In 2021, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger Brazil celebrated 10 years of its creation. Throughout the year, the Centre of Excellence continued its path of adapting operations to meet the growing challenges imposed by the pandemic and increasing inequalities around the world. This Annual Report details how the activities of the Centre of Excellence supported countries and partners in South-South Cooperation actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 and 17.
Despite the difficulties, 2021 was also a year in which there was an increase in the number of people who were able to participate virtually in activities previously carried out exclusively in person: national, regional, and international dialogues on policies to fight hunger and promote food and nutrition security; building consensus and producing knowledge; and mobilization of stakeholders for coordinated global actions, such as the first-of-its-kind Food Systems Summit.
In addition, the Centre worked extensively to produce publications, organize technical seminars, and promote other forms of dialogue to build and strengthen policies in the areas of nutrition, school feeding, and smallholder farming. The Nurture the Future project, for instance, launched several publications that highlight strategies for prevention of childhood obesity, within the context of fighting the multiple burden of malnutrition, which is the project’s goal.
The “Virtual Study Visit: Brazil”, also launched in 2021, had Lesotho as the first participating country. The Visit is anchored in the Virtual Exchanges methodology, developed in partnership with the Brazilian government to disseminate good practices to cooperating countries.
The Beyond Cotton Project started field work in Mozambique and advanced negotiations for the annual work plans in other participating countries. In addition, several strategic partnerships with the civil society, and public and private sectors were strengthened, supporting initiatives in Brazil and around the world.