São Tomé and Príncipe
- 65%
- of children under 5 have anaemia
- 1/3
- of people live on less than US$1.90 a day
- 225,000
- population
São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island developing state off the coast of central Africa, with a population of 225,000 people.
It is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and faces development challenges stemming from structural vulnerabilities such as its geographic isolation, the small size of the national market and dependence on imports. Inflation surged to 25.2 percent in 2023 as global prices of imports and local food prices rose sharply.
São Tomé and Príncipe has achieved significant results in recent decades, increasing food security, reducing poverty, and raising investment in the introduction of local products in school meals.
What the World Food Programme is doing in São Tomé and Príncipe
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Crisis response
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WFP supports the Government by providing assistance to populations facing economic crises, such as the 2021 floods that affected a large part of the population in the north of the country. WFP also provides food and nutrition assistance to schoolchildren.
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Home-grown school feeding
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The national home-grown school feeding programme targets 50,000 children. It is implemented by the Government with support from groups including NGOs and parents, and with WFP’s technical support. WFP enables institutional systems to grow by supporting on policy development, reinforcing accountability and financial sustainability, and incorporating a gender-transformative, nutrition-sensitive, and environmentally sustainable approach.
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Smallholder farming
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WFP organizes training for smallholder farmers in areas ranging from farming techniques to managing conflicts among producers. WFP also works with the government and NGOs to provide farmers with materials including hoes and picks, reinforce institutional information management, coordination and decision-making mechanisms, and ensure reliable analysis and tracking of the agriculture market and its main workforce.
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Gender equality and women's empowerment
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WFP supports the government in ensuring equal access to development opportunities for vulnerable girls and women, as part of its school meals and smallholder agriculture agendas. In the northwest of São Tomé, a joint project funded by the SDG Fund is increasing women's opportunities for employment through training in agriculture. WFP is also promoting decision-making by women in relation to food assistance and economic activities.
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Capacity strengthening
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WFP supports the government in activities that contribute to transformative changes in systems, not just individuals. WFP focuses on reviewing policies and legislation, strengthening institutional effectiveness and accountability, planning and financial mechanisms, programme design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring the involvement of non-governmental groups. WFP will help the Government ensure that programme implementation continues at a large scale, even when a crisis occurs.
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Humanitarian air service
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WFP supports the Government, WHO and UNICEF, along with other key groups, in receiving and delivering food and medical supplies, and facilitating prompt and strategic deployment of humanitarian staff, via its management of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service.
Sao Tome and Principe news releases
Go to pagePartners and donors
Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Sao Tome and Principe is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Ministry of Education
PNASE
Ministry of Agriculture
CONSAN
PNN (National Nutrition Programme)
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Find out more about the state of food security in Sao Tome and Principe
Visit the food security analysis pageContacts
Office
Avenida das Naçoes Unidas, São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe
São Tomé
São Tomé & Príncipe
Phone
+239 12 21383
Fax
+239 12 22935