As the global community continues to grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Atlantic Council is open for business. Our business, meetings, and events, however, are occurring virtually. For more information, please read an update from our President and CEO.

An #ACFrontPage event

Atlantic Council Front Page is our premier live ideas platform for global leaders to discuss the defining challenges of our time.

Atlantic Council Front Page is a new virtual event series featuring top newsmakers across multiple digital platforms. Harnessing the convening power and expertise of the Council’s thirteen programs and centers, #ACFrontPage leverages the Council’s capabilities in social media, press, and digital outreach to spotlight the world’s most prominent leaders and the most compelling ideas across sectors and engage new audiences eager for nonpartisan and constructive solutions to current global challenges. This widely promoted program features the Council’s most important guests and content serving as the highlight of our programming each week.

The United Nations predicts that the COVID-19 pandemic will push an additional 130 million people to the brink of starvation. In a worst-case scenario, famines could emerge in about three dozen countries as the coronavirus-induced global economic recession, coupled with declining commodity prices and reduced levels of international aid, leaves countries with vast food shortages. This “hunger pandemic” may ultimately kill more people than COVID-19 itself. Of the ten countries labeled most at-risk of famine, five of them are in Africa: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Nigeria. The hunger crises in these countries will be compounded by political unrest and, in the Horn of Africa, by the worst locust infestation in a quarter century. In the face of these heightened threats to food security, a multi-pronged response will be needed. It is with this imperative in mind that the Africa Center is convening a discussion with Gov. David Beasley, executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, to discuss the potential for global food shortages and the United States’ role in supporting the international response to this crisis.

Featuring

Gov. David Beasley
Executive Director
United Nations World Food Programme

Moderated by

Mr. Cameron Hudson
Senior Fellow, Africa Center
Atlantic Council

Welcome and introduction by

Mr. Damon Wilson
Executive Vice President
Atlantic Council


This event will not feature an in-person audience. You will be able to join via desktop or mobile app, through your web browser, or by phone. To join the question and answer period, you must join by app or web.

Register below for details on joining the virtual audience.