Tunis, October 23rd 2018: The Global Child Nutrition Forum was held in Tunis, Tunisia, from 21 to 25 October superseding the 3rd Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) School Feeding cluster meeting with an objective of the Forum to motivate open dialogue and sharing of experiences, good practices, lessons, challenges, and options to sustainably support nutritious, home-grown school feeding programs at national levels.
H.E Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, David Beasley World Food Program Executive Director, Youssef Chahed Prime Minister of Tunisia, Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education of Tunisia, Daniel Balaban, Director of the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger, Arlene Mitchell were present at the opening ceremony among others.
Speaking at the opening, the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology expressed her sincere gratitude to all relevant stakeholders for the support towards implementing the CESA strategy within the Framework of Agenda 2063 which are is in line with SDG goals 2 and 4. She emphasized that the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) will empower Africans on the continent to be drivers of Agenda 2063 by way of providing a healthy and conducive learning environment to expand access to quality education for all while motivating skills transfer and knowledge sharing.
The Commissioner reiterated the AU commitments encapsulated in various policy documents and decisions which include but are not limited to; 2016 assembly decision identifying Home Grown School Feeding as a valuable contribution to improved nutritional status on the continent. ‘This decision is line with AU Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy (2015-2025), and the fulfilment of the Malabo Declaration’ she noted.
The Commissioner used the opportunity to invite all dignitaries present to the upcoming commemorations of the Africa day of school feeding set to hold in Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire in March 2019.
Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education of Tunisia highlighted the role of school feeding to advance education, as well as in preventing violence, extremism and preventing school dropping out. The Minister said that school meals create a safe haven for children to stay in school and also teaches students the benefits of nutrition. ‘Investment in balanced nutrition is investing in the future and will go a long way in helping governments fight non communicable diseases’ he concluded
Mr. David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme said that it is critical to invest in children and school feeding programs. The director called upon the United Nations to develop capacity building mechanisms that would help national governments to improve provision of nutritious meals in schools. Mr. David noted that school meals play a great role in encouraging school attendance thereby predicting children’s future. ‘When we have effective school meals we can predict a bright, prosperous and peaceful future’ he underlined

Ms. Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director of the Global Nutrition Foundation partners of the AU underlined the need to invest in education, agriculture, health and nutrition which she said are the three critical pillars of development.
The Forum is organized every year by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation and the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger. This year the Forum gathered over 300 people in Tunis to discuss strategies to improve and promote school feeding initiatives globally.

For more information, on the meeting please contact:
Mr. Abraham Asha, Program Officer, Education Division, Human Resource Science and Technology Department, African Union Commission, E-mail: AbrahamAH@africa-union.org
Priscilla Wanjiru, Program Officer World Food Program Africa Office priscilla.wanjiru@wfp.org
Media Enquiries;
Ms. Mugisha Barbara, Communication Expert, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC), E-mail: barbaram@africa-union.org

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