3rd Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN2023) Meeting | November 1 – 3 – Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN)

Announcements

Background

Battling with multiple burdens of malnutrition amidst issues related to climate change (Kray et al. 2022), pandemics of obesity (WHO,2022), COVID-19, and also man-made geopolitical crises, Africa is said to be in an unstable transition. Food matters, particularly food system challenges have had an immense impact on the African continent and its people. Global Health and Nutrition Targets (Global Nutrition Report, 2022), as well as those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been impacted also. These impacts are predicted to be even direr by 2030.

Cognizant of the gravity of the situation, and the urgency to address them, many initiatives working towards improving food systems and food environments have been valorised by the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS). Several other regional and local initiatives exist with goals complementary to the UNFSS. One of these initiatives includes the Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN). FERN was birthed to among other things contribute to 1) building research capacity for innovative food environment research in Africa; 2) fostering partnerships within Africa (South–South partnerships), and beyond (South–North partnerships) to stimulate robust food environment research and monitoring; and 3) sustaining dialogue and focusing priorities around current and future needs for enhanced food environment research and monitoring in Africa (Tandoh et al., 2022).

By focusing on research, partnerships and dialogues, FERN provides a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and capacity building. At the inaugural meeting of the FERN initiative in November 2020 (FERN2020), participants were introduced to the INFORMAS Food-EPI and Food Prices Modules to stimulate interest and capacity development. A cardinal output of this meeting was identifying research priorities and opportunities for improving research on food environments and related policies in Africa (Laar et al, 2022). The second convening of FERN – in 2021– aimed to leverage the network to transform Africa’s food systems (see details at meals4ncds.org)

In collaboration with the Food-SAMSA Project and other FERN partners, FERN2023 is envisioned to be an ‘INDABA’ that facilitates the identification, collation and valorisation of Africa-focused food environments research, policy, and practice initiatives. FERN2023 will be online and is scheduled to take place in November 2023.

The objectives of FERN2023 are:

To facilitate the identification, collation and valorisation of Africa-focused food environment related research, policy, and practice initiatives.
To connect researchers in the African sub-region and Global North whose work relates directly or indirectly to improving food environments in Africa
To kindle a collaborative environment and a cross-pollination of food environments’ improvement ideas
To stimulate capacity building, in particular among students and early career researchers.

Programme Details

FERN2023 Speakers

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Disclaimer

Pictures and video recordings will be taken during FERN2023 and posted publicly on the mealse4ncds project website and social media (Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook). By filling out this form, you understand that pictures/video recordings of yours might be featured on the project website and social media, and have agreed with the aforementioned.

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