Strengthening School Feeding Programs During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic webinar
In a bid to address the challenges of sustainable development, particularly the eradication of hunger and all forms of malnutrition, Colombia, Ecuador, and El Salvador have joined forces to strengthen and scale up their school feeding programs. This initiative was discussed in detail during a webinar held on May 16, 2023, titled "Strengthening School Feeding Programs During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic."
The webinar, which was attended by government representatives, FAO experts, and partners related to school feeding from the participating countries, aimed to present the background and scope of the project activities in the three countries, establish commitments for the implementation of the activities within the project framework, and create a dialogue space between government representatives and the FAO to coordinate actions in strengthening school feeding policy.
School feeding policies are associated with improved nutrition, education, and health. They facilitate countries in achieving objectives in various strategic areas such as education, health, agriculture, social and economic development, among others. They also have a cross-cutting impact in the fight against poverty and hunger, as they simultaneously favor the human development of students, improve food security, and promote the development of the local economy, through the purchase of locally produced food for school feeding programs.
The webinar highlighted the Sustainable Schools methodology, which aims to safeguard the food and nutritional security of schoolchildren through the transformation of agri-food systems into more efficient, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient systems. The Sustainable Schools methodology focuses on six action areas:
The panel discussion was a key part of the webinar, where the contributions and expectations of strengthening the School Feeding Program (SFP) were discussed. The panelists highlighted the importance of networking, including local food producers, and integrating food and nutritional education as actions that strengthen nutrition and reduce poverty with the SFP.
The event concluded with a video presentation on the strengthening of the SFP and closing remarks by Israel Ríos, Nutrition Officer.
The webinar marked a significant step towards strengthening school feeding programs in Colombia, Ecuador, and El Salvador, and it highlighted the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration and sustainable practices in achieving food security and nutrition for schoolchildren.
Follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtags #FoodCoalition, #EscuelasSostenibles, and #AlimentaciónEscolar.
