Wawira Njiru wins 2026 Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) Leadership Award. 2 hours ago September 7, 2026 Kenyan social innovator and founder of Food4Education, Wawira Njiru, received the Leadership Award at the 2026 DVF Awards ceremony held in Venice, Italy. The DVF Awards were founded in 2010 by Diane von Furstenberg and the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation to recognise, support and amplify the voices of extraordinary women who are dedicated to improving the lives of other women. These are women who have demonstrated the courage to fight, the strength to survive and the leadership to inspire. Wawira, the only African honoree in this year's class, was recognised alongside actor and activist Jane Fonda, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario and author, advocate and survivor Gisèle Pelicot. Wawira Njiru with fellow 2026 DVF Award honourees, including Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, Jane Fonda, Lynsey Addario and Gisèle Pelicot, alongside Diane von Furstenberg at the 17th Annual DVF Awards in Venice, Italy. Wawira founded Food4Education in 2012 to feed 25 children, so hunger would not prevent them from learning. Fourteen years later, Food4Education serves more than 660,000 meals every school day and is on track to serve one million meals daily by 2027. Beyond this, Food4Education has created more than 6,000 jobs across Kenya, most of them held by women, demonstrating how school feeding can function as economic infrastructure: creating jobs, supporting farmers' livelihoods, strengthening local markets and investing in the human capital that will shape Africa's future. "The world looks at African children and often sees need. Rarely as potential. I see something else," Wawira told guests gathered at Teatro Carlo Goldoni. "[They are] the greatest concentration of builders, innovators, scientists, artists and leaders the world has ever known." The DVF Awards have recognised women from more than 30 countries for leadership across issues including climate, human trafficking, gender equality and violence prevention. Each honoree receives a grant from the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation to further the work of their nonprofit organisation.

Kenyan social innovator Wawira Njiru named 2026 German Africa Prize laureate. Wawira Njiru will receive the award from the German Africa Foundation in Berlin on November 4 by STAR REPORTER Kenyan social innovator and nutritionist Wawira Njiru has been named the recipient of the 2026 German Africa Prize in recognition of her pioneering work to transform school feeding from a welfare intervention into a driver of economic development. Demographics Njiru, the founder and CEO of Food4Education (F4E), will receive the prestigious award from the German Africa Foundation in Berlin on November 4. The award will be presented by Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali Radovan, at the Allianz Forum. The recognition comes as Food4Education continues to expand its school feeding model across Kenya, where it now provides meals to more than 660,000 children in over 1,900 schools and 17 counties. The organisation says it has served more than 200 million meals since its establishment in 2012. The German Africa Prize jury made the announcement on Wednesday saying it was recognising Njiru's approach to linking school feeding with food security, local agriculture, employment and economic participation. "Wawira Njiru demonstrates that school feeding can be much more than simply providing meals," said Claus Stäcker, President of the German Africa Prize jury and Director of Africa Programmes at Deutsche Welle. "With Food4Education, she has created a system that reaches children, involves families and strengthens local economic cycles. Her idea and her commitment have led to an African solution to a global challenge." What started as an initiative serving just 25 schoolchildren has grown into one of Kenya's largest school feeding programmes. Through its model, F4E brings together families, schools, farmers, government and philanthropic partners to finance and deliver school meals at scale. The organisation's digital platform, Tap2Eat, enables families to contribute towards meals using NFC-enabled wristbands and cards while supporting the planning of procurement, food production and distribution. F4E says its model delivers a nutritious meal for approximately 30 US cents, while keeping food waste below two per cent. Its Nairobi-based Giga Kitchen, powered by solar and steam technology, is part of the infrastructure supporting the organisation's growing operations. Njiru said the award reflects a broader shift in how school feeding is viewed in Africa. "For too long, school feeding was treated as charity. We have proven it is economic infrastructure," she said. "What we have built in Kenya shows what is possible when African solutions are designed around our own realities and built to work at scale." Demographics According to Njiru, governments are increasingly looking beyond the number of children being fed to the wider economic impact of school feeding programmes. "They are asking how many jobs we can create, how many farmers we can connect to markets, and how much of their own budget is reinvested in local communities," she said. The economic impact of the model extends beyond schools and children. About 80 per cent of the food served by Food4Education is sourced from local smallholder farmers, providing them with a predictable market for their produce. The organisation has also grown into a significant employer, with more than 6,000 people working across its operations. The majority are women and young people, including many in their first formal employment. The workforce includes kitchen managers, food-safety specialists, logistics and supply-chain professionals and software engineers. F4E's approach is also increasingly being shared beyond Kenya. The organisation is working with African governments to transfer lessons, technology and operational expertise while allowing individual countries to adapt the model to their own systems. In Zambia, for instance, F4E is supporting the government to strengthen a nationally led school feeding system. The award comes as Food4Education prepares to expand its reach further in Kenya, with the organisation targeting one million children receiving daily meals by 2027 Njiru's recognition places Kenya's school feeding experience at the centre of an increasingly important global conversation around food security, local economic development and the role of government in building resilient food systems. The German Africa Foundation has awarded the German Africa Prize since 1993 to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to areas including democracy, peace, sustainable development, environmental protection, research and innovation, cultural exchange and human rights. Njiru will formally receive the 2026 award at a ceremony in Berlin on November 4, where her work in building an African-led school feeding model will be recognised alongside the wider contribution of African innovators to addressing global challenges.

Kenya Food4Education to expand Zambia School Feeding to 5.6 Million. Kenya's Food4Education initiative is set to significantly scale up Zambia's school feeding program, aiming to reach an astonishing 5.6 million children. This ambitious expansion underscores a commitment to improving child nutrition and educational outcomes across the region. KenyaAdvert Newsroom 1 July 2026 ## Kenya's Food4Education Initiative to Scale Zambia's School Feeding Program to 5.6 Million Children In a monumental step towards improving child nutrition and educational outcomes across Africa, Kenya's innovative Food4Education initiative has announced plans to significantly scale up Zambia's school feeding program, aiming to reach an unparalleled 5.6 million children. This ambitious expansion highlights a growing commitment to addressing food insecurity and its impact on learning in the region. Food4Education, which has garnered international recognition for its effective model of providing nutritious and affordable meals to schoolchildren in Kenya, is leveraging its expertise and technology to support Zambia. The program's success in Kenya, particularly its use of digital payment systems and local food sourcing, has created a blueprint for replication in other African nations. ### Addressing Malnutrition and Boosting Attendance Malnutrition remains a critical challenge in many parts of Africa, directly impacting children's health, cognitive development, and ability to learn. School feeding programs have been proven to combat hunger effectively, serving as a powerful incentive for children to attend and remain in school. By providing regular, balanced meals, the Food4Education-backed initiative in Zambia expects to see a significant improvement in children's health indicators, concentration levels, and academic performance. Furthermore, the program is anticipated to boost school enrollment and attendance rates, particularly for girls, who are often disproportionately affected by household food shortages and tasked with domestic duties. The assurance of a meal at school can alleviate financial burdens on families and encourage parents to send their children to school consistently. ### Leveraging Local Food Systems A key aspect of the Food4Education model - and one that will be central to its implementation in Zambia - is the emphasis on local food sourcing. This approach not only ensures fresher, culturally appropriate meals but also provides a significant economic boost to local farmers and communities. By creating a reliable market for agricultural produce, the program fosters sustainable local economies and reduces reliance on external food aid. The initiative will work closely with Zambian farmers to supply the necessary ingredients, potentially involving training and support to enhance agricultural productivity and quality. This integrated approach creates a virtuous cycle, benefiting both the target children and the broader agricultural sector. ### The Path to Implementation The expansion plan involves close collaboration between Food4Education, the Zambian Ministry of Education, and other local stakeholders. This will include developing appropriate logistical frameworks, establishing cooking facilities, training school staff, and implementing the digital payment system that ensures efficiency and transparency in operations. This partnership represents a beacon of hope for millions of Zambian children, promising a brighter future through improved nutrition and access to quality education. Its success could serve as a powerful model for similar initiatives across the continent, highlighting the transformative potential of well-designed school feeding programs. ## Key Takeaways * Kenya's Food4Education is expanding to Zambia's school feeding program. * The goal is to reach 5.6 million children with nutritious meals. * Program aims to combat malnutrition and improve educational outcomes. * It will boost school attendance, especially for girls. * Emphasis on local food sourcing benefits farmers and communities. Share it with your friends and help others discover great tips.