Dakar: The Future of School Canteens as a Catalyst for Urban Transformation

Much more than just a school service

Three intensive days of work dedicated to evaluating the “Cantines scolaires de Dakar” pilot project—developed as part of the European AfriFoodLinks project—have come to a close in Dakar.

AfriFoodLinks was launched with an ambitious goal: to strengthen sustainable urban food systems in African cities through concrete, inclusive, and replicable local experiments.

In this context, the pilot project launched at Lycée John Kennedy represents an innovative example of how a school cafeteria can become much more than a service: a true space for education, health, equity, and social innovation.

In fact, today only 1.7% of primary schools in Dakar have a school cafeteria, limiting access to healthy food, especially for girls from vulnerable backgrounds.

In collaboration with the City of Dakar and ACRA, EStà facilitated a Living Lab initiative, involving female students, institutions, families, suppliers, and urban producers.

During the workshop, we focused on three main areas:

• evaluate the pilot’s results in terms of nutrition, management, and local participation;
• identify lessons learned and areas for improvement to strengthen its economic, social, and environmental sustainability;
• co-design a roadmap for the future, so that the model can be integrated into the city’s food policies and replicated in other contexts, in line with the AfriFoodLinks values: Learning, Inclusivity, Collaboration, Sustainability.

Places for experimentation

School kitchens, as also discussed in the EStà keynote, can become true hubs for experimentation in:

• food education
• promoting local products
• reducing food waste
• creating social and local value

A special thank you to the students who have been at the center of these events and to everyone who has contributed their energy, vision, and practical expertise.

Let’s continue to build cities together where food is a source of health, a fundamental right, and the key to our future.