The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (IFEP) is a food aid program authorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107–171, Sec. 3107, known as the 2002 Farm Bill) which provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities and associated financial and technical assistance to carry out preschool and school feeding programs in foreign countries. Maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs also are authorized under this program. It is named after former U.S. Senators George McGovern and Bob Dole, who advocated in the U.S. Congress for its passage.[1][2]
The program provided more than 22 million school meals to children in 41 countries over its first eight years.[3] It was also credited with improving school attendance, especially among girls, who were more likely to be allowed to go to school if a meal was being provided.[3] It continues on and is internationally popular.[4] In 2008, McGovern and Dole were made World Food Prize laureates for their efforts to curb hunger in the world and in particular for this program.[3][5]