International seminar presented experiences of school feeding during the pandemic in Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Saint Lucia
Brasília, September 20, 2021 – Flexibility, coordination, agility and resilience are essential to guarantee the food supply to students, especially during the pandemic. These were some of the conclusions of the panelists at the international seminar on school feeding in different educational modalities, carried out by the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation school feeding project on September 16. The managers of the school feeding programs of Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Saint Lucia shared their experiences that evidenced the importance of adapting policies and of shared responsibilities between local, provincial and national governments. The activity was broadcast on social networks and had more than 1,200 views.
The webinar ‘Current challenges of school feeding: Possibilities of implementation in different educational modalities’ was organized by the project Consolidation of School Feeding Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, executed within the framework of the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation Program, through the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE/MEC), the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC/MRE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The virtual event integrates the initiatives promoted within the framework of the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES), created by the Government of Brazil in 2018 to strengthen and consolidate school feeding programs through capacity building, exchange of experiences and dissemination of materials and information.
Brazil: hybrid return and health protocols
Karine Santos, coordinator of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) of Brazil, executed by the FNDE, highlighted the flexibility to implement distance and face-to-face classes in the country. In Brazil, public schools are in hybrid mode and the Government has guaranteed the supply and distribution of food items. Santos spoke of measures such as the implementation of return protocols, the purchase of equipment for the school environment and the sanitization of spaces. “We have to be agile in deciding and adapting policies,” she said, highlighting the importance of inter-institutional articulation and shared responsibilities between local, provincial and federal actors. “It is a work of many hands,” he added.
Colombia: challenges for the return to classes
Juan Carlos Martínez Martín, General Director of the Special Administrative Unit for School Feeding in Colombia, explained that the country organized non-perishable food kits to send to students’ homes. The same price invested for the meals offered in schools was maintained and they attempted to guarantee a similar nutritional contribution. For Martínez, the challenges were misinformation and fear in many sectors of society at the time of return, since there were discussions about choosing between ‘health or education’. “The issue is how to have both combined. The great lesson learned was flexibility, understanding that this is just a moment and that we always have to plan the following stages”.
Paraguay: delivery of food kits
Andrea Milena, Director of the Paraguayan School Feeding Program, said that the return of students to schools is gradual and optional, with face-to-face, semi-face-to-face and distance modalities. She commented that school feeding is delivered in kits with non-perishable food and pointed out the importance of coordination with governorates and municipalities. The kits also helped families with food and many want this policy to last over time. However, Milena considers that another Government sector should offer this benefit to the most vulnerable. The same conclusion was shared by other panelists.
As a challenge, Milena pointed to the increase in the number of students in public education. “With the large amount of poverty in the country due to the closure of companies and businesses, many people lost their jobs, so there are many students who have migrated from private to public schools. That means greater investments in terms of education and more money for school feeding”.
Brazil and Saint Lucia: continuity of purchases from family farming
Meriam Henville, representative of the Saint Lucia School Feeding Program in the Caribbean, said that the country began to offer food packages to the families of the beneficiaries during the closure of schools. As a challenge, she mentioned that the kits did not last long at the house of the families and a reorganization was necessary. The country implemented measures to continue purchasing from small producers, recruited more cooks and professionals, as well as adopted new ways of paying farmers. Henville added that the pandemic showed the critical role that the school feeding program has in the region and pointed to the importance of school gardens. “The students are very adaptable and were able to maintain the protocols.” Henville also stressed that governments must support and encourage local producers to reduce spending on food imports. Classes are now back in person.
The FNDE technician, Maria Sineide Neres, commented on the efforts of Brazilian municipalities to continue offering quality food. “It is very clear to us that many municipalities have good management and have managed to serve students with fresh and healthy products, purchased from family farming, overcoming many of the challenges imposed by the pandemic.”
Adaptation
Reina Osório, specialist in food and nutrition strategies at FAO El Salvador and moderator of the panel with Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay, stressed that the exchange of experiences among countries is very valuable. “The articulation between different government actors is key to provide effective solutions”. In turn, Jean Fransen, FAO food security officer in the Caribbean and moderator of the Saint Lucia and Brazil panel, pointed out that flexibility and adaptation were the keywords of the talks of all the guests.
Najla Veloso, coordinator of the project Consolidation of School Feeding Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, stressed that these events empower managers and help them make decisions in challenging times. “School feeding is recognized as a fundamental policy before, during and after the pandemic. The managers reaffirmed that the right to food is paramount and that we cannot give up face-to-face education or school feeding,” he commented.
At the closure of the event, Paola Barbieri, ABC/MRE project analyst, highlighted the participation of those present and the panelists, adding that the institution hopes to continue working with partners to strengthen school feeding programs in the region. “Regardless of the moment in which we live, the human right to food is a non-negotiable right.”
