ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION 2020 - Online launch & discussion: 20 January 2021, 11am (Bangkok-GMT+7)

• Joint report by FAO, UNICEF, WFP, WHO
• Publication reveals new figures on the lack of an affordable diet that impacts nutrition for hundreds of millions of additional people in Asia-Pacific
• Maternal and child diets most vulnerable
• Fears that COVID-19 economic impact will worsen the situation

With 350 million people in Asia and the Pacific already undernourished before COVID-19 struck, the economic impact of the pandemic on the world’s most populous region is threatening to further undermine efforts to improve nutrition and diets in the region, says a new report jointly published by four specialized agencies of the United Nations. The publication reveals new figures on the lack of an affordable diet that impacts nutrition for hundreds of millions of additional people in Asia-Pacific, particularly maternal and child diets.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, World Food Programme and World Health Organization are pleased to invite media and other interested parties to attend this year’s virtual launch and online discussion about the Asia and Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2020 #SOFI2020

The report’s findings will be presented followed by a virtual panel event including these speakers:

• Honourable Senley Levi Filualea, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Solomon Islands
• Emorn Udomkesmalee, adjunct associate professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
• Sania Nishtar, special assistant to the prime minister of Pakistan on poverty alleviation and social safety nets.

 This event is free and open to all and will take place online on Wednesday, 20 January 2021 from 11 am until 12:30 pm Bangkok time (GMT+7)

 To join, register at this link: https://fao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZOVF6C4nSkuOqs75YhgjDg

 

TIME	AGENDA ITEM	SPEAKER
10:30	Arrival of guests	Virtual log-in into the platform
11:00-11:05	Opening remarks on behalf of the four UN agencies	Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific
11:05-11:15	Presentation of the report findings
11:15-11:20	Video – The importance of maternal and child diets
11:20-11:32	Keynote speech: The importance of a systems approach to improving maternal and child diets	Emorn Udomkesmalee, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University and Chair of the IFPRI Board of Trustees
11:32-11:44	Keynote speech: Practical considerations in implementing a systems approach for better maternal and child diets	Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on poverty alleviation and social safety nets
11:44-11:56	Keynote speech: Maternal and child nutrition in the Solomon Islands	Honourable Senley Levi Filualea, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Solomon Islands
11:56-12:18	Questions and reactions from the audience	Virtual submission of questions and facilitator
12:18-12:21	Remarks by regional heads of agencies	John Aylieff, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, WFP
12:21-12:24		Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO, South-East Asia Region
12:24-12:27		Takeshi Kasai, Regional Director WHO, Western Pacific Region
12:27-12:30		Karin Hulshof, Regional Director East Asia and the Pacific, UNICEF