Abstract:
There is limited experimental evidence on the effects of large-scale,
government-led interventions on human capital in resource-constrained
settings. We report results from a randomized trial of the government of
Ghana’s school feeding. After two years, the program led to moderate
average increases in math and literacy standardized scores among pupils
in treatment communities and to larger achievement gains for girls and
disadvantaged children and regions. Improvements in child schooling,
cognition, and nutrition constituted suggestive impact mechanisms,
especially for educationally disadvantaged groups. The program combined
equitable human capital accumulation with social protection, contributing
to the “learning for all” sustainable development agenda.