Tasty and waste-free food – The alternative to improve the use of public resources in School Feeding Programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean

Background: School feeding programs (SFPs) can play a crucial role in the emergency food and nutrition response, but there is a dearth of information on how SFPs operate during emergencies. Design and Methods: A rapid comparative assessment of 11 SFPs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from (1) systematic document search and (2) surveys with key informants (n = 23) about barriers/facilitators to modifications were systematically analyzed using a multiple case study approach. Results: During the pandemic, all SFPs continued (although continuation plans varied from a few days in Chile to >1 month in Puerto Rico) via food kits, food vouchers, and/or grab n’ go meals. The SFP implementation was highly dependent on the programs’ autonomy and financial support, which impacted their logistics to acquire and distribute foods during the pandemic. The types of foods offered in some SFPs suggest that established nutritional guidelines were not always followed. Key informants expressed concerns about the deterioration of the nutritional quality of foods offered during the pandemic and lack of community engagement that impeded distribution to the neediest. Conclusions: Results underscore the urgency for clear implementation guidance on how to modify SFP during emergencies. Public health implications include (1) allocation of autonomous resources to an intersectoral working group to safeguard nutritional benefits during emergencies, (2) strengthening efforts of SFP community engagement before and during emergencies, and (3) establishing guidelines of the types of foods that can be distributed to meet the nutritional needs of beneficiaries during emergencies.

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Selection Criteria for PPP Projects: Determinants of Value Generation in the Use of Public Resources (Value for Money)

10.18235/0003615 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Javier Villa Zárate ◽

Daniel Vieitez Martínez ◽

Carlos Mondragón ◽

Miguel Á. Martínez ◽

Jaime Pérez

Keyword(s):

Latin America ◽

Best Practices ◽

Selection Criteria ◽

Knowledge Exchange ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Infrastructure Projects ◽

Discussion Paper ◽

Public Resources ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Economic Infrastructure

The Discussion Papers PPP Americas 2021 are a series of documents written to prepare for PPP Americas tenth edition. The event is the most important forum on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), organized every two years by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Driven by PPP Americas 2021, we gathered eight thematic groups were, with specialists, professionals, consultants, and scholars engaged directly in the preparation, identification, structuration, and management of PPP infrastructure projects in countries of the region. IDB specialists coordinated the groups to review the main hot topics on PPP projects for social and economic infrastructure, aiming to exchange experiences, debate successful cases and lessons learned. The present Discussion Paper, “Selection Criteria for PPP Projects,” collects the main conclusions and recommendations discussed by the group and intends to consolidate a knowledge exchange environment in infrastructure and PPP inside the region, offering best practices on infrastructure projects selection and value generation in the use of public resources in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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