1. Some countries are distributing cash or vouchers instead of food baskets to provide relief for families w/ children who are not receiving school meals due to closures. This is more common when an on-going cash transfer programme already exists. 📷 Marcelo Camargo/AgênciaBrasil 
2. In #Brazil, this approach was adopted in the states of SP (bit.ly/3c7nooM), GO (bit.ly/2y2j0sz) and the Federal District (bit.ly/2Vlf6Tj). Local governments top up Bolsa Família benefits w/ their own resources to compensate for missing school meals.
3. European countries have also taken measures to support their students. In the #UK, schools can provide every eligible child with a £15 weekly voucher to spend at supermarkets while schools are closed: bit.ly/2XpsN6n.
4. However, many countries choose mixed approaches (food baskets and cash/vouchers) to ensure the food security of children, often leaving it up to the local administration to define the most appropriate delivery system.
5. In #India the central government has mandated, and the Supreme Court has urged, states to develop alternative arrangements to deliver the Midday School Meals programme, which covers 120 million children. Both in-kind and cash modalities are allowed: bit.ly/34ziHSg
6 The government of #Colombia has allowed municipalities to choose between 3 options to adapt the School Meals Programme: industrialised food baskets; take-home rations; or food vouchers. Decree: bit.ly/2Xr8J3K & Resolution bit.ly/2y7BcRg bit.ly/34yeAFI
7. In #Uruguay, families receiving the family allowance (targeted cash transfers) will receive a top-up for school meals, while other families with children will receive a voucher, which will be delivered at schools: bit.ly/3c626b9
8. In #Spain, a €25 million investment will ensure that families with children that received school meals, or a scholarship, will receive either financial aid or direct food distribution while schools are closed. Read the Decree: bit.ly/2wzFYH4.
9. In the #USA, state governments can plan for emergency food stamp assistance targeting school-aged children. In #NYC, the Dept. of Education is committed to providing #FreeMeals for all. Read H.R.6201: bit.ly/2xo0k6i & NYC website: on.nyc.gov/3b1heXa
10. All these cases required adaptation to local contexts and flexibility in purchase and delivery processes. Actions were mostly taken in a timely manner to preserve the food security of children and their families and to help them cope with social distancing measures.
