The World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger held a meeting with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to present the main areas of activity between the two institutions with a view to developing joint projects between the agencies. This was the first of a series of meetings between the two agencies seeking to align their two main lines of action, women’s sexual and reproductive health and the promotion of food and nutrition security, in order to contribute to the development and well-being of Brazilian populations and other countries through South-South Cooperation.
O The Director of the Centre of Excellence, Daniel Balaban, highlighted the importance of the school as a learning space for marginalised communities. In addition, the Centre’s team shared information about the Nurture the Future project, which tackles the multiple burden of malnutrition in students, as well as important issues for the health and development of women and children, such as the weight gain curve in pregnant women.
The technical team mentioned the development of actions with the homeless population, the promotion of “collective maternity” in quilombola territories and the development of activities in schools, in shifts other than classes, including weekends, so that families and the school community use the public space for debates and training, as possible themes to be addressed in future projects.
UNFPA Director, Florbela Fernandes, emphasised that in order to work together, it is necessary to make a commitment to the different populations in which we operate. UNFPA’s main lines of action are the search for the three zeros: Zero unmet need for reproductive planning; Zero preventable maternal deaths; and Zero gender-based violence and harmful practices against girls and women.
In addition, the UNFPA team highlighted the importance of work aimed at female empowerment, positive masculinities and developing and improving data management on different population segments.
The WFP Centre of Excellence was attended by Director Daniel Balaban, Nutrition Project Coordinator Eliene Sousa, technical assistants Osiyallê Rodrigues and Thaynara Dias, and Administrative Assistant José da Silva. The meeting was attended by UNFPA Director Florbela Fernandes; Gender, Race and Ethnicity Programme Officer Luana Silva; and Nair Souza, Programme Officer for Sexual and Reproductive Health Supplies Security.