Sustaining Momentum for Nutrition Financing in the Global Development Agenda

Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture | IFPRI Policy Seminar Sustaining Momentum for Nutrition Financing in the Global Development Agenda 35th Annual Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture April 15, 2026

Recognizing France’s tremendous leadership of the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), IFPRI and the Forman lecture selection Committee are delighted to announce that Her Excellency Éléonore Caroit, France’s Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Responsible for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad has been invited to deliver the 35th Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture.

France’s leadership of the N4G Summit held in France helped to cement nutrition as a core development priority, reaffirmed a global commitment to fight all forms of malnutrition and emphasized the importance of policy coherence, continuity and long-term commitment. Importantly, the summit also delivered one of the strongest mobilizations since N4G began in 2013, generating 517 new commitments from 160 actors across 75 countries, spanning policy reforms, financing pledges, and programmatic actions. France’s stewardship helped ensure that the summit not only renewed global political attention to nutrition but also produced concrete, trackable commitments and a platform for continued accountability. The French government continues to emphasize the importance of following through on the N4G summit and of keeping nutrition front and center of the global policy agenda, also through its leadership of the G7.

The annual lecture commemorates Martin J. Forman, who headed the Office of Nutrition at USAID for more than 20 years and made a significant impact on international nutrition. The lecturer is invited to present personal views about major issues related to malnutrition.

Welcome Remarks from IFPRI Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Welcome Remarks from the Forman Family Kenan Forman, Son of Martin J. Forman

Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture Éléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France

Discussant Remarks Matthew Freeman, Executive Director, Stronger Foundations for Nutrition Abigail Perry, Global Program Lead for Nutrition, World Bank

Moderator Purnima Menon, Senior Director for Food and Nutrition Policy, IFPRI

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/sustaining-momentum-for-nutrition-financing-in-the-global-development-agenda/

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