© WFP/Maria Clara Franco
An Armenian delegation is visiting Brazil from October 14 to 18, 2024, to learn about the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). The visit is organized by the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil, in partnership with the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC). The mission’s goal is to exchange experiences on the implementation of school feeding programs and the provision of products from family farming to schools. The Armenian delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Education Araksia Svajyan, consists of 15 participants, including representatives from the Ministries of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Labor and Social Affairs, Environment, and Finance. The visit’s agenda includes meetings with representatives of the Brazilian government (FNDE, ABC, and MAPA), visits to urban and rural schools participating in the PNAE, and a visit to a logistics center with cold storage, as well as a farm that supplies the PNAE. Additionally, workshops on menu planning, nutrition, and monitoring of the PNAE are planned. The delegation will also meet with representatives from the National Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security (SESAN/MDS) to discuss interministerial coordination and social protection and visit the Ministry of the Environment to address sustainable practices in schools. “This is an opportunity for countries to exchange experiences and relevant solutions in school feeding, aiming to discuss innovative practices from both sides. The initiative is an in-person follow-up to a virtual visit held earlier this year,” said Maria Giulia Senesi, Program Assistant at the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil. Armenia has had a nationalized school feeding program since 2022, benefiting over 111,000 elementary students. The country has been working to implement innovative models, such as the “Arpi” model, which aims to increase community and local business involvement in financing school feeding activities. The technical visit to Brazil is expected to contribute to the development of new strategies to strengthen Armenia’s school feeding program, focusing on sustainability, community participation, and the promotion of healthy eating habits.