Local Public Procurement in the School Feeding Program (PAE) – Colombia

Fecha de inicio: 14/02/2020

Fecha de fin: 01/01/5000

Description

The School Feeding Program (PAE) in Colombia is managed by the Special Administrative Unit for School Feeding – Alimentos para Aprender (UApA), which is attached to the Ministry of Education. The origins of school feeding in Colombia date back to 1941, when the Ministry of Education was assigned the responsibility of establishing school cafeterias. The PAE is a state strategy aimed at supporting school access and retention for children, adolescents, and youth of school age who are officially enrolled in the country’s public education system. Every day, the program benefits 5.7 million students, who receive nutritional supplements during the school day and throughout the academic calendar. Approximately 2,252 tons of food are distributed daily — equivalent to about 405,270 tons per year.

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PublicProcurement

Observations

The PAE is the main purchaser of fresh and processed foods in Colombia. With the enactment of Law 2046 (2020), which mandates that 30% of public food procurement be sourced from Peasant, Family, and Community Agriculture (ACFC), the program becomes a key opportunity to strengthen this segment of producers. Additionally, Law 2167 (2021) allows parents to be hired to operate the PAE in rural school facilities (approximately 35,000 across the country). This provision further promotes the consumption of locally produced foods, reinforcing local economies and food sovereignty.

Iniciative Type

Does not apply

Action scope

National

Evaluated

Stage

Implementation- Ongoing

Temporalidad

Long-term

Number of Years

2980 - Year -s