The World Bank Group Office in Geneva and the Data Academy under the Office of the World Bank Group Chief Statistician hosted the inaugural session of the Let’s Talk Data in Geneva series. In this first session, speakers focused on real-time data and new monitoring tools that are transforming food and nutrition security preparedness and response. Participants learned about the new Joint Monitoring Report and the Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plans, and gained practical insights from recent country contexts on turning data into action. This was a great opportunity to connect with global experts working to strengthen resilient, data-driven food systems.

What did the session cover?

1.      An overview of the Joint Monitoring Report and Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plans, and how the World Bank's food security monitoring tools inform preparedness, early action, and global early warning and response systems.

2.      How data-driven analytics enable fast, transparent, and cost-effective reporting that translates into shared situational awareness and decision-ready insights for governments and partners.

3.      How improved data enhances coordination of food security preparedness across multilateral, government, and civil society stakeholders to ensure response alignment, coherence, and maximum impact.

Umar Serajuddin - Chair

Umar Serajuddin is the Chair of the session and a Manager at the World Bank’s Development Data Group, in charge of its Data Analytics unit. His unit works to increase the reach of development data and its operational relevance by deepening insight into global poverty, expanding the use of geospatial data, addressing data gaps with new methods and data sources, and innovating how data is communicated.

 

Irene Alaoui - Opening Remarks

Irene Alaoui is the Acting Special Representative of the World Bank Group to the United Nations (UN) and World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, overseeing the World Bank’s corporate relations with the Swiss Government as well as with Geneva-based UN agencies, international organizations and the WTO.

 

Julius Adewopo - Presenter

Julius Adewopo is a Data Innovation Consultant within the Development Data Group at the World Bank, where he is co-leading data initiatives while supporting national agencies to advance food security priorities, including deployment of citizen-powered high-frequency real-time price data system.

 

Steve Penson - Presenter

Steve Penson is a Data Scientist Consultant working with the World Bank’s Farming and AgriBusiness Global Practice. He is a data expert specialising in data-driven monitoring systems, food security analysis, geospatial analytics and earth observation.

 

Natasha Hayward - Closing Remarks

Natasha Hayward is the Global Lead for Food and Nutrition Security in the Agriculture and Food Global Practice of the World Bank. Natasha has worked in Africa, South and East Asia, with a focus on agriculture and rural livelihoods, food and nutrition security, community driven development (CDD) and social inclusion.

 

Bo Andree - Series Coordinator

Bo Andree is a Data Scientist in the World Bank’s Development Data Group. Based in Geneva, he serves as a Data Envoy, coordinating emerging data issues—from humanitarian data to trade and real-time monitoring—across the multilateral ecosystem in close collaboration with the Multilateral & UN team.

Download the slides here.

 

Date: March 09, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM ET

Location: World Bank Group Office in Geneva & Online through MS Teams

Event Contact:

Rachida Toudert (rtoudert@worldbank.org)
Martin Echenique (mecheniquepeiran@worldbank.org)

Learn more about the Joint Monitoring Report:
 


Learn more about the Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plans: