The Spain–FAO Program for Latin America and the Caribbean supports countries in the region in addressing hunger and malnutrition through the joint efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), promoting regional cooperation, multilateralism, and the strengthening of democracy, with a cross-cutting focus on gender equality.
In 2006, the Program assumed the role of Technical Secretariat of the Latin America and the Caribbean Without Hunger Initiative, consolidating a role focused on strengthening food security governance at the global, national, and local levels by promoting public policies, cooperation, and dialogue among key actors in the Ibero-American and Caribbean region.
Program Objective
Areas of work
The Spain-FAO Program for Latin America and the Caribbean, which currently has five active projects, is based on the following areas of focus:
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Legislative Cooperation for Democracy and the Fight Against Hunger
The Program supports legislative networks such as the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger and the Ibero-American and Caribbean Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security, and promotes initiatives such as the Observatory on the Right to Food. These networks facilitate the development of public policies, political oversight of key policies in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, the mobilization of resources, interparliamentary dialogue, joint action, and citizen participation, promoting inclusive and sustainable governance that drives, through political will and unity, the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.
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Global partnerships for a Zero Hunger world
The Program promotes cooperation between Ibero-America and the Caribbean and other regions through initiatives such as the Global Pact Against Hunger and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. These partnerships foster resource mobilization, knowledge sharing, and collective action, contributing to the strengthening of more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agri-food systems, in line with global sustainable development goals.
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Women Against Hunger
The Program works to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against hunger, prioritizing the empowerment of women, with a special focus on those in rural areas and indigenous communities. It focuses on promoting their active participation in decision-making and in the implementation of gender-sensitive public policies, ensuring that these policies address their needs and help reduce structural inequalities.
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Climate Action
Recognizing that actions related to climate change are essential to ensuring food security and nutrition, the Program promotes the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and the development of concrete strategies that strengthen the climate resilience of agri-food systems. These actions help mitigate the effects of climate change and build a more sustainable future.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Generation
As part of the INTERCOONECTA Plan, the Program prioritizes training and knowledge generation in innovative areas such as investment in local communities, as well as knowledge exchange through initiatives like FAO Campus of FAO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. These actions strengthen institutional and technical capacities, contributing to the design of more effective and equitable public policies, with a focus on human rights and Ibero-American cooperation.
Other key facts about the program
It has a specialized unit focused on communication and advocacy to maximize its impact.
It works closely with AECID, SEGIB, and FIAP, strengthening synergies in Ibero-American cooperation.
It has spearheaded major milestones, such as the World Parliamentary Summit Against Hunger and Malnutrition.
It actively collaborates with the Alliance for Food Security in Africa, promoting the AFROLAC parliamentary relationship.
It has succeeded in integrating the parliamentary community into the main instruments and decision-making bodies on food issues, such as CELAC’s SAN Plan and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
This program provides ongoing support to:
Parliamentary Fronts Against Hunger
Observatory of the Right to Food in Latin America and the Caribbean
Videos
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Life history of sustainable forest management in Ecuador
May 4, 2026, 17:03 PM
Related links
The Latin America and Caribbean Initiative Against Hunger
World Parliamentary Summit Against Hunger and Malnutrition
Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
Parliamentary Front against Hunger
Observatory of the Human Right to Food
Publications
Gender, Hunger and Malnutrition: Transforming Reality Through Legislative Action – A Practical Guide for Parliamentarians (Only Spanish)
2025
Gender equality is essential to eradicating hunger and malnutrition, which are key objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This practical guide is aimed at parliamentarians, providing them with tools to integrate a gender perspective into their legislative work.
Collection of legal briefs for eradicating hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean
2024
This Collection of legal briefs for eradicating hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean highlights the important role of legislation in eradicating hunger and ensuring food security.
Transformation Underway – Successes and Lessons Learned from Collaboration Between FAO and Parliaments in Latin America and the Caribbean (Spanish Only)
2023
The active participation of the legislative branch is highly relevant in the field of international cooperation to ensure food security. Before the establishment of the Parliamentary Fronts Against Hunger Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (PFH-LAC), efforts in this area were mainly focused on governments, civil society and international organizations.
10 Contibutions parliamentarians can make towards achieving "Zero Hunger
2018
Eliminating hunger by 2030 will require appropriate legislation backed up by the necessary budgets and proper monitoring, allowing a just and long-lasting legal framework to be created.
Parliamentary fronts against hunger, and legislative initiatives for the right to adequate food and nutrition
2017
This publication details the experience of the Parliamentary Fronts Against Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean in promoting legislation aimed at achieving the right to adequate food.
Guide on Legislating for the Right to Food
2010
The Guide provides assistance as to how to integrate the right to food into the different levels of the national legislation.