New York City, NY. 24th September 2024 – Today, a coalition of current, previous and future Olympic and Nutrition for Growth (N4G) host governments (France, Japan, United States), international agencies (UNICEF, UN Women, WHO, the World Bank), and global nutrition networks (Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, Stronger Foundations for Nutrition) launch a joint effort to address the stagnated global progress on nutrition at a high-level event Together for Nutrition on the margins of the UN General Assembly.
Transformational impact on global malnutrition is possible. Since 1990, rates of child stunting have reduced by 45%. Exclusive breastfeeding rates have also markedly increased, rising by 49% globally since 2014. This progress shows that coordinated action and investments of governments and development actors can lead to real change.
Despite this progress, the world remains far off-track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In particular, the state of global nutrition remains dire, with malnutrition contributing to nearly half of all child deaths and billions of people still without access to nutritious, safe and sufficient food.
The global food and nutrition crisis is worsening at speed, with women and girls most severely affected. In the 12 hardest-hit countries, the number of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and adolescent girls suffering from acute malnutrition has soared by 25%, from 5.5 million to 6.9 million, since 2020 alone.
In an environment of increasingly constrained resources and shifting political dynamics, today’s event takes inspiration from the global unity of the 2024 Paris Olympics as it convenes political leaders, financiers and implementers to accelerate impact on global nutrition. Together for Nutrition serves as a call to action for strong, equitable and sustainably financed country commitments to global nutrition, and provides a platform for announcements, including:
🔵 Launching a new model of nutrition leadership, with past, present and future hosts of the “Nutrition for Growth” Summits working together to ensure greater continuity of engagement between summits, and promote enhanced tracking of, and accountability for, commitments made. The current membership of this new ‘troika’ of N4G governments comprises Japan, France and the United States.
🔵 The introduction of the new World Bank Investment Framework for Nutrition 2025–34, to be launched on October 2nd, with scenarios for the acceleration of global nutrition targets, their costing, and different potential financing streams.
🔵 A Call to Action for more holistic and transformative action on gender equality and nutrition from global partners at major moments for policy and financing commitments, and the launch of Nourish Equality, an investment agenda for transformative impact on gender and nutrition equity.
🔵 An illustration of progress towards global nutrition targets and a proposal to the World Health Assembly in 2025 on next steps.
Combined, these announcements pave the way for increased and better commitments to scale cost-effective interventions in nutrition to save lives and transform futures. They provide clarity on the most meaningful metrics and indicators of progress, the financing need and new ways to mobilize resources, and the processes to ensure accountability from all stakeholders to deliver real and lasting change.
Dr. Patrick Webb, USAID Chief Nutritionist said “It’s exciting to see such strong interest in nutrition during UNGA week, especially with so many other events happening. We need to seize this momentum and carry it forward to the Nutrition for Growth summit in Paris next year, turning our collective ambitions and commitments into real, impactful change.”
Dr Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO, said “This coalition marks an important milestone in our renewed commitment to tackle malnutrition, promote Essential Nutrition Actions in healthcare, and support equitable access to affordable, safe and nutritious food. Going forward, we must capitalize on this momentum to ensure nutrition remains a top priority on the political and development agenda at global, regional, and country levels.”
Dr. Victor Aguayo, Director of Child Nutrition and Development at UNICEF said: “With unprecedented declines in child mortality, the world is now home to the largest cohort of surviving children in history. Global leadership and sustained investments can ensure that every one of these children has the opportunity to thrive to their full potential. The Nutrition for Growth Summit in March 2025 comes at a pivotal moment for us – one that can influence the growth and development of millions of children and the growth and development of the nations they live in.”
Afshan Khan, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Coordinator for the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement said: “With pivotal moments like the upcoming SUN Global Gathering, the Nutrition for Growth Summit, and the 2025 Financing for Development Summit on the horizon, we have a unique chance to drive lasting change. By aligning resources and commitments now, we can ensure that nutrition stays at the forefront of global priorities, transforming lives—especially for women and children—and breaking the cycle of malnutrition for future generations.”
Matt Freeman, Executive Director of Stronger Foundations for Nutrition said “This convergence of global efforts creates an opportunity not seen in nutrition since perhaps the launch of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement nearly 15 years ago. Solutions are ready to be scaled. Working together, this convening at UNGA can be a catalyst for the critical moments to come – at the Paris Nutrition for Growth and beyond – in renewed pursuit of an equitable and well nourished world.
Brieuc Pont, France’s Special Envoy for Nutrition for Growth said “Nutrition4Growth Paris will be a crucial milestone to put nutrition at the core of the development agenda. Whether from government, international organisations, civil society, philanthropies or the private sector, we need to act collectively to make the fight against malnutrition a universal cause. Less than six years away from 2030, nutrition can be our driving force to run the extra mile for the realization of the sustainable development agenda.”
Dr. Nakamura Kazuhiko, Ambassador, Director-General / Assistant Minister for Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said “Actions to end malnutrition in all its forms can contribute towards achieving all 17 SDGs and investing in good nutrition is essential to our health and future. Japan hopes to strengthen the cooperation with the whole nutrition community along with various stakeholders to improve the global nutrition outcomes.”
Meera Shekar, Global Nutrition Lead at the World Bank said “It is not acceptable that in today’s world mothers, children and families, especially the most vulnerable, don’t have access to good nutrition. The world is off-track on both the undernutrition and the obesity targets for 2030. The economic costs of undernutrition, in terms of lost productivity and economic growth, are significant. Let’s combine our efforts and work together on the road toward the N4G summit next year and turn it into a successful moment for global nutrition.”
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