The Congressional Hunger Center invites you to attend our briefing, “Transforming Agri-Food Systems: Next Generation Perspectives from the 12th Class of Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows,” on Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. See schedule of presentations.
The fellows have been working with host NGOs and other organizations since October 2023 and continue to learn a tremendous amount about what is required to ensure food and nutrition security for all. Through this presentation and a Q&A they will share findings from their fieldwork or policy experience highlighting challenges and proposing interventions that could drive significant change. Presentations will cover a range of topics including farmers’ resilience, enhancing disaster risk reduction strategies, optimizing digital tools that support development, gender roles and climate change as root causes of food insecurity, and strengthening malnutrition services.
“According to this year’s State of Food Security and Nutrition Report from the FAO, the world is not on track to reach the goal of Zero Hunger by 2030,” says Hunger Center Chief of Staff and Leland Fellowship Director Elizabeth Uriyo. “In some cases, we are even seeing reversals after years of steady progress. Our current situation demands transformation—from agricultural production and food systems to our ways of thinking and acting across the humanitarian and development sectors. Having concluded the first year of their fellowships, our Hunger Fellows will share what they’ve learned about effective solutions for the challenges we face in ensuring food and nutrition security for all. Anyone working in this sector or with an interest in how to create a hunger-free future would do well to hear what these leaders have to say.”
Schedule of Presentations
| “Addressing Severe Drought Impact on Smallholder Farmers: Sustainable Irrigation Solutions for Northern Ghana” Alaine Johnson, M.A., placed with ACDI/VOCA in Tamale, Ghana |
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| “Investing in Climate Shocks Preparedness and Resilience” Lora Boll, M.A., placed with World Vision in Bujumbura, Burundi |
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| “Entry Points for Anticipatory Action in Kenya” Theo Anastopoulo, M.A., placed with Catholic Relief Services in Nairobi, Kenya & Somalia |
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| “Creating Change Through International Food Security, Nutrition, and Agriculture Policy” Theresa Fang, MPH, placed with InterAction in Washington, D.C. |
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| “The Potential of Photovoice in Nutrition Research in Tajikistan.” Sarah Pechtl, M.Sc., placed with IFPRI in Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
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| “Menstrual Health as a Cross-Cutting Issue” Erin Mercado, M.E.M., placed with iDE in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
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“Scaling Up Agriculture through Academia” |
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| “Enhancing Community Health Worker Engagement in Senegal” Melanie Sudetic, M.Sc, RDN, placed with Helen Keller International in Dakar, Senegal |
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“Designing Digital Agriculture Solutions for Impact in East Africa” |
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| “From Divide and Conquer to Define and Empower: Rethinking Localization and Decolonization” Chika Kondo, Ph.D., placed with Oxfam in Kampala, Uganda |
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