School feeding procurement: Supplier development models

This report, a core component of SNV’s Procurement Governance for Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) project learning series, provides a comprehensive analysis of strategies designed to integrate smallholder farmers into public food supply chains. Based on research funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the document explores the practical application of "inclusive procurement", a social policy tool that balances vertical procurement goals (price and quality) with horizontal socio-economic objectives (smallholder inclusion).

Drawing on extensive pilot programs and research conducted in Ghana, Kenya, and Mali, the publication identifies systemic barriers that prevent local producers from accessing formal school feeding markets. It details four strategic supplier development approaches implemented by SNV to mitigate these challenges:

• Matchmaking and market intelligence: Facilitating direct interaction and information exchange between buyers (schools and caterers) and local producer organizations.

• Business training: Equipping suppliers with essential skills in bookkeeping, contract negotiation, and compliance with HGSF standards.

• Technical and logistical capacity: Supporting the formal registration of producer organizations and improving post-harvest handling and storage infrastructure.

• Facilitating financial services: Building bridges between agricultural producers and financial institutions to ensure the working capital necessary for formal contracts.

Designed specifically for development practitioners and policymakers, this document concludes that a multi-stakeholder approach involving government ministries, civil society, and the private sector is essential to creating a sustainable, enabling environment. By documenting these lessons, SNV aims to provide a roadmap for aligning public procurement with broader agricultural development and student nutrition goals.