07:30 – Arrivals
09:00 – 10:00 Plenary: Opening Session
- The Rt. Hon Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development, United Kingdom – Welcome remarks
- The Rt. Hon Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, United Kingdom
- HE Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia
- HE Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE
- Sir Chris Hohn, Chair of Board, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
- Bill Gates, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (pre-recorded video)
10:00 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:20 Thematic Sessions (in parallel)
Session 1: Creating new approaches to ending preventable deaths of children.
This session focused attention on childhood malnutrition – that is life-threatening, limits
potential, and is preventable. It galvanised support, harnessed resources and encouraged
greater joined-up action for new ways of saving lives, preventing malnutrition and prioritising
investment in maternal and child nutrition, including the reform of systems and institutions.
The session built new and existing partnerships for preventing child wasting, in support
of country-led priorities and plans. Leaders and experts on the platform:
Part 1: Why we need to address Child Wasting
- The Rt. Hon Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development, United Kingdom – Chair
- Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF – Co-chair
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organisation –
keynote
Part 2: Shifting the Dial on how we address Child Wasting
- HE Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia
- Hon Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of Agriculture, Food & The Marine, Ireland
- HE Dida Gardera, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Indonesia
- HE Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General KSrelief
- Afshan Khan, Coordinator, Scaling Up Nutrition Movement
Opportunities for scaling up action (Panel)
- Danielle Mutone-Smith, Manging Director, USAID Bureau for Humanitarian
Assistance - Valerie Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director, World Food Programme
- David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
- Gwen Hines, CEO, Save the Children UK
- Prof Julio Rakotonirina, Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs, African Union
Interventions from the floor
- Child Nutrition Fund Inauguration
- Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF
- HE Dr. Nadeem Jan, Federal Health Minister, Pakistan
- Anna Hakobyan, Chief Impact Officer, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
- Dr. Abdul Kareem, CEO Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives
Session 2: Harnessing science and technology for food security
The global food system is facing unprecedented challenges. Amongst other drivers, climate
change and extreme weather, and the related pest and disease burdens, are reducing crop
yields, increasing famine and conflict risk. Science and technology in food systems have the
potential to unlock substantive growth in the Global South, reduce global food prices, tackle
hunger and enable healthier diets. It is also essential for tackling climate change and nature
loss. This session will showcase collaborative science and research partnerships in action,
accelerating progress towards greater food security and nutrition, including cutting edge
British science and leadership. It will galvanise further joined-up action to tackle some of the
thorniest problems facing the world today, including harnessing emerging technologies
including digital and AI, and finding scalable solutions that support nutrition, productivity,
climate resilience and protect nature. Leaders and experts on the platform:
- Prof Charlotte Watts, Chief Scientific Advisor, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office – Chair - Andrew Griffith MP, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, United Kingdom
– Opening
Setting the scene: Science and Technology for Food Security
- Dr Qu Dongyu, Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations - Dr Beth Dunford, Vice President, African Development Bank
- HE David Ernest Silinde, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Tanzania
- HE Dr. Girma Amente, Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia
Role of National Research and Innovation Systems and Partnerships (Panel)
- Esther Penunia, Secretary General, Asian Farmers’ Association
- Dr Juergen Voegele, Vice President, World Bank
- Dr Rob Bertram, Chief Scientific Adviser, USAID
- Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser, CEO, UK Research and Innovation
Lead discussants
- Prof Bhavani Shankar, Professorial Research Fellow in Food and Health, University of
Sheffield - Dharshan Wignarajah, Director, Climate Policy Initiative
Harnessing Science and Technology for Food and Nutrition Security (Panel)
- Dr Agnes Kalibata, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
- Prof Lindiwe Sibanda, Board Chair, CGIAR
- Rodger Voorhies, President of Global Growth, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Lead discussants
- Dr Daniel Elger, CEO, CABI
- Dr Appolinaire Djikeng, Principal of the Centre for Tropical Livestock and Genetic
Health and Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute - Dr Jon Styles, Director, Assimila
- The Rt. Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister for Indo-Pacific, United Kingdom – Closing
12:20 – 13:40 Lunch
13:40 – 15:30 Thematic Sessions (in parallel)
Session 3: Anticipating and preventing famine and food security crises.
Some 50% of humanitarian crises are predictable yet only 1% of humanitarian funding
globally is allocated ahead of these crises to mitigate and prevent the worst impacts. Conflict
has become the predominant factor causing acute food insecurity, while climate-related
disasters are driving increased levels of risks. The session focussed on the increasingly
complex challenges presented by overlapping climate and conflict, and the multidimensional
response required by the international community to tackle food crises and famine. A panel
discussion of international experts reflected on what the international community needs to
do differently to meet new challenges, including drawing on the full range of levers to tackle
acute hunger available, with country-specific interventions to inform and challenge. Leaders
and experts on the platform:
- Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent, Sunday Times – Chair
- Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and UN,
United Kingdom – Opening
Part 1: Anticipating and preventing food crises (Panel)
- Reena Ghelani, United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator
- David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
- Patrick Youssef, Africa Regional Director, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Dr Orzala Nemat, Director, Development Research Group
- Jamele Rigolini, Senior Advisor for Social Protection and Jobs, World Bank
Lead discussants
- HE Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia
- HE Wellington Dias, Minister of State for Development and Social Assistance, Family
and Fight against Hunger, Brazil - Mr Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Director
General of the African Risk Capacity Group - HE Dr Waid Batheeb, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Yemen
- Kelly T Clements, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees
- Sarah Mohamedsalim, Nutrition Specialist
- Dr Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive at ODI
Part 2: Food Security and Conflict (Panel)
- Emanuela Chiara Gillard, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and
Armed Conflict - Reena Ghelani, United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator
- Patrick Youssef, Africa Regional Director, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Dr Orzala Nemat, Director, Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
- Andrew Murdoch, Head of International Humanitarian Law Committee, UK Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office
Lead discussants
- Valerie Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director, World Food Programme
- Charles Garraway, Honorary Senior Lecturer, Human Rights Centre
- Jean-Michel Grand, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger
Interventions from the floor
- Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and UN,
United Kingdom – Closing
Session 4: Building a climate-resilient and sustainable food system.
A sustainable agricultural sector matters for food security, healthy diets, livelihoods, and
national incomes. It provides jobs for 27% of the global workforce and added US$3.5tn to
the global economy in 2019. Yet, these benefits are increasingly undermined by climate
change and environmental degradation, causing extreme vulnerability particularly in
countries contributing least to climate change. With a rising global population and everincreasing demands, more sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural practices, investments and food systems are critical for lasting food security and nutrition. In collaboration with the
UAE COP28 Presidency, this session highlighted the climate and environmental
challenges facing the agri-food sector. It showcased what is working across countries and
different contexts, and profile innovative investment approaches and galvanising greater
action across the international system. Leaders and experts on the platform:
- Melissa Pinfield, Executive Director, Just Rural Transition Program – Moderator
Setting the scene
- HE Mariam Almheiri, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, UAE
- Dr Juergen Voegele, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank
Part 1: National Action (Panel)
- Elizabeth Nsimadala, President, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (pre-recorded
video) - HE Sam Kawale, Minister of Agriculture, Malawi
- HE Celso Correia, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique
- Dr Ariane Hildebrandt, DG Global Health, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development, Germany - Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR
Lead discussants
- Hon Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Ireland - HE Bjørg Sandkjær, State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
- Dr Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
Spotlight: Scaling up Climate Resilient Agrifood with Impact with International Fund for Agricultural Development
- Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development
Part 2: Climate smart investments for more resilient, nutritious food security (Panel)
- Susan Lund, Vice President, International Finance Corporation
- Esther Penunia, Secretary General, Asian Farmers’ Association
- Shyam Singh, Co-founder, Dehaat
- HRH Princess Viktoria De Bourbon de Parme, Director, World Benchmarking Alliance
- Maximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations
Lead discussants
- Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director of Agricultural, Food, Nature and Rural Development
Sector, Asian Development Bank - Abigail Thomson, Senior Advisor, Technical Assistance, FMO
Closing remarks
- Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, UK Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Closing
15:30 – 16:00 Break
16:00 – 17:00 Plenary: Closing Session
- The Rt. Hon Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development, United Kingdom – Opening
- Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations
- Rodger Voorhies, President of Global Growth and Opportunity Division, Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation - Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organisation
- HE Wellington Dias, Minister of State for Development and Social Assistance, Family
and Fight against Hunger, Brazil - The Rt. Hon David Cameron, Foreign Secretary, United Kingdom – Closing