The first lady of Brazil, Janja Lula da Silva, spoke at the opening ceremony of Nutrition for Growth (N4G). N4G, held this year in Paris on 27 and 28 March, is a global initiative that aims to ensure that nutrition is recognised as a key factor in development and the fight against poverty.
Janja, who is Ambassador for Brazilian School Feeding, emphasised the need for concrete actions to eradicate malnutrition and strengthen sustainable food systems, as well as mentioning Brazil’s policies aimed at eradicating hunger and promoting adequate food, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The N4G has been held in Olympic host cities since the London Olympics (2012), and brings together global leaders, international organisations and representatives of civil society, with the aim of mobilising investments and commitments to tackle hunger and guarantee global food and nutrition security.
Side events
As part of the N4G side events, Brazil will hold two seminars, organised with the support of the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil, on 28 March at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris. The events dealt with school feeding and healthy food systems.
The first seminar, entitled ‘Joining Global Efforts to Ensure Nutritious School Meals for Every Child’, featured speakers Fernanda Pacobahyba, president of the National Education Development Fund (FNDE), and Emilie Sidaner, coordinator of the WFP School Feeding Coalition Secretariat, who discussed the crucial role of school feeding programmes in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.
The event will also discuss the actions of the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition, created to provide essential data to improve the quality of school meals around the world, and the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES) presented by its executive secretary, Najla Veloso.
Saulo Ceolin, coordinator of Food and Nutrition Security at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discusses the strategy of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, launched by Brazil at the G20 Summit in 2024, to unite global efforts against hunger, poverty and inequality. The discussions were moderated by Cecilia Malaguti, from the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC).
Food Systems
The second seminar, ‘Dialogue on Recommendations for Sustainable Food Systems in the Climate Context’, features speakers Patrícia Chaves Gentil, Director of Healthy and Adequate Food Promotion at the Ministry of Social Development, Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger (MDS) and Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Food Systems and Food Security Division at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
They discuss the importance of nutrition in times of crisis and the alternatives for guaranteeing the nutritional security of populations. The moderator is Gisele Bortolini, from the National Secretariat for Food and Nutritional Security (MDS).
The seminars are joint initiatives of the Brazilian government (FNDE, CGSAN/MRE and ABC/MRE); RAES Consortium on Nutrition for Health and School Nutrition; and the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil.