Impact of the pandemic on the execution of the PNAE in municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro in 2020

Abstract

Introduction: The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed millions around the world. In Brazil, the closure of the public school system, in March of that year increased food insecurity for millions of students, constituting yet another challenge for the functioning of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). Objective: Measure some impacts of the pandemic on the acquisition of food from family farming (AF) within the scope of the PNAE by the municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro (ERJ) in 2020. Methods: Data research was conducted in the accountability system available (SIGPC)  of the National Education Development Fund (FNDE), referring to the year 2020, comparing them with the information from 2019. Results: The negative performance achieved by the set of municipalities in the ERJ, with a decrease of more than R$21 million invested in the acquisition of foodstuffs from AF, which is equivalent to a 66% reduction in the amount invested. On the other hand, 27% of the municipalities invested more than 30% of the transferred amount, according to Law nº 11.947/2009. Discussion: Even with the interruption of schools, some municipalities were able to activate institutional mechanisms to facilitate the purchase and supply of food to basic education students in the municipal education network. Thus,  the PNAE was used as a strategy to ensure the right to adequate and healthy food for students during the suspension of classes, and, at the same time, minimize the economic impacts on the AF providers of the program.