Lusaka, Zambia to Host the 2026 Global Child Nutrition Forum
Lusaka, Zambia — The Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, announces that the 2026 Global Child Nutrition Forum will take place in Lusaka in early November 2026.
As the world’s leading event focused on strengthening school meal programs, the Forum will bring together government leaders, technical experts, and partners from around the world to share innovations and advance efforts to ensure every child receives nutritious school meals.
The 2026 Forum, which follows the success of the 2024 Forum hosted in Osaka, Japan, will highlight Zambia’s impressive progress in expanding Home-Grown School Meals, which currently reach 4.6 million children across 106 of Zambia’s 116 districts, covering 8,193 schools nationwide, with plans to expand to 5.6 million children by 2026. Zambia’s locally sourced, community-driven approach has improved school attendance, supported smallholder farmers, and empowered women and youth.
Zambia's Home-Grown School Feeding program. Photo courtesy of Zambia's Ministry of Education The event will feature high-level plenaries, technical workshops, country case studies, private sector engagement, and school visits showcasing Zambia’s program in action.
“School feeding in Zambia has attracted an additional 2 million learners, especially the most vulnerable,” said Hon. Douglas Syakalima, Minister of Education. “We are honored to host the 2026 Forum and share our experience with the world.”
“School meals are a powerful tool for improving education, nutrition, and social protection,” added Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director of GCNF. “We invite governments and partners to join us in Lusaka to learn and collaborate.”
For more information and updates, please visit: www.gcnf.org/events/forum
For questions, please contact:
Global Child Nutrition Foundation:
Emily Fredenberg, Senior Officer, Programs & Advocacy: emily@gcnf.org
Alissa Rutkowski, Communications Officer: alissa@gcnf.org
Ministry of Education, Republic of Zambia:
Clive Kalunga, Principal Public Relations Officer: Clive.Kalunga@edu.gov.zm or clive86kalunga@gmail.com
