My Reflections on Africa’s Year of Nutrition

IFPRI is delighted to announce the 32nd Annual Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture, which will be delivered by Her Excellency Minata Samaté Cessouma, the African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development.

By declaring 2022 to be the Year of African Nutrition, the African Union signaled the overarching need to tackle malnutrition and increase the affordability of healthy diets for the African continent. As 2022 comes to a close—unfortunately marked by deteriorating nutritional security due to shocks from the Russia-Ukraine war—Commissioner Cessouma will reflect on the key outcomes and recommendations emerging from the Year of Nutrition and the strategy for implementing these at the pan-African and national level.

The annual lecture commemorates Martin J. Forman, who headed the Office of Nutrition at USAID for more than 20 years and made a significant impact on international nutrition. The annual lecturer is invited to present his/her personal views about major issues related to malnutrition.

Welcome

• Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR and Director General, IFPRI

Remarks

• Kenan Forman, Son of Martin J. Forman
• Shawn Baker, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Forman Memorial Lecture

• H.E. Minata Samaté Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, African Union (AU)

Closing Remarks

• Samuel Benin, Deputy Division Director, Africa Regional Office, IFPRI

Moderator

• Marie Ruel, Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, IFPRI