NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME

1. NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND • The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) previously known as Primary School Nutrition Programme (PSNP) was initiated in 1994 as one of the presidential RDP lead projects. • The programme was initially administered by the Department of Health until 2003. • Following the Cabinet Resolution of 2002, the programme was transferred to the Department of Education in 2004. • The programme has since grown from providing nutritious meals to 1 251 140 learners in 3090 schools in 2004/2005 to 2 332 514 learners in 5272 KwaZulu-Natal schools.

3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • The NSNP is one of Government initiative towards addressing poverty within the province. • The programme targets schools in the poorest communities and benefit multitude of learners. • The NSNP has since been earmarked as one of the government strategies to alleviate hunger and poverty in the communities. • The programme thus contributes to the economic development of local people through co-operatives and small enterprises as service providers. • The programme also contributes to economic development of local people through employment of Volunteer Food Handlers (Cooks) who prepare meals for the learners. • The ratio of 1 (food handler):200 (learners) up to maximum of 8 food handlers per school is applied to allocate food handlers in participating schools

4. PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES • Deliver quality Nutritious food to schools • Strengthen learner achievement through School Feeding-SF • Enhance knowledge of Nutrition Education-NE • Contribute to sustainable community development-SFP • Contribute to poverty alleviation TARGETING • Grade R – 12 learners are targeted • Quintile 1 - 3 primary and secondary schools. • Learners from Identified Special schools • Needy learners in targeted Quintiles 4 and 5 schools are also targeted. • The tables below provide numbers of benefitting learners and schools

5. TABLE OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN NSNP PER DISTRICT : 2018/19

6. TABLE OF LEARNERS BENEFITING FROM NSNP PER DISTRICT : 2018/19

7. APPOINTMENT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS • Prior to 2012 the appointment of service providers was the sole function of the School Governing Bodies (SGB’s) • This model system was changed into a centralized procurement model in which districts were responsible for the evaluation bids and the province for awarding and approval of appointments. • The centralized model culminated into 2029 service providers appointed in January 2013 including 263 co-operatives. • Currently the programme has 1885 contracted service providers. • The table below shows numbers of contracted service providers per district:

8. APPOINTMENT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS…. • All contracted service providers are issued with appointment letters signed by the Head of Department. • Appointment letters detail annual budget for schools allocated to each service provider • New schools are allocated service providers by the Department through normal SCM process • Defaulting service providers get replaced with new service providers through normal SCM process

9. TABLE OF COOKS AND SERVICE PROVIDER PER DISTRICT : 2018/19

10. MENU AIMS: • To reduce hunger. • To address micronutrient deficiencies. • To promote Nutrition Education. • Economic development • Seasonings include iodized salt (2ml per learner), pepper, curry powder / thickening agent to improve the taste of food in all menu options. • Only fortified maize meal and flour must be used. • Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes or madumbes may be used to substitute for rice

11. MENU Cont.…. • Pasta may be used to substitute for rice where it is acceptable • Safe drinking water must be provided in all classrooms • Cabbage may not be served more than twice a week • Fruit must be served once per month (apples, bananas, pears, oranges) • Fresh vegetables must be served (Frozen mixed vegetables may be used if approved by district in schools where there is proper refrigeration -carrots, green beans, peas) • Specifications for oil, onions and tomatoes will be as follows – Oil – 5ml, Onions – 10g, tomatoes – 10g, applicable in all menus except for Thursday where an additional 5g is required for fish • Use full cream UHT milk or pasteurized maas • Sugar -5ml may be used with pumpkin • Use NSNP compliant soya

12. MONITORING AND EVALUATION • The conditional grant framework stipulates and emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation of the programme at different levels WHAT IS MONITORED? QUANTITY: • Whether correct quantities are delivered at schools and to ensure consistency • Whether correct quantities are prepared so that learners are served correct portions and to avoid under-feeding or malnutrition • Monitor quality and freshness of food items delivered to schools (e.g. also check expiry dates etc.) • Monitor Health and Safety of food items in line with Regulation 962 and general hygiene practices • Monitor storage facilities to maintain nutritional value, health and safety standards

