Future Leaders Programme 15: Strategies for the Global Food System at National, Regional, Local, and International Levels

Development Leadership Dialogue (DLD) at SOAS University of London, co-directed by Ha-Joon Chang, Christopher Cramer, and Jonathan Di John, announces its 15th Future Leaders Programme (FLP) on ‘Strategies for the Global Food System at National, Regional, Local, and International Levels’. 

• When: September 14th- 18th
• Where: SOAS, University of London
• Deadline: 20th July 2026

About the Future Leaders Programme (FLP) 

DLD promotes dialogue and mutual learning between the key actors that drive economic and social development – governments, private firms, civil society organizations, international organizations, trade unions, academia, and others – and that often operate in separate spheres, understanding each other poorly, even seeing each other as adversaries. 

The FLP is one of the key programmes of DLD, bringing together a small number of people who will be in leadership positions in the next five to ten years in different sectors of the development community for a workshop of lectures, discussion sessions, and debates, led by speakers with a wealth of senior experience in government, international organizations, and academia.

Strategies for the Global Food System at National, Regional, Local, and International Levels 

More than 2 billion people are estimated to be experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity, a figure likely to rise sharply in the wake of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In recent years, the number of people in developing countries subject to the triple burden of malnutrition - under-nutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiency - has risen.

In a context of profound threats to the resilience of the global food system, from climate change, war and political instability, and given the fragility of multilateral cooperation and norms, what are the feasible strategies that leaders in international organizations, national governments, and other organizations need to consider? What balance between the pursuit of food self-sufficiency and regionally or globally integrated food systems makes sense across different contexts? What are the implications for policy and strategy of the deep shifts in what people eat, the way it is produced, the technological change and market structures underpinning global food production and trade? 

How important are buffer stocks and food price controls in a context of deepening uncertainty in food markets, and where one source of this uncertainty is the increasing financialization of the global food system. Does the size of farms matter for food production and for structural transformation and poverty reduction? To what extent are climate change and political instability accelerating change in the availability and production of inputs like fertiliser and what policies are effectively supporting development of ‘green’ fertiliser? An estimated 4 billion people globally live in households where at least one person is working for wages in agri-food systems, many of them in very poor working conditions and earning  extremely low wages: what policies have proven effective in ensuring more decent employment?

This DLD Future Leaders Programme (FLP) addresses these and related questions. We bring together a set of highly experienced speakers to discuss with participants the historical evolution of the global food system, the governance of food security, the challenges to affordable nutritious diets, and a variety of organizational and policy innovations across different contexts that may inspire strategic thinking.  

Speakers include (alphabetically): Sandy Balfour (founder of Divine Chocolate), Jennifer Clapp (University of Waterloo, Canada), Jessica Fanzo (Johns Hopkins University, Bologna), Calixta Killander (Flourish Produce) and Chris Baker (independent film maker), Sue Longley (former Secretary-General, IUF), Mehroosh Tak (SOAS), Lucy Rodgers and Dan Clark (Financial Times), Sophie Van Huellen (Manchester University), John Wilkinson (UFRJ, Brazil), and the DLD Co-Directors.

Applications are welcome from people from different sectors – governments, the corporate sector, civil society, international organizations, academia, trade unions, etc. Applicants need to complete the on-line application form, explaining, in their own words, their views on the challenges facing the global food system and the strategies needed to build greater resilience and food security at national, regional, and international levels, as well as their relevant work experience.

Applicants are normally expected to have at least ten years’ experience in their fields. If they are from academia, they should provide evidence that they have worked with development practitioners – in national governments, international organisations, the private sector, or CSOs. The deadline for application is Monday 20 July, 2026.   

The fee for the programme is GBP 3,000. Participants are also expected to cover their costs of attending, travel, accommodation, and subsistence in London. However, there are some full or partial scholarships available, and applicants who want to be considered for them should explain their financial circumstances and state clearly how much financial support they are seeking in their covering letters.

Header image credit: Arno Senoner via Unsplash.