IFPRI Policy Seminar

The Future of Youth Jobs in Agrifood Systems in Africa

Hosted by IFPRI, the CGIAR Policy Innovations Program, the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator, and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

July 15, 2025

Africa’s population is the youngest of any region, affording the continent an adequate workforce to drive economic and social transformation. However, African economies are finding it difficult to create employment opportunities for this “youth bulge”—opportunities that are needed to advance on SDG target 8.6 to substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET). As of 2020, more than 20 percent of young men and women in Africa fell into this category. African youth wield growing political and social power as they vent their frustrations about the lack of opportunities. Although youth-led protests and their underlying causes are not new in Africa, the recent movements represent an important moment for the region’s youth.

The agrifood system in Africa remains the backbone of national economies and provides more than half of jobs in most African countries. Thus, it still holds substantial potential to absorb or catalyze youth engagement in productive activities in Africa. But this change will not happen by itself. It will require sustained efforts in policy research and development. While much of the literature and debate on the employment crisis have focused on the role of agriculture in absorbing Africa’s youth, the scope of debate and research should be expanded to include the role of youth across the entire food system.

Introduction and Opening Remarks

Sandra Cristina Kothe Milach, Chief Scientist, CGIAR

Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Steven Were Omamo, Director for Africa, and Director for Development Strategies and Governance, IFPRI

Jobs in Agrifood System in Africa

Luc Christiaensen, Lead Agricultural Economist, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank

Landscape of youth engagement in agrifood system in selected African countries

Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Youth aspirations and constraints in Nigeria/Rwanda

Jessica Heckert, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Initiatives to support young women: learnings from AGRA

Catherine Rusagara, Head, Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Panel Discussion: How can Africa create more jobs for the youth: Cases and success stories from youth-led initiatives and experiences?

Moderated by Nana Amoah, Director – Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Innocent Ogirinye Adoga, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (YISA), Nigeria

Mashoko Chakanyuka, Head of Youth Employment in Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Kisanet Haile Molla, Spatial Engineer, Civil Engineer, Youth Representative for Infrastructure, World Bank

Elizabeth Mwende, Agricultural Engineer, and Youth Representative, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub

Esther Kimani, CEO and founder, Farmer Lifeline Technologies

Janette C. Toroitich, Agripreneur, Kenya

Closing Remarks

Clemens Breisinger, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI; Interim Director, Policy Innovations, CGIAR

Nicoline de Haan, Interim Director, CGIAR Gender Equality & Inclusion (GEI) Accelerator

Boaz Blackie Keizire, Director for Policy and State Capability, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Moderator

Christine Mwangi, Research Officer, IFPRI

Links

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/the-future-of-youth-jobs-in-agrifood-systems-in-africa/

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Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar

Worsening food insecurity, waning response capacity: Options for a better way forward

Co-organized by IFPRI, the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series

July 2, 2025

Food crises arise from the complex interplay of conflict, poverty, climate variability, and economic shocks, resulting in acute food insecurity among vulnerable populations. According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises (2025), the number of people facing severe levels of acute food insecurity has tripled over the past decade, rising from around 100 million in 2016 to nearly 300 million people in 2024.

The report warns that intensifying conflict in areas prone to food crises could worsen these conditions, policy uncertainty in major economies could slow income growth around the world, and budget cuts could erode humanitarian assistance, as well as capacities to monitor and anticipate drivers of acute food insecurity.

This seminar will assess these prospects and discuss ways to counteract them.

Speakers will discuss:

• Trends in acute food insecurity and major drivers

• Challenges posed by budget cuts by major aid donors and impacts on food crisis response capacities

• Obstacles faced by early warning, early action systems in collecting adequate data to monitor and anticipate food crises and address drivers

• Insights from AI-driven predictive modeling approaches to overcome select data challenges and better inform anticipatory and preventive action

Opening Remarks

Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Global food crises, fragility, and prospects: Trends and drivers

Presentation of the key findings of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises

Sara McHattie, Global Coordinator, Food Security Information Network (FSIN)

What are the consequences for food insecurity risks of waning international humanitarian and development assistance? EC perspectives and responses

Simona Bortolotti, Policy Officer, Sustainable Agrifood Systems and Fisheries Unit, Directorate General for International Partnerships, European Union

Implications of foreign aid cuts for climate resilience and food insecurity

Kalle Hirvonen, Research Fellow, UNU-WIDER and Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Challenges to humanitarian assistance and anticipatory action amid Sudan’s worsening food crisis

