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IAEA NAHRES Newsletter No. 24 – August 2026

The Nutritional & Health-related Environmental Studies Section is excited to share its eNewsletter. 

In this issue:

  • Launch of the new IAEA Body Composition Online Calculator, designed to simplify the analysis of body composition data
  • New online training opportunity on the use of stable isotope methods to assess human milk intake
  • Expansion of activities offered through the ‘Nuclear Techniques in Nutrition User Group’, an IAEA-supported global Community of Practice
  • Launch of a new research project on protein quality from alternative dietary protein sources and amino acid requirements
  • Findings from an IAEA survey of radiation oncologists showing that, while nutrition is widely recognized as an essential component of cancer care, access to nutrition services remains limited
  • Release of the seventh episode of the Nuclear in Nutrition Interview Series, highlighting efforts to address childhood obesity in the Caribbean
  • Recorded webinar on the joint FAO-IAEA Database on Protein Quality, exploring the science behind the database, its development and its potential to strengthen nutrition research 
  • Success story on how a new laboratory is strengthening efforts to address childhood stunting in the Philippines
  • Call for data on total energy expenditure and body composition for inclusion in the IAEA DLW and BC databases, helping to build the evidence base for advancing nutrition science
  • Interview with UN-Nutrition Chair and IAEA Deputy Director General Dr Najat Mokhtar following the renewal of her mandate as Chair of UN-Nutrition

Read the Full Newsletter

Rome Nutrition Week 2026

UN-Nutrition will convene Rome Nutrition Week 2026 from 25–28 May at FAO Headquarters in Rome and online, under the theme “Shaping the Future of Joint Nutrition Action in a Changing World.”

The annual event brings together UN agencies, governments, researchers and partners to strengthen collaboration and accelerate progress on global nutrition challenges. Building on previous editions, the 2026 week will serve as a key platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and coordinated action, emphasising the need for integrated, cross-sector approaches to address malnutrition in all its forms. 

Participants are invited to contribute to a dynamic programme of thematic sessions, showcasing country experiences, practical solutions and evidence of what works. The event aims to highlight effective strategies, foster partnerships and align efforts across food systems, health, climate and development agendas. 

Rome Nutrition Week continues to position nutrition at the centre of sustainable development, recognising its critical role across the Sustainable Development Goals. By convening diverse stakeholders, the 2026 edition will help drive more coherent and impactful action, ensuring that global and country-level efforts are better connected and more responsive to emerging challenges in a rapidly changing world. 

For more information, please visit https://www.unnutrition.org/rome-nutrition-week-2026.

World Obesity Day 2026 Online Event

On World Obesity Day 2026 (4 March), the Global Obesity Coalition is hosting a critical online event titled “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity”. The message is clear: with more than 8 billion people on the planet, we all have a part to play in addressing the global obesity crisis.

The focus this year is childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is rising at an alarming pace, with rates among school-aged children climbing from about 4% in 1975 to nearly 20% in 2022, espeically in low- and middle-income countries. Obesity in childhood often persists into adulthood, increasing the risk of serious non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

This online event will share new data from the World Obesity Federation’s 2026 Atlas on childhood obesity, spotlighting trends, inequities, and the urgent need for systemic action. The campaign also calls for a shift away from stigma and individual blame toward evidence-based policies, accountable nultisectoral solutions, and meaningful participation from governments, youth leaders, and people with lived experience. It highlights the importance of prevention, care, and health equity for all.

Online Event Details

  • Date: 4 March 2026 (World Obesity Day)
  • Time: 12 – 1:30 pm (UTC)
  • Host: Global Obesity Coalition (World Obesity Federation, World Health Organization, and UNICEF).
  • Register here.

Opportunity: Designing Innovative Financial Solutions Across Nutritious Food Value Chains

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for services to support the design of innovative financial solutions across nutritious food value chains in Africa. This RFP invites qualified organisations or individuals to contribute to a strategic effort to diagnose and address financing barriers faced by actors along key nutritious food value chains—specifically vegetables, poultry, fish, and dairy—that are critical to improving access to healthy diets and strengthening food systems.

The assignment will involve analysing the financing needs of farmers, SMEs and distributors; reviewing existing financial solutions; and recommending practical, scalable financing models, including digital and non-digital options, to link food system actors with appropriate sources of capital. Proposals should also identify partnerships and pathways that can support implementation, with attention to supporting youth and women in food systems.

The RFP was issued on 28 January 2026 with a submission deadline of 18 February 2026 (23:59 CET). Interested applicants are encouraged to refer to the full RFP document for detailed background, scope, deliverables and submission instructions.

For more information and to access the full document, please visit the GAIN website and review the RFP.