Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Milan, 22 November 2022 - Strengthen the capacity of Third Sector entities to respond to the food aid needs of the Milanese population, through an economic contribution that also gives them the possibility of developing projects within a broad and shared context. With this objective, the municipal council has given the green light to the new Food Aid Scheme which provides for the distribution, through a public tender, of contributions in favor of third sector bodies for the purchase and distribution of foodstuffs, aimed at the weak of the population.

The overall allocation is around one million euros, assigned through a notice published on the website of the Municipality of Milan which will allow the proposing entities to be evaluated based on their operational capacity in the distribution of aid, networking with other Third Party bodies sector, the quality of the foodstuffs purchased, the criteria for identifying the beneficiaries.

"The experience of Milan helps was indispensable during the pandemic and the situation after the emergency still shows clear primary needs to be satisfied, including that of food – underlines the deputy mayor with responsibility for Food policy Anna Scavuzzo –. This is why we decided to continue, refinancing the Food Aid Scheme with a tender in 2021 and 2022: we return today with a new important allocation to strengthen Welfare and the Food policy, supporting the initiatives of the bodies that collaborate with the Municipality of Milan. The investment made to combat food poverty was very significant and required even greater coordination between the implementing bodies to make food support policies efficient, effective and widespread throughout the city".

"The Food Aid Device – adds the councilor for Welfare and Health Lamberto Bertolé – represents an important piece of the policies to combat poverty and marginalization and also a precious tool for the social workers of the Administration who can report the most vulnerable families vulnerable. It is an effort that the Municipality implements with the awareness that the economic difficulties have not ended with the conclusion of the most acute phase of the pandemic and that many Milanese people still experience a condition of need. Support them by forming an alliance with Third sector associations that work in the area must be a priority for us."

Through the call it is intended to select up to nine entities. Each selected project will receive a contribution of approximately 110.000 euros (a co-financing amount of no less than 10% of the contribution is expected). The amount intended for the purchase of foodstuffs cannot be less than 90% of the requested amount.

It is estimated that each project will involve the purchase of approximately 40-50 tons of food aid capable of distributing approximately 5 thousand food parcels. Overall, it is intended to put 45 thousand food parcels into circulation.

This measure is designed to integrate the work of the Third Sector bodies accredited in the circuit of the European Fund for Aid to the Destitute (FEAD) which in Milan has 193 organisations. The group of families benefiting from food aid purchased by Third Sector entities may be made up of both families already in the care of the entity and new beneficiaries identified by their own territorial networks or reported by the Municipality.

The action will be managed by the Welfare and Health Directorate and the Food Policy Area.