Nigist Abebe, Regional Representative, Chemonics International; Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping National Officer, World Food Programme (WFP) Sudan

A new approach to assess food insecurity trends and drivers to better inform early action systems

Luca Russo, Independent consultant and co-lead of study on trends and drivers of acute food insecurity commissioned by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC)

Using AI-informed modeling to overcome challenges to data collection and predict food crises

Yanyan Liu, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Concluding Remarks

Rob Vos, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Moderator

Katrina Kosec, Interim Deputy Director, CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security; Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/worsening-food-insecurity-waning-response-capacity-options-for-a-better-way-forward/

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IFPRI Policy Seminar

Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events

Organized by IFPRI, Food Policy, and the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations

June 11, 2025

Join us for a discussion of key findings from a recent special issue of Food Policy exploring the complex interactions between fertilizer use, soil health management, and economic shocks in various agricultural systems. Governments around the world have long implemented policies to enhance agricultural productivity through inorganic fertilizer application and soil management, yet recent global disruptions, from the 2020–2022 food, fuel, and fertilizer price crisis to ongoing climatic uncertainties, have challenged the effectiveness of these interventions.

Authors and editors of the special issue will present evidence on the medium-term effects of rising fertilizer prices and their implications for global demand, highlighting the disproportionate effects on smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries. The discussion will also cover issues related to the role of targeted subsidy programs, integrated soil fertility management, and site-specific nutrient approaches.

A panel of fertilizer experts will discuss how these insights can support policymakers seeking to mitigate price volatility, strengthen soil health, and ensure resilience in agricultural production, particularly during adverse weather events and economic shocks. This seminar offers critical perspectives for researchers, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders working to build more sustainable and equitable food systems in an increasingly uncertain world.

Introduction and Opening Remarks

Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI

Christopher Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

A synthesis of recent evidence on the policy dimensions of fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks

Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Country and cross-country policy experience: A conversation with the authors

Moderated by David J. Spielman, Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling, IFPRI

Akuffo Amankwah, Senior Economist, World Bank

Catherine Ragasa, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Jaweriah Hazrana, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Arizona State University

Pauline Chivenge, Senior Scientist, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Panel Discussion: How do we build resilience to future shocks in international and domestic fertilizer markets?

Moderated by Charlotte Hebebrand, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI

Peter Odhiambo Owoko, Head, Policy Coordination, Directorate of Agricultural Policy Research and Regulations, State Department for Crop Development & Agricultural Research, Kenya

Latha Nagarajan, Director, Sustainable Opportunities for Improving Livelihoods with Soils (SOILS) Consortium, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Shamie Zingore, Director of Research and Development, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI)

Avinash Kishore, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Closing Remarks

Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/fertilizer-soil-health-and-economic-shocks-policy-lessons-learned-from-recent-events/

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Global Food Policy Report

IFPRI Policy Seminar

2025 Global Food Policy Report | Food Policy: Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World

May 28, 2025

Over the last 50 years, the world’s food systems have evolved tremendously amid major economic, environmental, and social changes. Throughout this period, policy research has played a critical role in providing evidence and analysis to inform decision-making that supports agricultural growth, better livelihoods, and improved food security, nutrition, and well-being for all.

IFPRI’s 2025 Global Food Policy Report—a special edition marking the Institute’s 50th anniversary. This year’s flagship report examines the evolution and impact of food policy research and assesses how it can better equip policymakers to meet future challenges and opportunities.

Despite meaningful progress over the last half-century, conflict, climate change, rising inequality, and geopolitical tensions remain major challenges to reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. As we approach 2050, policy research and analysis will be essential to help build sustainable healthy food systems in this changing world.

Thematic presentations from IFPRI’s leading researchers will explore the role of evidence in shaping policies over the past 50 years, as well as the potential for research to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

A keynote lecture by Michael Kremer, Chair of the Innovation Commission and joint winner of the 2019 Economics Nobel Prize, will address innovations for the future. Following these remarks, a distinguished panel of experts will discuss priorities for policy research in the decades to come.

