Brazil Launches Protocolo Brasil Sem Fome to Combat Food Insecurity in 500 Municipalities
Brazil unveils Protocolo Brasil Sem Fome to target food insecurity in 500 high-risk municipalities through integrated public health and social programs.
- • Protocolo Brasil Sem Fome launched to systematically identify and assist food-insecure Brazilians.
- • Initial focus on 500 municipalities with highest food insecurity risks.
- • Integration of SUS, SUAS, and Sisan to facilitate coordinated responses.
- • Bolsa Família boosts families’ ability to overcome food insecurity by 11.2%.
- • Training for state agents to implement the protocol begins February 2026.
Key details
On February 20, 2026, Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance officially launched the Protocolo Brasil Sem Fome, a new government protocol aimed at systematically identifying and supporting individuals facing food insecurity. Despite Brazil’s removal from the United Nations Hunger Map in 2025, the initiative recognizes that many Brazilians still lack consistent access to three daily meals, highlighting the enduring challenge of hunger in the country.
Valéria Burity, the Extraordinary Secretary for Combating Poverty and Hunger, described the protocol as an operational guide for integrating public policies to address food insecurity more effectively. The government will initially concentrate efforts on 500 municipalities identified as having the highest risk of food insecurity. These areas will receive technical support and training for local administrators to implement the protocol comprehensively.
The protocol’s centerpiece is the integration of existing systems: the Unified Health System (SUS), the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS), and the National Food and Nutritional Security System (Sisan). This coordinated approach will enable early detection of malnutrition through health post diagnoses, which can then trigger access to social welfare programs such as Bolsa Família.
To qualify for federal support, municipalities must meet formal requirements, including adherence to Sisan. Bolsa Família has been instrumental in enhancing food security; data shows an 11.2% increase in families overcoming food insecurity after enrolling in the program.
Starting February 2026, the government plans to begin training state agents to facilitate the protocol's rollout further. The initiative represents a significant step forward in Brazil's fight against hunger by promoting active outreach to vulnerable populations and fostering greater inter-agency cooperation across sectors.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
