Sustainable School Feeding Network Joins the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

The Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES) has become a new member of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, with its official membership confirmed in the first week of February this year.

RAES's incorporation into the Alliance represents a contribution from the Brazilian government, FAO, and the 17 member countries of the Network to strengthen the school feeding agenda in the region.

The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty was launched in November 2024 during the G20 Summit in Brazil, to support and accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, reduce inequalities, and promote sustainable, inclusive, and fair transitions.

RAES has committed to strengthening the knowledge pillar within the Alliance, leveraging its experience since 2018 in providing technical assistance to Latin American and Caribbean countries, particularly in consolidating and enhancing school feeding programmes. Currently, these programmes benefit more than 80 million Latin American and Caribbean students.

The Network is a South-South cooperation initiative in school feeding, driven by the Brazilian government through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC/MRE) and the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE/MEC), with the support of the executive secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Currently, the Network comprises 17 countries in the region and works collaboratively to strengthen and consolidate school feeding programmes from the perspective of the human right to adequate food.

RAES's main objective has been to provide knowledge that contributes to improving school feeding programs, ensuring their sustainability. The Network is currently building a regional school feeding agenda with member countries to define regional priorities through virtual and/or in-person events.

Among the actions already developed by RAES are the creation of a permanent dialogue platform, the exchange of experiences and information, the promotion of collaborative regional management, the development of strategies and innovations, and the collective construction of knowledge at the regional level. These actions guide national progress and strengthen local actors.

RAES provides countries with a regional knowledge platform for exchanging information on school feeding programs: www.redraes.org.