Hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), this exchange will bring together global and country partners, technical experts and practitioners to connect evidence and action in responding to child undernutrition and strengthening food and nutrition data systems.

The morning session will focus on the ongoing crisis of child wasting and explore how recent evidence can better inform policy and programme responses and translate evidence into action and policy; it will be led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The afternoon session will be led by the Joint Research Centre and partners and will focus on practical opportunities to strengthen food and nutrition information ecosystems that support action in fragile and crisis-affected contexts. The dialogue aims to identify catalytic opportunities, reinforce technical coordination, and foster alignment toward more coherent, sustainable, and integrated data systems that improve nutrition and food security outcomes.

Confronting the Crisis of Child Wasting: Translating Evidence into Action and Policy

Co-organized by European Commission and IFPRI | Exploring the latest evidence on integrated approaches to prevent and treat child wasting, addressing research gaps, real-world challenges, and scalable, sustainable solutions.

11:00–11:15 | Opening & welcome

• Roos Verstraeten, Scientific project officer nutrition at the Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC), European Commission
• Dana Le Roy, Policy Officer for Nutrition & Focal Point for the partnership with the World Health Organization, European Commission

11:15–12:05 | Integrated Prevention and Treatment of Child Wasting

• Jef Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Laetitia Nikiema Ouédraogo, Regional Adviser, Nutrition and Food Safety, World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
• Emma Massey, Global Health Directorate | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), UK
• Elodie Becquey, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Kirrily de Polnay, Nutrition Specialist, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
• Lieven Huybregts, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

12:05–12:20 | Panel Discussion: The Importance of Investing in Wasting Prevention

• Roland Kupka, Senior Adviser, Financing for Child Nutrition and Development, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• Paul Troy, Global Health Advisor / Nutrition Policy Lead, Irish Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland)
• Cesaire Ouédraogo, Regional Nutrition Advisor, Africa, Helen Keller International

12:20–13:00 | Q&A Session

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Strengthening Food and Nutrition Information Ecosystems: Towards Aligned Action

Exploring alignment on priority actions, reinforcing technical coordination, and identifying financing and partnership opportunities to strengthen food and nutrition information ecosystems.

14:00–14:15 | Opening & Welcome

14:15–15:15 | Strengthening Food and Nutrition Information Ecosystems: From Vision to Blueprint

15:15–15:30 | Break

15:30–16:45 | Panel Discussion: From Blueprint Toward Aligned Action

16:45–17:00 | Closing Reflections