US embassy cable - 04ROME1392

UNCLAS  ROME 001392 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR WHA/USOAS AMBASSADOR NORIEGA, AS/IO HOLMES, PRM/P, 
WHA/BSC, WHA/CEN, WHA/CAR, WHA/AND, WHA/EPSC FOR SUMMIT 
COORDINATING OFFICE AND IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK 
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/LAC FRANCO, DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP 
LANDIS 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, DEPUTY U/S BUTLER, 
CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR/PRIDDY 
GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY, RMA LYNCH AND NKYLOH/USAID 
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ 
BRUSSELS FOR USAID/LERNER 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, PREF, SENV, FAO, WHO, WFP, UNESCO 
SUBJECT:  WFP HELPS LAUNCH LATIN AMERICAN SCHOOL FEEDING 
NETWORK AT INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN CHILE - SANTIAGO, MARCH 
24-26, 2004 
 
REF: (A) ROME 1010, (B) 03 ROME 4879 
 
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Summary 
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1. An international school feeding congress - "Networks 
Beyond Borders," attracted more than 800 participants from 
19 countries. The event included an industry fair with 40 
companies from the Americas and workshops on nutrition, food 
safety and technology, school feeding programming and 
research issues.  Held in Santiago, Chile, March 24-26, 
2004, the conference received a special blessing from Pope 
John Paul II for working to improve the lives of children 
throughout Latin America through the use of food and 
education. The Latin American School Feeding Network (LA-RAE 
in Spanish) aims to strengthen and expand school feeding 
programs by connecting the people - parents, teachers, 
government officials, food processors, distributors, 
nutrition and education organisations - that are involved at 
all levels of operations. The Network has grown out of 
several initiatives in Latin America and concerted efforts 
by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), the American 
School Food Service Association (ASFSA), and the Government 
of Chile's National Board for Student Assistance and 
Scholarship (JUNAEB). In addition to providing information 
and technical assistance, LA-RAE will work to create 
national associations that can meet local needs facing 
individual countries.  The first national association, in 
Colombia, was established in September 2003.  US 
Mission/Rome is highly supportive of this new initiative and 
will work with WFP Headquarters to explore how the 
partnership can be further nurtured. End summary. 
 
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Background 
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2. As reported ref A, in February, 2003, the World Food 
Program (WFP), the Chilean Board of Educational Assistance 
and Scholarships (JUNAEB), and the American School Food 
Service Association (ASFSA) signed a letter of intent to 
develop an independent school feeding network to improve and 
sustain school feeding activities in the future throughout 
Latin America. The parties are committed to developing a 
sustainable organization, capable of expanding school 
feeding activities through the strengths of the private 
sector and through partnerships that engage a wider 
commitment from all areas of the community. 
 
3. An international school feeding congress (March 24-26, 
2004, in Santiago, Chile) - "Networks Beyond Borders," 
attracted more than 800 participants from 19 countries in 
 
Latin America. The event included an industry fair with 40 
companies from the Americas and workshops on nutrition, food 
safety and technology, school feeding programming and 
research issues. Tim Lavelle, U.S. Mission/Rome Humanitarian 
Attache, as well as U.S. Department of Agriculture's Babette 
Gainor, Veronica Priddy, Sandra Fajemisin and Peggy Cantfil, 
attended the congress. Note. In FY 2003, USDA supported 
school feeding projects in the following Latin American 
countries under the McGovern-Dole International Food for 
Education and Child Nutrition Program: Bolivia, Guatemala, 
Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. 
 
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A special message of encouragement from Pope John Paul II 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
4. The following message was communicated to the delegates 
attending the Santiago Conference through a letter dated 
March 24, 2004, received from Vatican Secretary of State 
Cardinal Angelo Soldano, as follows: "On the occasion of the 
launching, in Santiago, Chile, of the Latin America school 
feeding network, as supported by the UN's World Food 
Program, his Holiness extends his best regards to those 
present at this conference, expresses his appreciation for 
this school feeding initiative in support of needy children 
and blesses the support of the international community, 
asking God to give strength and perseverance to all involved 
in this task of solidarity. He is pleased to impart to each 
and everyone of you his Apostolic Blessing." 
 
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Conference interventions/comments 
--------------------------------- 
5.  The inaugural session was opened by the Honorable Sergio 
Bitar  Chacra, Minister of Education, Government  of  Chile. 
Bitar  explained  how school feeding had played  a  critical 
role  in  the  health and development of  Chile's  children. 
"Democracy  brought access to education  and  together  with 
school  feeding programs, they have been the main  keys  for 
sustainable  growth and equal opportunities," said  Minister 
Bitar.  "While the effects of education are slower on  time, 
the  effects of school feeding are immediate." He emphasized 
education   as   the  first  priority  for  Latin   America, 
particularly  education  for the most  needy  children,  and 
encouraged  conference  participants  to  learn  from   each 
other's  experiences. The Minister noted that Chile provides 
school  meals to over 1.3 million children daily,  including 
the  continental  and  insular area of  the  country,  at  a 
national average cost of USD 0.63 per portion served.  Note. 
GOC  annual investment is presently USD 180 million and  the 
program is entering into its fortieth year. End note. 
 
6. "It was the first time that so many school feeding 
professionals - institutions, teachers and government 
ministers - had the opportunity to meet in one place and 
discuss the issues affecting our communities," said Mara 
Jos Ravalli, Education Communication Officer at the Pan- 
American Institute for Food Protection in Argentina. 
 
7. "Our goal is to link people across borders and provide 
e 
access to information, technical assistance and the latest 
education and nutrition studies available," explained Dr. 
Francisco Espejo, National Director of JUNAEB and one of the 
Network's founders. "Right now we are missing opportunities 
to improve our programs because communication and knowledge 
within the region is limited. Access to people and 
information is critical for the development and success of 
any business and school feeding is no exception." 
 
8. Barbara Belmont, Executive Director of the U.S.-based, 
55,000 member strong, ASFSA, and a founding member of the 
Network, pointed out that associations provide a powerful 
vehicle for legislative change. "Associations can develop a 
solid base for influencing legislators, affecting policy 
decisions and establishing important health and nutrition 
standards at the national level" she said. "An independent 
voice for food and education programs will help secure 
financially sustainable operations that include many 
stakeholders." Note. ASFSA was strongly represented at this 
event and made a number of important interventions. End 
note. 
 
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The Latin America School Feeding Network (LA-RAE) 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
9. Headquartered initially in Santiago, Chile, the Latin 
American School Feeding Network (LA-RAE in Spanish) aims to 
strengthen and expand school feeding programs by connecting 
the people - parents, teachers, governments, food 
processors, distributors, and nutrition or education 
organizations - that are involved at all levels of 
operations. In addition to providing information and 
technical assistance, LA-RAE is committed to 
creating/strengthening national associations that can meet 
local needs facing individual countries.  Note. The first 
national association, in Colombia, was established in 
September 2003. End note. La-RAE's website (which will 
reportedly be operational before April 30) is www.larae.org. 
 
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Involving the private sector in the social safety net 
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10. The conference focused on the important role companies 
can play in national school feeding programs. Presentations 
by Tetrapak (focused on Mexico and China), TNT (a subset of 
the Dutch multinational TPG), and Unilever discussed how 
corporate profits can go hand in hand with social 
responsibility. Note. Mexico's presentation underlined the 
efforts of the Government at the national and state levels 
to reach 7.6 million undernourished primary school children 
in vulnerable areas through a school breakfast program - and 
where coverage has attained only 5.1 million to date. End 
note. Additional note. A discussion of the school milk 
project in China will be discussed septel. End additional 
note. 
 
11. These companies, along with Hendaya, Ipal, Mirafiori, 
Raciosil, Santa Cecilia, Schwan's, and four 
organizations-ASFSA, the Friends of WFP, JUNAEB, and WFP - 
constitute the Founding Members of the Network. Founding 
Members are those who contribute $25,000 or more for the 
creation of the Network. One of the Founding Member 
companies-Unilever-was selected during the week as the 
private sector member of the five-member Interim Board for 
the Network. ASFSA, JUNAEB, WFP and the Colombia National 
Chapter are the other Board members. 
 
12. Reflecting on the conference, Laura Coomey, U.S. and 
Latin America Sales Manager at Dupont, said it also provided 
an invaluable opportunity to understand the realities facing 
school children in Latin America. "The benefits go both 
ways," she said. "The Network provides access to key 
decision makers that we would not otherwise meet. At the 
conference, we were able to meet with education officials 
from several countries and develop contacts for future 
business." 
 
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Comment 
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13. US Mission/Rome is highly supportive of this new 
initiative and will work with WFP Headquarters to explore 
how the partnership can be further nurtured. We have already 
recommended a former Mickey Leland Congressional Hunger 
Fellow to WFP, who could assist with immediate follow up 
activities. I see ample opportunity particularly through the 
provision of USAID technical assistance to WFP in a number 
of Latin American countries, to meld private sector and 
civil society efforts into support for school feeding. Chile 
 
has shown it can be done; the GOC contributes U.S. dollars 
(USD) 180 million annually and the program benefits from 
widespread private sector/civil society involvement. This is 
a true "win-win" situation. Reportedly some 50 million 
children throughout the Latin American region already 
benefit from some type of feeding program. The challenge is 
how to improve the quality of these efforts while expanding 
coverage to needy children that make up an important 
percentage of the approximately 100 million who today are 
not covered by any feeding interventions. Given the 
importance of school feeding to our Latin American allies 
(refs A and B), the USG should give the Network initiative 
our full support. Widening the circle of players, as Chile 
has proved, is one sure-fire method of making this work. 
Hall 
 
 
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	2004ROME01392 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED