This course was elaborated in the scope of the “PNAE and Smallholder farming” extension project. It integrates the actions of the General Coordination of the School Feeding Programme (CGPAE) and the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE), and it works alongside the Laboratory of Information Technology and Educational Media (LabTIME) of the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). It was adapted for an international audience in partnership with the Centre of Excellence Against Hunger of the World Food Programme (WFP).

Since the publication of Law no. 11,947/2009, the Executive Entities of the Brazilian National School Feeding Programme (PNAE) – City Halls, State Secretariats of Education and Federal Schools – must provide at least 30% of financial resources, granted by the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE) within the scope of the PNAE, for the acquisition of smallholder farming and school feeding goods.

Executive Entities may acquire smallholder farming goods for school feeding by means of a Public Call, with no need for a bidding process. A Public Call is the administrative procedure to select a specific proposal regarding procurement of foodstuffs from Smallholder Farming and/or Smallholder Entrepreneurs and their organisations. It is a tool that, while signed in the scope of sustainable public purchase strategies, ensures that constitutional principles of legality and efficiency are complied with. This allows the circulation of important government guidelines related to sustainable development, the support of social inclusion and local production, and the promotion of food and nutrition security.

This course presents the steps and operation procedures for the purchase from smallholder farming for school feeding, offering a theoretical, technical and operational support to those involved in this area.