4th Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN2026) Meeting | November 26, 27, and 28 – Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN)

Announcements

In-Person Participation
For the first time, FERN will be held in-person
In Aburi, just outside Accra, Ghana
Venue : Hephzibah Christian Centre

Virtual Participation
For people with travel constraints, FERN2026 remains accessible through hybrid format

Call for Abstracts
Opens on August 5th until September 30th 11:59 pm Ghana time

Abstract Acceptance Notification
On October 31st
Via email- subject line "FERN2026 Abstract Outcome"

Deadline to Submit Presentations to the Conference
November 15 th

Conference Registration
Open & FREE

Conference Venue

Background

Africa is experiencing a rapidly evolving and deeply complex nutrition transition. Countries across the continent are simultaneously grappling with persistent undernutrition, widespread micronutrient deficiencies, and a rise in overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These intersecting burdens are unfolding within a context of urbanisation, climate change, food system globalization, and economic instability, amplifying vulnerabilities across populations.

Despite growing evidence and global commitments - including momentum from the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), Africa remains off track to meeting key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including goals related to hunger, health, and sustainable food systems. The challenge is no longer just about absence of evidence, but about operationalizing the evidence that exist - translating that evidence into effective, contextually relevant, and scalable policy action.

Since its inception, the Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN) has played a pivotal role in advancing food environment research, policy monitoring, and capacity strengthening across the continent. Through its meetings, FERN has consistently spotlighted the role of research in informing food environment policy and practice. At FERN2020, participants were introduced to key INFORMAS modules, including the Food-EPI and Food Prices tools, and identified research priorities for the continent. FERN2021 partnered with INFORMAS Network to leverage the network´s momentum to transform food systems, while FERN2023, in partnership with the Food-SAMSA project, focused on the identification, collation, and valorisation of Africa-led food environment research, policy, and practice. Over successive convenings, FERN has:

Contributed to building a critical mass of African researchers and practitioners who are working in the food environment space
Popularized and advanced application of tools such as INFORMAS Food-EPI
Elevated African-led evidence and policy discourse
Strengthened regional and global collaboration

However, critical questions and gaps remain to be addressed. For instance, how do we move from evidence generation to implementation at scale? Answers to such questions can be drawn from complementary initiatives that are already generating evidence and creating new opportunities for Africa.

Conference Objectives

To accelerate the translation of food environment evidence into scalable, equitable, and sustainable policy and practice across Africa. The specific objectives include:

Operationalize evidence

Identify pathways for translating research evidence into policy action
Showcase implementation science approaches for food environments

Advance implementation of the WHO Best Buys in African contexts

Showcase how the WHO Best Buys and recommended interventions can be adapted and implemented in LMIC urban settings
Identify barriers and enablers to implementation across Africa, including Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa

Scale what works (scale effective interventions)

Explore mechanisms of what works for whom and in which context for scaling interventions (including policies) across cities, countries, and regions

Strengthen policy and accountability systems

Strengthen the science-policy interface by fostering dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and implementers
Advance tools for policy design, monitoring, and accountability

Build capacity and leadership – of the next generation of leaders

Strengthen capacity of early-career researchers and advocates
Elevate adolescent-led innovation and storytelling in food systems transformation

Programme

FERN2026 Speakers Lineup

Conference Registration

Call for Abstracts

FERN2026 provides a platform to showcase a diverse range of scholarly, and practical contributions, including:

Original/Empirical Research: e.g. systematic reviews, trial designs, causal inferences, descriptive quantitative and qualitative studies, evaluations, case studies, and student theses.
Methodological and Innovative Approaches: e.g. toolkits, guidelines, methods papers.
Programmatic Application: reports with strong detail in routine practice or applications, implementation science reports.

Submissions must be directed to one of the following tracks:

Track 1: From evidence to action: e.g., bridging research–policy–practice gaps, operationalizing WHO Best Buys, including physical activity.
Track 2: Food environment interventions: e.g., implementing regulatory and fiscal policies (e.g., labelling, taxation, marketing restrictions, stories of progress), and leveraging city-level innovation.
Track 3: Food systems, climate, and sustainability: e.g., aligning food and nutrition actions, mitigation and adaptation/resilience efforts, sustainability.
Track 4: Equity, power, and food justice: e.g., addressing structural inequities, improving outcomes for equity-deserving groups, youth leadership, and community-driven change.
Track 5: Policy and accountability: policy evaluation/monitoring approaches, impact assessment, advocacy or buying efforts, stakeholder mobilization, policy coherence.
Track 6: Innovative methods: e.g., LLMs, forecasting, or simulation applicable to food environment research and practice.

The conference welcomes submissions from all individuals, without discrimination, including:

Government officials
Policymakers and regulators
Urban planners, civil society, and advocacy groups
Youth organisations, youth leaders
Students and early-career researchers
UN agencies and development partners
Funders and donors Private sector actors with unconflicted interests and activities for public health

Important Dates

Call for abstracts opens on August 5th until September 1st at 11:59 pm Ghana time
Decision notification will be sent on October 1st
Final presentation must be submitted by October 31st

Abstract must not exceed the 300 words limit, including the title.

Introducing FERN2026 Mentoring Strategy:

This page is of interest to early-career researchers who seek support with abstract submission and are interested in being paired with a mentor at the FERN conference. This page has resources you may use.

Start your submission today

Submit an abstract

FERN2026 Recordings

Convenors

Partners

Funding Acknowledgment

Conference Theme - "From Knowing to Doing" Scaling Food Environment Policies, Programs, and Interventions for Resilient, Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa

Conference Theme - "From Knowing to Doing"
Scaling Food Environment Policies, Programs, and Interventions for Resilient, Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa