Over 1,600 participants from 14 countries complete training promoted by the Sustainable School Feeding Network

Professionals from 14 Latin American countries concluded this week the Exchange Cycle “School Feeding in Focus: Understanding challenges and building pathways towards sustainable school feeding”. Over 1,600 professionals from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia (including the municipality of Boyacá), Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela took part in this first edition.

For almost two months, participants strengthened their technical and policy capacities to implement, consolidate and expand sustainable school feeding programmes in their countries, integrating approaches based on rights, sustainability, territoriality and inclusion.

The initiative was organised by the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES), within the framework of the Brazil–FAO International Cooperation Programme. RAES is driven by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/MRE) and by the National Fund for Educational Development of the Ministry of Education (FNDE/MEC) of Brazil, with the executive secretariat held by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Currently, the Network has 18 member countries.

Following the closing session, held on 1 October, RAES made the full content of the exchange cycle freely available to all interested parties through its online platform (www.redraes.org), in the section dedicated to training and courses.

Najla Veloso, Executive Secretary of RAES and Senior School Feeding Specialist at FAO, highlighted during the closing event that “strengthening the capacities of professionals and building knowledge are key pillars for the sustainability of school feeding programmes in the region. School feeding policy is strategic for transforming food systems and ensuring the right to adequate food for an increasing number of students. For this, having committed and well-trained professionals is essential.”

Riffat Iqbal, Project Analyst at ABC/MRE, underlined the importance of the work developed by RAES in Latin America and the Caribbean since its creation in 2018. “It is a dynamic space for exchange and for strengthening policies in the region.”

Felipe de Albuquerque, Specialist at FNDE, stressed the relevance of training the different professionals involved in school feeding programmes. “We had the opportunity to exchange experiences, good practices, challenges and solutions to common problems, seeking to advance in the implementation and strengthening of our programmes.”

Diverse participation of professionals

The exchange cycle brought together key stakeholders of school feeding programmes: government representatives, professionals from the sector, FAO specialists, academics and experts, who enriched the debates and deepened the themes addressed.

The initiative brought together a wide range of professionals engaged in these programmes across the region. Around 66% of participants were women. Most were concentrated in the age groups of 30 to 44 years (51%) and 45 to 59 years (29%). Young professionals aged 18 to 29 years (15%) and 5% of people aged over 60 also participated, reflecting the presence of different generations in the training process.

Participants of School Feeding in Focus operate at different levels of management, from national to departmental and local. Among them are nutritionists, teachers, school principals, local management monitors, departmental advisors, economists, field and school feeding technicians, plant and warehouse supervisors, as well as regional coordinators linked to school feeding programmes.

According to Israel Ríos, FAO Nutrition Officer, sharing knowledge and experiences is key to strengthening public policies. “At FAO we recognise the value of school feeding programmes as a fundamental public policy to combat hunger and poverty. School Feeding in Focus precisely seeks to reinforce this contribution.”

The voice of participants

During the virtual closing event, participants shared their main lessons learned. Daniela Trazante, from Uruguay, stated that the cycle “will foster progress in school feeding in the region.”

 Elvira Polanco, from the Dominican Republic, said the cycle exceeded her expectations and highlighted key topics such as the Sustainable Schools methodology, public procurement from family farming, and the design of adequate and healthy menus. “I will encourage the application of this methodology to strengthen budgetary sustainability and the nutritional quality of our programme,” she said.