Accelerated Reduction Effort on Anaemia (AREA) Community of Practice (CoP) Webinar

When

10 June 2021

Where

Location: Virtual. Watch the recording.

Summary

How can we improve governance and accountability at global and country levels for food fortification? What policy actions can be taken to accelerate fortification towards 2030?

Since March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged global food systems and pushed an estimated 100 million people into states of hunger and food insecurity. Food systems are a key determinant of anemia and large-scale food fortification offers a powerful, evidence based and cost-effective tool to fight malnutrition by providing key nutrients to entire populations. However, disrupted supply chains, programmatic challenges as well as competing financial and political demands mean many fortification programs are under threat and progress on anemia prevention is stalling.

The upcoming Food System Summit offers an unprecedented opportunity to interrupt this trend and inject much needed energy and investment into this crucial prevention strategy for anemia and other health conditions such as neural tube defects. Large-scale food fortification has been pitched as a game-changing solution for food system transformation to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all. Although there are several ongoing efforts -by different partners- to fortify different food staples and condiments, the accountability of this intervention is not yet institutionalized, which might limit coordinated action and monitoring in this area.

In collaboration with Nutrition International, and supported by UN Nutrition this extended AREA CoP webinar took place on the 10th of June during the Food Systems Dialogues - Health Talks, which provides a space to discuss the nexus between health, food systems and human rights. The webinar will seek insights from UN agencies, key donors and existing alliances for food fortification.

Moderators

  • Luz Maria De-Regil, AREA CoP Moderator and Unit Head, Multisectoral Actions in Food Systems, World Health Organization

  • Mandana Arabi, Vice President, Global Technical Services and Chief Technical Advisor, Nutrition International

Speakers 

  • Rizwan Yusufali, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF

  • Corinne Ringholz, Food Fortification Advisor, WFP

  • Shawn Baker, Chief Nutritionist, USAID

  • Andreas Bluethner, Director of Nutrition, Gates Foundation

  • Werner Schultink, Executive Director, Iodine Global Network

  • Helena Pachon, Senior Nutrition Scientist, Food Fortification Initiative

  • Penjani Mkambula, Cluster lead Food Fortification, GAIN

  • Manpreet Chadha, Senior Technical Advisor- Food Fortification, Nutrition International

  • Stineke Oenema, Executive Secretary, UN Nutrition

  • Patrizia Fracassi, Senior Nutrition and Food Policy Officer, FAO

The Community of Practice (CoP) aims to support members of the global community dedicated to improving and scaling up existing methods and strategies for anemia reduction in a holistic and cohesive manner; to build consensus for engagement in AREA at the global, regional and national level and commit to the achievement of the Global Nutrition Targets 2025 endorsed by the 65th World Health Assembly.

 
 
 
2024-2021FFI StaffGlobal, anemia, WHO, food systems