UGAN and FANTA hosted the UGAN Inter-Universities Youth Symposium on Nutrition on May 11–12 , 2017, in Kampala. Over 100 students from five universities who are pursuing degrees in nutrition and dietetics, along with a select group of nutrition experts, met to discuss pressing topics in nutrition, including the double burden of malnutrition, multisectoral programming, emergency nutrition, the impact of climate change on nutrition, and food security and the role youth can play in advancing the nutrition agenda in Uganda. As part of FANTA’s effort to engage youth and build the capacity of civil society to influence the nutrition agenda in Uganda, the symposium exposed the students to important discussions around global and local nutrition issues and helped them understand how global research and initiatives can affect the well-being of Ugandans.

The Youth Symposium also provided an opportunity for the students to showcase their work through presentations, networking with nutrition professionals, and working in groups to discuss the role youth can play in addressing nutrition challenges in Uganda.