The article evaluates the implementation process of the decentralized (municipalism) school-lunch program in Cuiabá (1993 - 1996). Guided by the process evaluation research, this article analyses the characteristics of the municipalism school lunches' implementation process, in all its dimensions (organizational, personnel, infrastructure and resources). It also considered the opinions of all its agents (decision-makers and implementation agents, as well as the beneficiaries of the program), in order to compare the program objectives and goals to its performance, achievement, and social efficiency, and to conclude about the conditions and factors affecting the implementation's success or failure. This case study of the school-lunch program in the Cuiabá municipality, was based on collected primary data (interviews and children's writings), as well as secondary data. It concludes that the program decentralization had a mixed outcome and resulted in fragmentation, regarding its services to the area schools' network (state and municipal). The program covered an ample clientele, but problems were detected in the services' quality, involving the food and meals' control and supervision. Despite the persisting institutional irregularities, the program's importance, however, wasn't diminished, according to its directors, managers, and beneficiaries as well.
evaluation research; school-lunch program; decentralization; school feeding
