By Abdulkareem Haruna

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), today announced a crucial webinar series aimed at strengthening food policy action and catalyzing multisectoral collaboration to address all forms of malnutrition across the African continent.


The series, titled “Food Policy Action to Address All Forms of Malnutrition in Africa,” seeks to promote sustainable, safe, and healthy diets and accelerate the transformation of food systems for improved nutrition and health outcomes. It will convene African policymakers, leading nutrition experts, civil society leaders, and media professionals.
“Africa is grappling with a complex nutritional transformation,” stated a representative for the WHO Regional Office for Africa in a press invitation. “Our food systems are being tested by the triple burden of malnutrition: persistent undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, a surge in overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases, and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods amidst widespread child food poverty.”
According to the 2023 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report, over 280 million Africans were undernourished in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global total. Concurrently, obesity rates in Africa have more than tripled since 1990, presenting coexisting challenges that strain health systems and impede development.
The webinar series offers a vital platform for participants to gain insights into the nutritional landscape and food system challenges in Africa, explore evidence-based food policies recommended by WHO, learn from country experiences, and access practical tools for policy development, implementation, and monitoring.
For media professionals, the series promises timely access to new data, compelling human interest stories, insights from high-level speakers, and critical policy developments shaping Africa’s nutrition and public health future. Interview opportunities with key speakers will be available upon request.
Webinar Schedule:

  • June 17, 2025: Malnutrition and the Food Policy Landscape
  • July 10, 2025: Food Labelling and Marketing Regulations
  • September 11, 2025: Fiscal and Institutional Policies to Promote Healthy Diets
  • October 14, 2025: Fortification, Food Safety, and Food Diversification
    Those interested in attending all sessions can register once at: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qrvl6SD5Q-qHdvx9uV0ugA

  • The organizers encourage broad participation to spotlight the pressing issues and opportunities shaping the continent’s food and nutrition systems, ultimately working towards resilient, health-driven food systems that ensure access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all.