Deploying French Expertise Internationally

Can you tell us about your background?

I have been working on food security and nutrition issues for 20 years. After completing my studies as an agricultural engineer, I began my career in the humanitarian sector with the NGO Action Against Hunger and the Groupe URD, a French think tank specializing in humanitarian action. I then joined the Nutrition Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, where I contributed to the development of tools to integrate nutrition-sensitive approaches into policies and programs. I later moved to the World Food Programme (WFP), where I worked on nutrition in school feeding programs. In 2019, I applied for a position as an International Technical Expert (ITE) that was being created within the Programme’s Nutrition Division. This role, at the intersection of my previous experiences, allowed me to build bridges and strengthen connections between the French government, public authorities, and international organizations on issues related to food security and nutrition.

As a Programme Advisor at WFP, what is your mission?

Initially, my role focused on integrated resilience programs, particularly in the Sahel – a region with very high rates of acute malnutrition. My objective was to strengthen the capacity of communities to cope with crises, especially those related to nutrition. Over nearly five years within the Nutrition Division, my mission has evolved. Today, I focus more on integrating nutrition into climate change adaptation programs and anticipatory action for climate shocks, in order to prevent and mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations. I was also involved in the preparation of the quadrennial Nutrition for Growth summit, hosted by France in March 2025, to advance the global fight against malnutrition.

What are the main challenges in anticipating and reducing the impact of shocks and crises on diets and nutrition?

In the face of conflict, economic crises, and increasingly frequent and severe climate shocks, it is essential to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations to create an environment conducive to preventing malnutrition and avoiding the transformation of crises into food and nutrition disasters. Malnutrition is a multisectoral challenge that affects food systems, education, health, social protection, access to water and sanitation, among others. Today, while funding is decreasing, needs remain enormous. Building resilience is a long-term challenge that requires sustainable investments to address the root causes of crises, to prevent them—or at the very least—limit their impact, rather than simply addressing their symptoms.