Rwanda hosted a two-day workshop to develop a national school feeding program, with support from Brazil and WFP. Brazil agreed to mentor Rwanda on their successful program. Local food procurement will be emphasized to support agricultural development. El Salvador also visited Brazil and agreed to an action plan to better integrate education, health, and agriculture in their school feeding policies. Upcoming study visits from other African and Latin American countries to learn from Brazil's experience are planned.

1. “Brazil to mentor Rwanda on school feeding programme”
The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) in Rwanda hosted a two day
national consultation meeting to formulate a way forward for a
nationally school feeding programme. Around 150 government
officials, including the Prime Minister and a Brazilian delegation,
attended the workshop on February 26-27 in Kigali. The initiative
was supported by the Government of Brazil, WFP Rwanda and
Brazil-based WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger.
Erasme Rwanamiza, DG of education planning at MINEDUC:
(Left to right) Adoulaye Balde Diretor “Several aspects of the Brazilian school feeding were found
WFP Rwanda, Mathias Harebamungu relevant to Rwanda's context where, similarly, ambitious
Minister of State in charge of development objectives are envisaged and strived for, with poverty
Secondary and Primary Education and reduction strategies rounded on increasing the resilience of the
Daniel Balaban Director WFP Centre of population and building upon home-grown initiatives".
Excellence.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Agnes Kalibata also stressed the
See more on the National Consultation importance of relying on local food sources to promote agricultural
and its outcomes: development across the country.
◦ Rwanda Learns From Brazil's
Experience in School Feeding “Wouldn’t it be great if the market for our farmers became the
◦Brazilians help in developing very children they need to feed,” she said.
recommendations for Rwanda school-
feeding program For more information on Rwanda’s study visit to Brazil please
◦ Brazil to Mentor Rwanda on School follow this link.
Feeding Program
El Salvador to improve school feeding after study visit to Brazil, 18th-22nd February
El Salvador mission to Brazil took place on Feb 18-22. After
meeting with Brazilian authorities and improving knowledge
about Zero Hunger Strategy and its multi-sectoral framework
that connects school feeding to local purchase initiatives, the
delegation agreed on an action plan that hilights the importance
of engaging ministries of Health, Education and Agriculture in the
planing and implementation of school feeding and smallholder
agriculture policies. Click here for more information.
Ana Daisy Cardoza de Marquez, Executive Director of the
Delegation visits smallholder farmers
National Council on Food and Nutrition Security (CONASAN),
cooperative that supplies for
government-led procurement
says: “We have identified many points of potential cooperation
programmes. Photo: WFP/Mariana with Government of Brazil and WFP Centre of Excellence in order
Hoffmann to improve and integrate El Salvador’s food and nutrition security
programmes”.
“Food education it’s not luxury, it’s a necessity”
Andrea Curtis, author of What's for lunch? How schoolchildren
eat around the world gave us her impressions about the Brazilian
School Feeding Programme (PNAE):
"The Brazilian intention of offering meals free to all children
emerged in my research as both important and inspirational. In
many countries, there are subsidies and a sliding scale for
different income families, but making school meals available to
everyone—no matter their income status—changes everything.
Universality takes the stigma out of school meals and ensures
Tanzania delegation on visit to a public that the entire country is in it together. I see wide-ranging
school in Salvador, Brazil in November
economic, social and cultural benefits", she said.
2012. Photo: WFP/Vinicius Limongi
Curtis is also interested in "Brazil’s local procurement policies
To read more of this interview please (the 30% minimum requirement) and the way that school
follow this link feeding is integrated with other government policies related to
food access, economic development and, of course, ending
hunger and poverty".
Purchase from Africans for Africa – PAA Africa Programme
◦ Five pilot projects of local food purchase from smallholder farmers
in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal and Malawi are carried out
by FAO and WFP country offices in partnership with goverments. The
strategic plans are being finalised in collaboration with international
consultants deployed to the countries.
◦ A support mission to Senegal, led by Minister Milton Rondó Filho of
the General Coordination for International Action Against Hunger
(Ministry of External Relations) took place in January 2013.
Participants had the chance to liaise with strategic partners and see in
first hand the implementation of the pilot projects.
Government of Brazil, FAO and WFP ◦ The government of Brazil is expected to renew funding for another
joint mission visits pilot project for local 18 months of the programme in the five original countries. The first
food purchase in Ethiopia. Photo: FAO/ results of the projects were shared with the Brazilian government,
Israel Klug WFP and FAO headquarters in Rome last January.
◦ PAA Africa official website will soon be launched and follow-up
The PAA Africa activities continue to seminar to take place in April in Senegal.
advance in 2013.
Upcoming study visits and events
 Guinea’s National Consultation workshop has been confirmed with
government and it will take place on 12-14 March 2013 in Conakry. An
international consultant has been deployed for 3 months to provide
technical assistance. Click here for more information on Guinea’s study visit
to Brazil held in May 2012.
 The Centre of Excellence will be hosting Ethiopia’s study visit to Brazil on
May 18-28. The technical mission is interested in the Zero Hunger
Programme and other poverty reduction policies.
 A high-level mission composed of Honduras First Lady and Ministers of
Agriculture, Social Development and Education to Brazilian school feeding
programme is confirmed for April 2-5.
 The Global Child Nutrition Forum will take place on May 20-24 2013 in
Bahia, Brazil. The event will gather 300 participants from research
institutions, governments, UN, NGOs and private sector to discuss school
feeding and food and nutrition security policies. It is being organised by the
Centre of Excellence and the Global Child Nutrition Foundation.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Go to http://www.wfp.org/centre-of-excellence-hunger for more information