Cities Feeding the Future: A School Meals Coalition Initiative

This session shares insights from the School Meals Coalition's Cities Feeding the Future Initiative through the voices of Champion Mayors, leaders of MUFPP cities committed to placing school meals and sustainable food systems at the centre of their political agendas.

During this plenary, the latest updates on The State of School Feeding Worldwide 2024 report will be presented, alongside the MUFPP's ongoing endeavours in this field, including projects like Spreading Experiences and Knowledge on School Meals Programmes in ASEAN Cities, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

The Champion Mayors are city leaders from across the world who actively promote school meals and sustainable food systems as key levers for social inclusion, health, and climate action.
They represent the most committed cities within the School Meals Coalition and the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, driving political leadership and international collaboration.
During this session, the new Champion Mayors will be officially presented, marking the next phase of the Cities Feeding the Future Initiative.

The session also connects to the four flagship initiatives of the School Meals Coalition, which collectively aim to transform school meal systems globally:

• Cities Feeding the Future Initiative, led in partnership with the MUFPP, empowering local governments to integrate school meals into broader urban food policies.
• Data and Monitoring Initiative, building the global evidence base through the State of School Feeding Worldwide reports and the Global School Meals Database.
• Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition, advancing scientific understanding and policy-relevant evidence on the impact of school meals.
• Sustainable Financing Initiative, mobilizing and aligning financial resources to expand and sustain national and local school feeding programmes.

Programme

Global perspective on school feeding
Presents the main findings of the new State of School Feeding Worldwide 2024 report and insights from the 2nd School Meals Coalition Global Summit in Fortaleza (Brazil)
María José Rojas, Head of the School Meals Coalition Secretariat, World Food Programme

Data and evidence from cities
Dialogue between Espedito Nastro, School Meals Coalition, Data & Monitoring Initiative and Ottavia Pieretto, MUFPP Officer, on how cities contribute to the Global School Meals Database, building a shared evidence base for local action.

Milan’s flagship case study
Presents Milan’s school meals programme as a model for innovation and inclusion, and outlines how the city’s experience is shaping future tools for others.
Andrea Magarini, Director, Food Policy Dpt., City of Milan

From Milan to ASEAN cities
Serena Duraccio, MUFPP Asia Pacific Desk Officer, and Giorgio Mariani, Technical Dpt., Milano Ristorazione, present the project “Spreading Experiences and Knowledge on School Meals Programmes in ASEAN Cities”, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASEAN. The project includes a Summer School and technical support to officers in developing Feasibility Studies for sustainable meal systems in ASEAN cities.

Political Debate
A high-level exchange among mayors and city leaders showcasing innovations in school meal programmes worldwide Rufisque (Africa), Semarang (Asia Pacific), Fortaleza (Latin America), Berlin (Europe), Lyon (Europe), Quezon City (Asia Pacific), Toronto (North America).

Moderation by Filippo Gavazzeni, MUFPP Director