Building Resilient Nutrition and Health Systems: Global Challenges and African Solutions

2-3 June 2026. Building Resilient Nutrition and Health Systems: Global Challenges and African Solutions - International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS) Joint Webinar - but the registration is closed due to high demand

This webinar was part of the IUNS Regional Webinar Series, which brings together nutrition researchers, professionals, practitioners, and students interested in nutrition and policy at different stages of their careers to discuss important and emerging topics in nutrition. The previous webinar in this series has attracted more than 500 participants globally.

Day 1: Understanding the Nutrition Challenge

The first day focused on the changing burden of malnutrition in all its forms, including micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as well as the broader food-system and health-system drivers behind these challenges. Sessions explore current evidence, emerging trends, and policy implications for Africa and other low- and middle-income regions.

Key speakers included:

• Hyun-Sook Kim International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) – Global nutrition leadership and international collaboration.
• Saskia Osendarp Micronutrient Forum – Micronutrient deficiencies and evidence-based interventions.
• Yunhee Kang Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea – Maternal and child nutrition, food security, and large-scale nutrition programmes.
• Henda Jamoussi University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia and Rym Ben Othman National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunisia. – Malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and dietary transitions.
• Amos Laar University of Ghana School of Public Health – Food environments, ultra-processed foods, and NCDs in Africa.

Day 2: From Evidence to Action

The second day shifted to solutions and implementation, examining how nutrition and health systems can become more resilient through policy, programmes, food safety measures, and school feeding initiatives. Topics include ultra-processed foods, nutrition and cancer, food safety risks such as mycotoxins, and scaling school feeding programmes in African contexts.

The webinar was moderated by Dr. Robert Fungo (Makerere University, Uganda), Dr. Habiba Hassan-Wassef (IUNS), and Prof. Francis Bruno Zotor (FANUS and the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana).

Key speakers included:

• Jacques Delarue University of Brest, France – Nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and global nutrition policy.
• Alan Jackson University of Southampton, United Kingdom – Nutrition, health systems, and sustainable development.
• Sheila Okoth University of Nairobi, Kenya and Lindy Joy Rose – Food safety and mycotoxin risks.
• Kwadzanai Nyanungo FAO and Jacqueline Kung’u Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) – School feeding, child nutrition, and food environments.
• Francois Stepman Global Forum for Agricultural Innovation and Research (GFAiR) – Partnerships, food systems, and innovation for nutrition resilience.