RAES research compiles data from six programmes in the region and presents recommendations to strengthen these policies
Paulo Beraldo
Brasília, Brazil, 12 March 2026 – The Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES) published, in three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese), the study “Analysis of indicators of progress in school feeding programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean (AMPAE)”, which compiles detailed data on school feeding programmes (SFPs) in six countries in the region.
RAES is a trilateral South–South cooperation initiative on school feeding promoted by the Government of Brazil, through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE), together with member countries, with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) serving as the Executive Secretariat.
Based on a diagnosis conducted through a specific assessment tool, the study identifies progress, challenges and opportunities for improvement in the implementation of school feeding programmes. It also proposes guidelines for government actors, international organizations and other institutions interested in the topic, and provides inputs for the development of the regional school feeding agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean, currently being prepared by RAES together with its 18 member countries.
The results also aim to promote integrated actions to improve programme management and governance, as well as to strengthen and expand regulatory frameworks. The study respected the sovereignty of participating countries and aimed to highlight the level of progress across the region while generating technical recommendations to support improvements in existing policies and actions.
Results
The strongest performance was recorded in the governance dimension, with an average score of 80%, classified as Advanced (-). The regulatory frameworks dimension reached 71%, classified as Intermediate (+). Meanwhile, the food and nutrition dimension recorded the lowest score, with an average of 57.8%, classified as Intermediate (-), indicating relatively greater weaknesses in the implementation of actions in this area. The financing dimension obtained 67.3%, also classified as Intermediate (+), reflecting ongoing challenges related to the financial sustainability of the programmes.
Key challenges: financing and universal coverage
Among the main challenges identified by the countries is the need to: i) ensure adequate and sufficient financing for school feeding programmes, particularly to guarantee the nutritional quality of school menus; ii) improve school infrastructure; and iii) expand coverage to reach all students.
Other challenges include strengthening community participation, improving regulatory frameworks and developing effective monitoring and evaluation systems. Countries also highlighted limited alignment between laws and programmes (50%) and constraints in the implementation of public procurement from family farming (61%) as areas requiring attention. According to the study, these gaps weaken programme sustainability, particularly in contexts of political instability and climate-related events.
Strategic input for the region
For RAES, the study represents a strategic input to strengthen the agendas and actions of governments, academia, civil society organizations and international agencies. The findings may also help foster new partnerships and institutional collaborations at national, regional and global levels, with the aim of strengthening school feeding policies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study also offers recommendations aimed at strengthening school feeding programmes.
“We recognize the diversity of national contexts and the importance of respecting the sovereignty and priorities of each country. In this sense, the recommendations seek to provide inputs for strengthening structural and sustainable actions based on evidence and integrated approaches. The purpose of the study is to contribute to the development of more equitable and healthier school feeding programmes, articulated with other public policies such as education, health, agriculture and social development, reinforcing the role of these programmes in guaranteeing the human right to adequate food at school and promoting sustainable social development,” said Najla Veloso, Executive Secretary of RAES and FAO school feeding specialist.
RAES member countries express their appreciation to Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic for their contributions to this study.
The study is available here: https://redraes.org/en/analysis-of-indicators-on-progress-in-school-feeding-programmes-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-ampae/