The 2016 Global Child Nutrition Forum has officially started! Representatives from 45 countries arrived in Yerevan, Armenia to discuss how to improve school meals programmes. The forum connects a global network of practitioners, governments, nonprofits, and companies, working together to develop and support locally-sourced school meal programs around the world. the vision is a world in which hunger is not a barrier to children learning. FAO  actvely participates in the forum and presents all programmes, implemented in this field in the region.

To ensure sustainability and local ownership, GCNF also provides capacity-building, a global platform, and technical assistance matchmaking to build community-based school meal programs that meet the nutritional needs of children while integrating the contexts and values of the communities in which they live.

The forum was opened by Armenia’s Prime Minister, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, and had two keynote speakers, the World Food Programme’s Executive Director, Ms. Ertharin Cousin, and the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology of the African Union, Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga. It will last 5 days and will conclude on September 9. Participating organizations have the opportunity to present their programs in the booths.