Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived

The Operational Programme 2014-2020 of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) substitutes the former European Commission food distribution programme 2006-2013 in Latvia.

The aim of the Operational Programme in Latvia is to reduce food deprivation and material deprivation of low-income households, while reducing the social exclusion of the most deprived persons.

Public expenditure of the Operational Programme is EUR 68 060 650 (48 956 110 - FEAD funding, 8 639 315 - national co-financing, 10 465 225 additional funding from state budget).

End recipients of the FEAD aid:

• a needy household where the monthly income of the first or only person in the household does not exceed EUR 272 and the income of the other people in the household does not exceed EUR 190;
• a low-income household with the threshold of EUR 376 for the first person and EUR 264 for each subsequent person in the household per month;
• a household in a crisis situation.

To qualify for the FEAD aid a household shall receive a written statement of a status issued by local government.

Types of the FEAD aid:

Under FEAD in Latvia the distribution of food and basic material assistance to the most deprived persons is ensured. Each person in three months is able to receive:

• 2 food packages;
• 1 package of hygiene and household items;
• 2 additional baby food packages for families with small children aged 7 to 24 months;
• 1 additional package of hygiene items for families with small children aged up to 2 years.

In addition once a year the households with children in primary and lower secondary school age can receive one package of school supplies.

The content of food package:
pasta, rice, buckwheat, manna, wheat flour, canned meat, canned fish, oat flakes, oil, sugar, milk powder, egg powder, potato porridge, concentrated milk with sugar, peas, four-grain flakes, rapeseed oil, barley groats.

The content of package with hygiene and household items:
liquid soap, hair shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, laundry detergent (liquid, powder), dishwasher.

The content of baby food package:
fruit purées, vegetable & meat  purées, porridge, crackers.

The content of package with hygiene items for babies:
diapers, toothpaste, toothbrush, baby body cream, children's soap, baby shampoo, wet wipes for babies.

Soup kitchens are also operated as a part of FEAD. Here, meals can be received without a statement on any status and without presenting any other documents.

In addition to the food aid and material assistance accompanying measures are provided with the aim of addressing social exclusion of the most deprived. The most deprived are able to participate in the activities of accompanying measures:
informative measures (information on opportunities to receive social assistance, social services, on the procedures in relation to employment opportunities, medical care, on the possibilities for leisure time etc.), individual and group work, providing individual and multi-professional counselling, support groups in solving social problems etc. and informal educational activities that focus on the development of practical living skills, including cooking, laundry, house cleaning, household budgeting, parenting, job search etc.

FEAD aid is being distributed and accompanying measures are organized by partner organisations, which are selected by the Intermediate Body (Society Integration Foundation) under open calls once in three years. 

Partner organisations are organisations registered according to the legal acts regulating status of associations and foundations or religious organisations and has been working in the field of charity or social inclusion of vulnerable groups during the last 12 months as of the deadline for submission of application and local governments or their bodies.

Society Integration Foundation as Financial Beneficiary of FEAD ensures public procurement for selection of suppliers. Suppliers deliver aid packages to the distribution points of partner organisation.