School meals programmes for healthier and sustainable African cities.
On the 10th and 11th of October 2024, Addis Ababa will host the 6th MUFPP Regional Forum in Africa. Organised by the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact within the Cities Feeding the Future Initiative and the AfriFOODlinks EU-funded project, in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and supported by the City of Addis Ababa, the forum is the first one entirely dedicated to the role of school meals programmes for healthier and sustainable African cities.
The selection of Addis Ababa as the hosting city for the Forum has multiple reasons. The City is a MUFPP signatory city since 2021 and a member of its Steering Committee. It has a long experience in school meals programmes, recognized in 2022 with the Milan Pact Awards assigned to Addis Ababa in the Sustainable Diets & Nutrition category. Additionally, in 2023, Mayor Adanech Abiebie became Champion Mayor for the Cities Feeding the Future initiative, led by the MUFPP Secretariat within the Schools Meals Coalition.
The two-day gathering of city representatives will represent a unique platform for networking and exchange. It will be the occasion to foster policy dialogue on city-led school meals programmes, showcase best practices on school meals programmes and strengthen advocacy processes of local governments towards international organizations and national governments.
After the official opening ceremony and a signing ceremony welcoming 3 new members in the MUFPP, during Day 1 of the Forum city officers will explore the key MUFPP advancements in Africa including the current policies, and activities. Following, the City of Addis Ababa, Ouagadougou, Nairobi, Rufisque&Montpellier and Antananarivo will provide an overview of the strategies and innovative approaches to enhancing school meal programs. The afternoon will be dedicated to an interactive workshop led by ACRA to explore the critical role that Civil Society Organizations play in developing school meals initiatives in the continent.
Day 2 will offer participants the opportunity to visit a community Feeding centre and public primary school. Then the AfriFOODlinks Policy Dialogue will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers from international and regional organizations, development agencies and local governments to discuss how to leverage the role of cities in enhancing food security and nutrition through improved urban food environments.
Find the full programme here.
