On Thursday, August 11, representatives of the Angolan government and members of the World Food Programme (WFP) in the country participated in the closing session of the “Virtual Study Visit: Brazil”, promoted by the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil, in partnership with the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) and the National Fund for Education Development (FNDE).
The session brought together the technical teams of the Brazilian National School Feeding Programme (PNAE) and Angolan experts, who discussed specificities of the Brazilian model, going through topics such as: PNAE’s legal framework; programme funding model; implementation; community participation; and family farming. Over the days leading up to the closing session, the Angolan delegation had access to videos and written materials with details about the Brazilian programme.
After an opening speech by Plínio de Assis Pereira Júnior, Substitute Head of Trilateral South-South Cooperation with International Organizations at the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, the participants engaged in technical discussions. FNDE representatives talked about the process of progressive institutionalization of school feeding in Brazil and stressed that this is a state policy, present in the country’s constitution. “It is a permanent programme, and this legality makes the school feeding program institutional, with guaranteed budget and continuity over the years,” said Valmor Xavier, from PNAE.
FNDE experts also detailed the mechanisms for the transfers of funds to states and municipalities and the modalities of monitoring and supervision, for example through School Feeding Councils and partnerships with public universities and federal high education institutes. Experts from both countries also discussed topics such as scale of program implementation, funding, family farming procurement and community participation.
Aldo Sambo, Consultant at the Ministry of Education of Angola, commented that the legal basis is a very important issue for the country and, when it comes to funding, the reserve of 30% of funds for family farming is especially relevant. The Angolan delegation also highlighted good financing practices in place in Brazil and asked detailed questions about the accountability model, verification of transfers, control of irregularities and the role of each government entity in the implementation of the programme.
“School feeding programmes in Angola and Brazil have particularities and are based on broader programmes to reduce poverty or combat hunger, with equivalent strategies of sectoral policies such as education, agriculture and health,” said Aldo Sambo. He also pointed out that the country hopes to count on Brazil’s support for the second edition of the international seminar on the sustainability of school feeding programmes within the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), which is expected to take place in March 2023. The first meeting was held in Brazil in 2008.
José Ferrão, Senior Programme Officer for WFP in Angola, recalled that in addition to its humanitarian work, WFP has a mandate to support school feeding programmes worldwide. “For more than 50 years, WFP has helped more than 100 countries establish nationally-run and sustainable school feeding programmes. In January 2020, WFP renewed its commitment to working with governments to ensure that all vulnerable children are supported,” he said.
“We are especially happy to receive this demand from Angola, a fellow Portuguese-speaking country with which we intend to develop new activities together. Throughout these days, we have been able to share good practices and think about strategies to overcome challenges and difficulties,” said Sharon de Freitas, Head of the Centre of Excellence’s Program Unit in Brazil.
The methodology of the visit includes, in addition to the opening and closing virtual workshops, a series of videos and written materials that simulate an immersion in the Brazilian National School Feeding Programme (PNAE). Learn more about the “Virtual Study Visit: Brazil” and request a virtual visit here.