Welcome Remarks

Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR

Unveiling of IFPRI’s flagship Global Food Policy Report

Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Christopher B. Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University

Thematic GFPR presentations

James Thurlow, Director, Foresight and Policy Modeling (FPM) Unit, IFPRI

Ruth Hill, Director of Markets, Trade and Institutions (MTI) Unit, IFPRI

Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG) Unit and Director for Africa, IFPRI

Shalini Roy, Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) Unit, IFPRI and Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) Unit, IFPRI

Stuart Gillespie, Nonresident Senior Fellow, IFPRI and Deanna Olney, Director, Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH), IFPRI

David Spielman, Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling (IPS) Unit, IFPRI

Keynote Address and Strategy Discussion: A Focus on Innovations for the Future

Michael Kremer, Professor in Economics; Director of Development Innovation Lab; and Faculty Director, Development Economics Center, University of Chicago; and 2019 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences

Forward Looking Panel Discussion on Food Policy Research Priorities

Moderator: Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI

Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Ramesh Chand, Member, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)

Joan Matji, Global Director, Child Nutrition and Development, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Ruben Echeverria, Senior Advisor, Agriculture Development, Gates Foundation

Santiago Alba-Corral, Vice-President, Programs and Partnerships, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada

Marianne Grosclaude, Practice Manager, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, World Bank

Moderator

Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/2025-global-food-policy-report-food-policy-research-for-a-brighter-future-looking-towards-2050/

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IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar

2025 Outlook for Wheat, Maize, and Soybean Crops

Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS)

May 13, 2025

Global grain and oilseed markets are facing great uncertainty as producers in the northern hemisphere complete their spring plantings. While some dryness has affected winter crop regions in both North America and Europe, sowing conditions remain favorable. Market participants are closely observing rapid policy developments related to tariffs and possible retaliatory measures. The changing trade landscape will also affect the overall macroeconomic environment, with impacts expected on energy prices, exchange rates, and growth prospects, and further implications for agricultural production and trade.

Opening Remarks

Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI

Presentations

Overview of macroeconomic prospects: John Baffes, Senior Agriculture Economist, Development Economics, World Bank

Overview of crop conditions: Brian Barker, Principal Faculty Specialist, University of Maryland; GEOGLAM Crop Monitor for AMIS lead, and Global Crop Monitor lead

Overview of wheat, maize and soybeans: Seth Meyer, Chief Economist, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Discussion

Moderated by Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary

Di Yang, Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Erin Collier, Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Nathan Kemp, Senior Economist, International Grains Council (IGC)

Moderator

Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/2025-outlook-for-wheat-maize-and-soybean-crops/

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IFPRI Policy Seminar

Ending Hunger and Malnutrition: Keeping Our Eyes on the Road

Organized by IFPRI in collaboration with the World Bank

IFPRI Seminar during World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings

April 22, 2025

While global agricultural commodity prices have come down from the high levels seen in recent years, the world remains far off track in meeting the SDG2 of ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030. Last year, close to 300 million people faced food crisis while the number of people on the cusp of famine doubled. Efforts to address hunger and malnutrition are facing considerable hurdles, including protracted as well as new conflicts, cuts in official development assistance, inefficiencies in the global financing architecture, an increasingly fragmented political landscape and multipolarizing international order. How can the world mobilize more public and private resources to tackle the current food crisis, create more robust value chain and trade channels, and set countries on a path towards peace, stability and economic growth?

Timed to align with the WB-IMF Spring Meetings, this event will convene policymakers, representatives of international organizations, private sector and food system experts for a stocktaking of where we find ourselves and to chart solutions towards more aligned domestic and international, public and private financing flows aimed at ending hunger and malnutrition. Picking up on the Spring Meetings’ core theme of jobs as a path to prosperity, the important role of jobs in food value chains and improved livelihoods for furthering food security and nutrition will also be explored.

This policy seminar will:

Take stock of recent data, trends and outlooks for food and nutrition security, with a focus on the most vulnerable countries.

Discuss challenges and opportunities in resourcing, regional and global cooperation, and innovation to bend the curve of hunger and malnutrition.

Examine research findings and share policy recommendations to prevent and prepare for food crises, while broadening the focus to strengthening value chains and markets in developing countries.

