Community participation and sustainability of the school feeding programme in the cape coast metropolis

Abstract

The main purpose for this study was to explore community participation and sustainability of the School Feeding Programme (SFP), examine the existence of community participation within the implementation of the SFP, examine the essence for the sustainability of the programme and assess how community participation contributes to the sustainability of the SFP in CCMA. The study design adopted was qualitative with focus group discussion guide and key informants interview guide as instruments to collect data from key informants and community members. The study revealed that not much was done at the grass roots level by communities in the implementation of the intervention. Communities recognise prospects for the sustainability of the programme but their deprivation had prevented them from benefiting from the intervention. Besides, communities recognised that their participation could largely contribute to the sustenance of the SFP in CCMA. The findings indicate that basic amenities to start the programme was lacking and regular monitoring and supervision will sustain the programme. Based on the findings, it is recommended that, programme planners engage in serious field work and regular supervision to ensure that policy guidelines were complied with. Also, community members should support the programme managers since active participation by communities could lead to the sustenance of the programme. The programme significantly provided prospects for sustainability in two ways which are sustainability in relation to community participation and financial sustainability from government.