13. MONITORING AND EVALUATION…. TIME: • Monitor that meals are served on time • Feeding should be complete by 10H00 WHO MONITORS? • National Office – DBE officials • Provincial Office – Provincial Office staff • District – Field Workers , District NSNP Co-ordinators and other district staff • Oversight Structures – Parliament, Provincial Legislature, Portfolio Committees, Office of the AG for auditing purposes etc. EVALUATION: • NSNP Grant is evaluated annually • As prescribed in the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) and the NSNP Conditional Grant Framework

14. MONITORING AND EVALUATION…. EVALUATION: • Pre-Evaluation is conducted by the province in selected schools • Annual Evaluation is conducted by DBE in selected schools within identified districts PARTNERSHIP WITH FUEL: • The department through NSNP has partnership with an NGO called Feed, Uplift, Educate and Love (FUEL) Trust • The NGO assists the province in improving performance through enhanced monitoring and training FOCUS AREAS OF FUEL TRUST: • Developing monitoring instruments and strategies (MRR) • Data Capturing of monitoring scores and analysis • Ongoing training of NSNP staff

15. NSNP SERVICE PROVIDERS PAYMENT PROCESS • New Model – Single Invoice System STEP 1 -SCHOOL LEVEL : • Each school completes EF73 signed by the principal, educator and SGB parent component member appearing on Annexure A to confirm that service was rendered • EF 73 form together with school’s purchase order note, delivery notes, feeding register and proof of payment for food handlers honoraria and route form to accompany service provider’s invoices for claiming at the end of the month STEP 2 –SERVICE PROVIDER : • Service Providers submit their monthly invoices to the district accompanied by school’s relevant supporting documentation • Service Providers’ invoices specify cost per school serviced

16. PAYMENT PROCESS CONT…. Step 3 – District Level : • NSNP Admin Staff receive and record claims • Check all invoices and claim documentation for correctness and accuracy • Following the verification of claims, the district processes and keep electronic data of claims received and submitted to Head Office or District Finance • Four districts (Ilembe, Pinetown, Umgungundlovu and Umlazi) process payments through their District Finances • Eight districts currently submit their claims to Head Office for processing and authorization of payment • Admin Clerks at Head Office check and record claims received • Admin Officers capture claims and prepare part payments • Management (ADs & DDs) at Head Office authorizes all processed claims for forwarding to BAS for payment

17. PAYMENT PROCESS CONT…. Step 4 – BAS Level at H/O: • All captured and authorized claims are forwarded to BAS for payment by the 10th of the following month of feeding • BAS further captures all claims received against existing official orders of service providers and effect payments to service providers’ authorized accounts

18. CHALLENGES: • The delay in paying service providers • Inadequate assets • The cancelled NSNP Bid PLAN TO PAY ON TIME: SUCCESSFUL PILOT • The plan to pay on time is being piloted in UMgungundlovu District • Current results demonstrate successful • There are no outstanding payments for all UMgungundlovu District service providers • All June claims may be paid within 30 days • The plan will be rolled out in all districts from July

19. PLAN TO MITIGATE INADEQUATE NSNP ASSETS IN SCHOOLS • In March 2018, the Department requested a deviation from the NSNP Business Plan 2017/18 to procure the following: • 1. cooking equipment for all quintile 1- quintile 3 schools • 2. protective clothing for all schools participating in NSNP • 3. gas stoves to all quintile 1 – quintile 3 schools • Delivery will be done in 2018/19 financial year

20. CANCELLED NSNP BID • The Department has complied with the requirements of the Bid Appeals Tribunal • The cancellation of the Bid was done • New management plan has been developed • Advertisement for new bid is set for November 2018

21. THANK YOU