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Stronger national commitments and multisectoral financing strategies were at the centre of the dialogue held on Wednesday (22) during the side event at the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) entitled \u2018Investing in the future: building partnerships and strengthening financing for healthier school feeding programmes.\u2019\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The meeting was organised as part of the Committee’s 53rd Plenary Session, held in Rome from 20 to 24 October, and focused on sharing best practices in financing and collaboration to boost agri-food resilience and access to healthy and affordable diets for school-age children. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n FAO Chief Economist and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, M\u00e1ximo Torero, drew attention to the funding gap that persists despite investments of nearly US$50 billion in 2022. \u2018As fiscal pressures on governments intensify, there is a growing risk that school feeding programmes will not reach those who need them most. Although 84% of countries claim to have a specific annual budget for school feeding, only a third say that the resources available are sufficient to ensure adequate coverage and quality,\u2019 he said.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At his side, Paola Barbieri, project analyst at the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, took stock of how \u201cschool feeding, over the last 20 years, has gained a strategic place on the Brazilian South-South Cooperation agenda (…) In this journey, we have counted on the valuable participation of FAO and WFP. Through these partnerships, we have already cooperated with around 80 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.” <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The event was jointly organised by the World Food Programme (WFP) and its Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Swedish Committee for FAO, the School Food Coalition and the Sustainable School Food Network (RAES), the Government of Brazil through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the National Fund for Education Development (FNDE), the Government of Kenya through the Department of State for Agriculture, the Government of Ukraine through the Ministry of Education and Science, the Swedish Food Agency and a wide range of partners from governments, civil society and the private sector.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For Maria Giulia Senesi, Programme Officer at the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil, debate is necessary for school feeding programmes around the world to reach their full potential. \u2018Thinking about sustainable financing solutions, adapted to national contexts at each stage of programme expansion, is essential \u2013 and this session demonstrated how different countries are putting this into practice,\u2019 she says. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The virtuous circle of school feeding programmes: country experiences<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On behalf of Brazil’s National School Feeding Programme (PNAE), Karine Santos highlighted the country’s pioneering experience in the Latin American and Caribbean region. \u2018The programme respects the food culture and nutritional and health needs of students, integrates Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) into the school curriculum and encourages the purchase of food from family farms, contributing to sustainable development and equity in access to food,\u2019 she said. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n