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Brazilian foreign policy for the Global South: The creation of the Centre of Excellence against Hunger
Author(s) -
Dri Clarissa Franzoi,
Molinari da Silva Andressa Caroline
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
development policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1467-7679
pISSN - 0950-6764
DOI - 10.1111/dpr.12511
Subject(s) - excellence , general partnership , government (linguistics) , context (archaeology) , diplomacy , political science , public administration , bureaucracy , foreign policy , institution , economic growth , sociology , economics , politics , law , paleontology , philosophy , linguistics , biology
Motivation This article analyses the conception and implementation of the Centre of Excellence against Hunger, established through a partnership between Brazil and the World Food Programme in order to disseminate Brazilian practices relating to school food and nutrition. Purpose The Centre’s headquarters are in Brasília, primarily funded by the Brazilian government, and it aims to share Brazilian expertise while being part of the United Nations institutional board. This article assesses why and how such a sui generis institution came to be set up in 2011? Approach and methods Methodologically, this case study is based on semi‐structured interviews with key stakeholders who participated in this institutional construction. Findings We argue that the Centre has its roots in a transnational government network animated by Brazilian officials. This idea originated primarily outside the context of international relations, fostered by education and school meals managers and technicians. It did find some development support within the sphere of international relations, involving the Brazilian government and the United Nations, and with the backing of actors invested in the new foreign policy guidelines presented by the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (henceforth “Lula") administration. Policy implications The trajectory of the Centre of Excellence against Hunger derives from the role of networks in the international system alongside the influence of individuals during periods of change or uncertainty in bureaucracies and international regimes. Conventional diplomacy and international organizations can benefit from cross‐fertilization with networks that include government actors.