Strengthening the School Feeding Programme
The School Feeding Programme (PAE), under the General Directorate of Early Childhood and Primary Education of the National Public Education Administration (DGEIP-ANEP), is a key public policy to guarantee food for children in educational centres in Uruguay. In addition to contributing to food and nutrition security, it is a strategic tool to promote healthy habits, strengthen coexistence, and support educational pathways.
The Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES) is a regional network promoted by the Government of Brazil, with FAO serving as its executive secretariat. It promotes the exchange of experiences and cooperation among countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen their school feeding programmes. Uruguay joined RAES in November 2024, becoming part of a space for dialogue and cooperation aimed at advancing towards more sustainable school feeding programmes.
During 2024, FAO, RAES, and the School of Nutrition of the University of the Republic carried out an institutional assessment to evaluate the implementation of the Sustainable Schools methodology in selected educational centres receiving meals through PAE.
The Sustainable Schools methodology aims to support progress towards school feeding programmes that are more sustainable and adapted to the specific characteristics of each country. It places emphasis on the human right to adequate food, food and nutrition education, the participation of the educational community, school infrastructure, and the connection with local agrifood systems.
The assessment made it possible to identify the institutional, regulatory, and operational conditions for implementing the Sustainable Schools methodology in the country. The process took into account the national context, existing public policies, coordination with the State, and the different components of the methodology.
The work identified food and nutrition education initiatives and school gardens as strengths, recognizing them as valuable tools for health promotion and the prevention of malnutrition. It also presented a proposed implementation plan for the Sustainable Schools methodology at the national level, as a contribution for education authorities to assess its development in Uruguay.
This process provided input to strengthen school feeding in Uruguay and generate evidence for decision-making. FAO’s technical support in this area continued in 2026 with the implementation of a pilot project of the Sustainable Schools methodology in six educational centres in Canelones, San José, and Maldonado.
Enlaces de interés
Sustainable School Feeding Network
With FAO support, Uruguay promotes Sustainable Schools experiences to strengthen school feeding
FAO’s contribution to school feeding policies in Uruguay
The importance of the Sustainable School Feeding Network for Uruguay and the region