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Central South America: Brazil

Zero tolerance programme to end hunger and poverty

‘Zero Hunger’ is a wide–ranging public policy which aims to end hunger and poverty in Brazil. The Brazilian Government reports that it involves society as a whole, not just the state, because it regards hunger as a central national issue, rather than an individual problem.

The Government aims to ensure social inclusion for more than 11.2 million people who are economically disadvantaged, with the Zero Hunger policy at the centre of programmes that should improve public access to five closely–related areas, namely; food and nutritional security, job creation and citizen income, structuring programmes, emergency actions and citizen education.

Measures, such as the Bolsa Familia Programme, which saw an income transfer system replace food cards, have already had a great impact in local areas. Likewise, the family farming programme for the purchase of foodstuffs, the building of wells in semi–arid region, the literate Brazil programme and many others have all proven successful and sustainable.

In order that such Government–led developments remain compatible with reality at ground level, the Federal Government has established partnerships with state and municipal governments, non–governmental organisations; religious institutions and trade unions, all of whom undertake local actions of a structural and emergency nature as part of the drive to create a future Brazil where nobody goes without food or lives in severe poverty.

For further information visit the Brazilian Government website at: www.brasil.gov.br.

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