Global Food Assistance and the Fight Against Childhood Malnutrition

Malnutrition threatens the survival and development of millions of children around the world. Global commitments to provide more nutritional food assistance to combat child malnutrition often struggle to meet local needs while at the same time maintaining the organizational guidelines of donors. As a result, global food aid commitments often lead to ineffective policies and incomplete programs.

On October 12, the Wolfensohn Center for Development at Brookings and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hosted a discussion of the challenges in global food assistance and how recent developments and initiatives can be expanded to effectively tackle the ongoing crisis of global child malnutrition. Panelists included Bruce Cogill, chief of nutrition at USAID; Meera Shekar, lead health and nutrition specialist at the World Bank; Susan Shepherd, head of nutrition programs, MSF; and Victoria Quinn, senior vice president for progams, Helen Keller International. Elaine Wolfensohn, founder of the Wolfensohn Family Foundation, made introductory remarks. Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Raj Desai moderated the discussion.

After the program, panelists took audience questions.