The article reflects on the implementation of public policies by civil society, especially when that is an associative program – a type of public policy that offers the centrality of the implementation process to certain social groups. Since the implementation of associative programs has several challenges, we analyze how social organizations that implemented the CDS modality of the Food Acquisition Program (PAA), between 2009 and 2017, in Americana and Sumaré (SP), responded to them. The study is based on semi-structured interviews, field visits, and documentary analysis. The results show that the associative program creates a new multi-organizational field that involves social and state actors from a new configuration of forces and roles. Mobilizing this field is essential so that social organizations can deal with the challenges of its implementation. The resources available to them in accessing it is impacted by policy design and political-institutional changes.
Associative Program; Social Movements; Public Policy; Multi-organizational field; Food Acquisition Program