IPS Hosts SHAPE Asia Stakeholder Meeting to Strengthen Policy Responses for Healthier Food Environments

A clear food environment framework (FEF) is essential for understanding how market actors influence food choices and policy outcomes. It helps identify gaps and guides evidence-based action towards creating healthier food systems. In line with this objective, the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) hosted a stakeholder meeting to review and validate the FEF developed by SHAPE Asia for Sri Lanka on 11 February 2026 at the IPS. The meeting brought together representatives from government institutions, academia, civil society, and other key sectors.

SHAPE-Asia is currently developing a FEF for Asia, with the aim of mapping key market actors, their roles, and interactions within the region’s food environment. This framework is designed to strengthen policy and advocacy efforts focused on healthier food systems. This stakeholder meeting was a key step in reviewing and validating the Sri Lankan stakeholder mapping on food marketing and food retail, alongside the regional FEF developed under the initiative.

“The validation workshop was important to ensure that the FEF for Asia reflects the reality of the food environment in Sri Lanka,” said Dr Nisha Arunatilake, Director of Research at IPS and Sri Lanka Co-Lead for SHAPE Asia. “The insights shared during the discussion will significantly strengthen our stakeholder engagement strategy and help guide future policy-relevant research and advocacy efforts.”

The meeting also provided an opportunity to identify priority policy focus areas for the year ahead and to explore potential avenues for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.

SHAPE-Asia is a regional collaborative network linking stakeholders from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka to promote evidence-based policy action for healthier food systems and food policy environments. This initiative is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.