Opening Session

Moderator: Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI

Speakers

Shobha Shetty, Global Director, Agriculture and Food, World Bank

Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Maximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

High-level Panel on Challenges and Opportunities

Moderator: Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI

Speakers

John Steenhuisen, Minister of the Department of Agriculture, South Africa

Arnel de Mesa, Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns and for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the DA Spokesperson, Department of Agriculture

Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Gilles Morellato, Head of Official Development Assistance team at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Rania Dagash-Kamara, Assistant Executive Director Partnerships and Innovation, World Food Programme (WFP)

Deep Dive: The Role of Value Chains in Boosting Food and Nutritional Security

Moderator: Loraine Ronchi, Global Lead for Science, Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture and Food, World Bank

Speakers

Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Ayodeji Balogun, Group CEO, the Africa Exchange (AFEX)

Matthias Berninger, EVP, Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety, Bayer Global

Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI

Closing Remarks

Martien van Nieuwkoop, Director, Agricultural Development, Gates Foundation

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/ending-hunger-and-malnutrition-keeping-our-eyes-on-the-road/

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IFPRI Webinar

How Can We Improve Food Security Monitoring in Conflict-Affected Regions? Machine Learning for Spatially Granular Food Security Mapping

Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Initiative on Foresight

March 25, 2025

Machine learning is transforming agricultural and food security research, enabling more accurate and timely insights. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is advancing data-driven approaches in various domains, including crop-type mapping, maize yield estimation, and boat detection. These innovations demonstrate the potential of machine learning in addressing complex challenges and informing policy decisions.

A key challenge in this space is food security monitoring in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where timely, granular data is often lacking but essential for policymakers, humanitarians, and researchers. Traditional methods, such as in-person household surveys, are often expensive, infrequent, and spatially coarse, limiting their ability to provide timely insights at local scales.

To address these challenges, IFPRI has developed a machine learning-based approach to estimate Food Consumption Scores—which is the most commonly used food security indicator by WFP and partners— at a granular village-tract level in Myanmar. This model leverages multiple data sources—including phone survey data, earth observation, crowd-sourced data, and GIS (Geographic Information System) datasets—to generate spatially explicit and near real-time food security assessments. During this seminar, we will discuss the development and application of this approach, the key data and modeling techniques used, and how this method can be scaled for other conflict-affected regions. We will highlight challenges such as data representativeness, feature selection, and model validation, and share insights into improving food security predictions. Finally, we will outline the broader implications of integrating machine learning with earth observation and survey data to support humanitarian efforts and policy decisions.

Moderator and Opening Remarks

Jawoo Koo, Senior Research Fellow, Natural Resource and Resilience Unit, IFPRI

Presentations

Joanna van Asselt, Associate Research Fellow, Development Strategies and Governance Unit, IFPRI

Zhe Guo, Senior GIS Coordinator, Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit, IFPRI

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/how-can-we-improve-food-security-monitoring-in-conflict-affected-regions-machine-learning-for-spatially-granular-food-security-mapping/

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Significant levels of food loss and waste continue to have negative impacts on food security and the environment, and Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve food loss and waste worldwide by 2030, remains out of reach. Join us on “12.3 Day” 2025 to take stock of efforts and opportunities to make progress toward this important goal.

Organized by the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, DC, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and the World Resources Institute (WRI), this event will examine commitments and best practices implemented around the world; and most importantly, explore how to go from big promises to real, tangible actions to reduce food loss and waste. We will discuss:

National Commitments in Global Forums. 2025 is a significant year for multilateral global efforts to tackle climate change and bolster food systems. Countries are submitting new Nationally Determined Contributions prior to COP30 and Food Systems Transformation Action Plans prior to the UN Food Systems Summit +4, presenting a unique opportunity to embed food loss and waste in national plans while also laying the groundwork for implementation.

Corporate Commitments. 13 large food retailers and their suppliers have committed to the 10x20x30 Food Loss and Waste Initiative, which aims to slash food waste across supply chains. Many are demonstrating real results, giving a look at how businesses can effectively team up to scale action.

Evidence-Based Solutions One Third, established in 2015 by the Danish government as the first think tank solely dedicated to reducing food loss and waste, has gathered evidence on effective solutions and how to scale them.

This virtual event is free and open to the public to attend. Please share this event with interested colleagues and networks.

Welcome Remarks

Brian Lipinski, Associate II, Food Program, World Resources Institute (WRI)

Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI; Member, Champions 12.3 Leadership Group

Alan de Brauw, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Presentations

Jacob Jensen, The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark (Video Remarks)

Anne Bordier, Director of Food Initiatives, World Resources Institute (WRI)

Panelists

Lea Stoustrup Brandt, Special Advisor / Head of Secretariat, One\Third

Carolyne Maina, Program Director, Technoserve Inc, NutriSave Program

Moderator

Brian Lipinski, Associate II, Food Program, World Resources Institute (WRI)

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/no-time-to-waste-moving-from-commitments-to-action-on-food-loss-and-waste/

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IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar

Biofuels and the Global Vegetable Oil Market

Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS)

March 4, 2025

Production of biodiesel fuel in Brazil, the European Union, Indonesia, and the United States has grown by nearly 40 percent over the past five years, driven largely by subsidies and government mandates. Government regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions have also boosted demand for vegetable oils and created new markets for used cooking oils (UCO), altering commodity trading patterns and price dynamics. The seminar will present overviews of the global vegetable oil market and the market for used cooking oil for fuel, followed by a moderated expert panel discussion representing views from across the globe. A question and answer session will follow.

Overview of the Global Vegetable Oil Market

Di Yang, Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Overview of the Global Market of Used Cooking Oil

Pierre Charlebois, Private Consultant, former Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Discussion

Moderated by Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary and Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI

-Brazil Soybean Market: Eduardo Vanin, Proprietário, Agrinvest Commodities

-Indonesia Biodiesel Mandates: Jasmine Osinski, Agricultural Attaché, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)—Jakarta

-US Biodiesel Market: Scott Gerlt, Chief Economist, American Soybean Association (ASA)

-EU Biodiesel Market: Mohamed El-Fatih Abu-Samra, Market Officer, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission (EU)

Moderator

-Donald Boucher, Director General, Sector Development and Analysis Directorate, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Chair

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/biofuels-and-the-global-vegetable-oil-market/

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Co-organized by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) & IFPRI

Undernutrition during childhood and early adolescence has long-term consequences for development and health, and for girls it can affect the survival and wellbeing of their children. Diet-related risk School meal programs are an effective way to boost children’s nutrition and wellbeing, including physiological development and academic performance. These programs can also play an important role in food systems transformation by ensuring access to healthy diets, supporting equitable livelihoods, and contributing to environmental sustainability. However, data on large-scale school meal programs have historically been fragmented and inconsistent, despite the global prevalence of these programs and evidence of their positive impact. The Global Survey of School Meal Programs © https://gcnf.org/global-survey/ seeks to address this gap, collecting the most comprehensive data to date on national and large-scale school feeding programs, with information on 167 countries. It provides comprehensive global data on school meal coverage, financing, food baskets, laws and policies, home-grown school feeding, and more, thus serving as a foundation for monitoring global progress over time.

The Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) https://gcnf.org/ and IFPRI invite you to the official launch of the third Global Survey report, School Meal Programs Around the World, 2024 edition, with results from the 2022 school year. The survey is implemented by GCNF, with funding from USDA and The Rockefeller Foundation and expert input from IFPRI and other lead researchers and organizations. The resulting data provide governments and other stakeholders with an up-to-date global database of standardized information on school meal programs to make informed decisions.

GCNF and IFPRI will present results from the latest survey, which concluded in August 2024, and a distinguished panel of experts will discuss implications of the survey for policy, research, advocacy, implementation, and business. Highlights of the 2024 survey results are already available in English and six other languages on GCNF’s website here https://gcnf.org/global-reports/ . The full report, School Meal Programs Around the World, 2024 edition, and additional resources will be released on the day of the event.

Introductory Remarks

Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI

Mary Muinde, Chief of Staff to the First Lady of Kenya

Fabio Veras Soares, Researcher, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Development, Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPCid/IPEA), Government of Brazil

Neo Sediti, Director, National School Nutrition Programme, Government of the Republic of South Africa

Dana Thomas, Managing Director, Food is Medicine, The Rockefeller Foundation

Overview of Survey Results

Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF)

Liliane Bigayimpunzi, Survey Coordinator for Africa, GCNF

Ayala Wineman, Research and Survey Specialist, GCNF

Panel: Putting the Survey Results into Use- Policy, Research, Advocacy, Implementation and the Business Perspective

Marie Tamagnan, Senior Operations Advisor, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

Mduduzi Mbuya, Director, Knowledge Leadership, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

Beatrice Wamey, President, Nascent Solutions

Mia Blakstad, Social Protection Specialist, The World Bank

Carmen Burbano, Director of School Meals and Social Protection, UN World Food Program (WFP) and Director of the School Meals Coalition Secretariat

Closing Remarks

Catherine Bertini, former Executive Director, UN World Food Program (WFP)

Moderator

Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Links

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/official-launch-of-the-third-global-survey-of-school-meal-programs/