Malnutrition is a global burden in all its forms, particularly in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). It is the cause of nearly half of all child deaths and more than one in three LMICs face the twin challenge of obesity and undernutrition. This burden only increases as our planet grows warmer.
But advances in technology are opening new possibilities in the effort to improve global nutrition.
The widespread adoption of affordable smartphones, accelerated by the pandemic’s shift toward virtual solutions, is creating a more connected and tech-enabled world. In LMICs, 60% of women and 69% of men now own smartphones, with mobile internet usage at 61% for women and 75% for men. This technological transformation comes at a critical time when the funding landscape for global nutrition is shifting under the pressures of geopolitical conflicts and changing political priorities.
On March 27 – 28, governments and global development partners will meet in Paris for the Nutrition for Growth Summit. As they convene to discuss the future of global nutrition, the Tech to Table roadmap, launching today, highlights promising opportunities for digital solutions to transform nutrition, backed by rigorous research and real-world evidence.
Looking across the interconnected systems for nutrition – food, health, social protection, water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) and education – Tech to Table identifies eight categories of critical nutrition challenges which have the potential to be transformed through digital technology.
To support global actors to develop thoughtful and future-facing digital nutrition strategies, the resource provides the Digital Solutions for Nutrition Action Plan (D-SNAP) – a five- step pathway to evaluate, implement, and scale digital solutions, through the lens of the following technologies: Generative AI and conversational agents; Machine Learning-Enabled Data Processing; Image-recognition via multimodal AI; Digital marketplaces and platforms; Sensor-based connected technology; and Blockchain.
To ensure applications of technology are sustainable and inclusive, Tech to Table provides guidance on how to apply dual lenses of climate change and gender inequality into technology strategy development, program design and implementation.
Technology alone will not solve malnutrition, but it is a powerful enabler. When designed and applied with care, digital solutions can strengthen nutrition programs, increase access, and improve accountability.
This roadmap is the result of collaborative efforts between Stronger Foundations for Nutrition and Accenture, guided by a Leadership Council of renowned global experts, along with numerous stakeholders engaged and consulted throughout the process.
Access the full roadmap here.
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