Analysis of the School Mealing Plan (PAE) in the city of Santiago De Cali, since the Exercise of the Audits of the Comptroller's Office Análisis al Plan de Alimentación Escolar (PAE) en la Ciudad de Santiago de Cali, desde el Ejercicio de las Auditorías de la Contraloría

Abstract

The study of the School Feeding Program (PAE) is of great relevance worldwide and nationally, ranking second in the Sustainable Development Goals, whose purpose is to achieve a world free of hunger by 2030. This focus is also reflected in the National Development Plan 2022-2026 and the development plan of Valle del Cauca, where it aims to achieve 100% coverage in school feeding to contribute to a more equitable food and nutritional security. Similarly, the District of Santiago de Cali prioritizes community participation in the operation of the program and social control with transparency, in line with the transformation of the Human Right to Food. This seeks to address a global problem that impacts school dropout rates, insecurity, conflicts, and deepening inequalities.

The beneficiaries of these programs are children and adolescents enrolled in official institutions, both in rural and urban areas. Priority is given to the indigenous population, those in displacement situations, as well as students from low socioeconomic levels (levels 1 and 2 of SISBEN), starting from preschool and primary to secondary education. Thus, the PAE is one of the strategies designed to strengthen the Ministry of National Education's school retention policy, through which access to a food supplement is facilitated for the target population, pooling efforts in the comprehensive care of beneficiaries of the public education system.

This deductive analysis aims to understand the management and impact of the PAE program, which are evidenced through audits carried out by oversight bodies. The fundamental role of the Comptroller's Offices in guaranteeing the quality and effectiveness of the program is highlighted. As a result, recommendations are offered aimed at improving both school nutrition and the audit process in Cali.