The WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger hosted two missions from Guinea Conakry and Niger aiming at learning from Brazilian food security success stories on May 2-10. The deleagations were composed of government representatives of different departments along with WFP and FAO staff. They were led by the Guinean Ministry of Education and the Niger General Secretary for the High Commission on Food and Nutrition Security (3N).

 

During the first week, the missions took part in a field trip to Fortaleza and other villages in the Northeast State of Ceará. They had the opportunity to visit public schools meals initiatives and meet with local managers of pertinent programmes and traditional communities. On the following week in Brasilia, the delegations participated in the Brazilian Ministry of Social Development's “International Seminar on Social Policies for Development”. After meeting with government authorities and smallholder farmers, they learned how family agriculture and school meal policies can be channeled through local food purchase programmes, such as PNAE – National School Feeding Programme and PAA – National Food Purchase Programme. 

 

Finally, both missions concluded their study visits to Brazil with interactive discussion sessions. This enabled them to draft Plans of Action which outline concrete actions to advance sustainable school feeding and food security policies in their countries.