Cross-sectoral partnership in social policy: the control of school attendance in the Bolsa Família Program

Abstract

The case study examines the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger in Brazil in order to monitor the commitment made by the beneficiary families in keeping their children in school at the minimum attendance rate required by Bolsa Família Program. It analyzes the cross-sectoral approach as a social policy strategy and the challenges involved in coordination among government agencies to ensure the integrality of this anti-poverty and social protection policy program. The main focus of the study is the relationship between the institutional representatives of the federal government, but it also addresses important elements of interaction with other levels of government so that the management of the education conditionality complies with its purposes.