Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy SeminarData in Action: Getting Ahead of Crises: Launch of the Next Generation HungerMapLIVECo-organized by IFPRI and the World Food Programme (WFP) | Convening alongside the World Bank and IMF Spring MeetingsApril 17, 2026As global food security challenges intensify, using timely and reliable data to forecast food insecurity and malnutrition crises can prevent emerging shocks from escalating into humanitarian crises.This high‑level event brings together the World Food Programme, IFPRI and key partners for the launch of World Food Programme’s next‑generation HungerMapLIVE platform. Designed to strengthen global early warning systems, this latest generation incorporates richer indicators, enhanced forecasting, subnational modeling, advanced analytical capabilities and AI-enabled insights that help policymakers, researchers, and practitioners better anticipate and respond to food security and nutrition risks.Please join us for this debut and live demonstration of the latest HungerMapLIVE platform and a discussion on how timely data enables rapidly improving approaches to forecasting and early warning. The HungerMapLIVE platform will be inaugurated by The Honorable Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director. A distinguished panel of experts will subsequently examine:New innovations to support more accurate early warning, including the responsible use of AI as an analytical enablerApproaches to filling existing data gapsThe urgent need for sustained investments in strong data ecosystems to ensure sound food security and nutrition analyticsOpportunities for deeper collaboration to support smarter and earlier decision-makingThe event will also feature remarks from policymakers and representatives of multilateral and regional development banks who rely on early warning systems to inform their operations, policies and investments.Welcome RemarksJohan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRIOpening Remarks on the Global Hunger Crisis and the Case for Faster, Data-Driven ActionThe Honorable Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)Launch of HungerMapLIVEIntroducing HungerMapLIVE and live demonstration: Jean-Martin Bauer, Director, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, World Food Programme (WFP)Innovation Spotlights – AI x Food Security ForecastingYanyan Liu, Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRIPhilipp Zimmer, Researcher, World Bank GroupHigh-Level Panel Discussion: From Early Warning to Early ActionModerated by Kyriacos Koupparis, Head, Early Warning and Forecasting Unit, World Food Programme (WFP)Shobha Shetty, Global Director, Agriculture and Food, World BankLaura Rojas Sánchez, Chief of the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)Dan Gilligan, Director of the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion, IFPRIJean-Martin Bauer, Director, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, World Food Programme (WFP)Moderator Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRIMore about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/data-in-action-getting-ahead-of-crises-launch-of-the-next-generation-hungermaplive/Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription