research is needed to identify other factors that could influence the success of school feeding program.