King Letsie III of Lesotho joined world leaders at the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit held in Paris from March 27 to 28, 2025, calling for bolder global action to end malnutrition and strengthen nutrition-centered policies. The gathering brought together heads of state, development partners, and civil society to confront growing concerns over food insecurity and poor health outcomes.
Representing African leaders in his role as the African Union Champion for Nutrition, King Letsie delivered a powerful keynote address urging greater investment, accountability, and innovation to advance global goals on hunger and health. He described nutrition as the cornerstone of human development, linking it directly to gender equality, education, economic growth, peace, and stability.
While in Paris, His Majesty held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, where both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation and explore new opportunities across key sectors.
Beyond diplomacy, King Letsie advanced Lesotho’s energy agenda through his Jet Fund, meeting with executives from Artelia, EDB Renewables, the International Energy Agency, and Airbus Defence and Space. Discussions centered on green partnerships and sustainable energy solutions tailored for Africa.
King Letsie also took part in several side events focused on nutrition advocacy, co-hosted by development agencies such as Irish Aid, the African Development Bank, World Vision, the UK government, Nigeria, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and IFAD. These sessions spotlighted practical strategies like school feeding programs, social safety nets, and rights-based nutrition policies aimed at curbing stunting and reducing child mortality.
A key outcome of the summit was the launch of the Global Integration of Nutrition Compact and the mobilization of over $27 billion in pledges to fight food insecurity and improve health outcomes globally.
