Nutrition was in the spotlight at yesterday’s Global Citizen Live concert in London, where host Sandi Toksvig, actor Tracey Ullman and Rwandan Minister Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi took centre stage to announce new funding to help children thrive.

“With support from the UK government, donors, national governments, and Global Citizens just like you, we can make the social injustice of undernutrition a footnote in history,” said Tracey Ullman,  speaking as an ambassador for The Power of Nutrition. “I’m pleased to announce that The Power of Nutrition has pledged an incredible $35 million to help them accelerate progress and improve Rwandan children’s lives.”

The announcement, shared last night with a 6,000 strong audience at the O2 Academy in South London, came in response to the 15,000 Global Citizens who called on The Power of Nutrition and heads of government to do more to help children and their mothers access the right nutrition. This new funding will help prevent a chronic form of undernutrition called stunting (poor childhood growth), which leaves children vulnerable to illness and educational disadvantages.

Thanks @traceyullman_, @sanditoksvig, @P_Ndimubanzi & you amazing Global Citizens for sharing our big news at #GlobalCitizenLive – $35 million to #InvestInNutrition in #Rwanda 🇷🇼!@GlblCtznUK #CHOGM2018 pic.twitter.com/7cVeiQYeIa

— Power of Nutrition (@FundNutrition) 17 April 2018

“We are grateful and very appreciative to The Power of Nutrition and all our partners for their support in our journey to reduce stunting dramatically which is a very high priority for the Government of Rwanda,” added Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi, Rwanda’s Minister of State in Charge of Public Health and Primary Healthcare.

This investment in nutrition, which will be part of a programme bringing together the Government of Rwanda, The World Bank and The Global Financing Facility as well as The Power of the Nutrition, will continue efforts working towards better health and wealth in the country.

“In Rwanda it is estimated that undernutrition is the underlying cause of 22 percent of all child mortality, 13 percent of primary school repetition, and lower adult wages leading to the annual loss of 11.5 percent of GDP,” said Martin Short, CEO of The Power of Nutrition. “We are honoured to contribute to the Government of Rwanda’s ambition to eliminate stunting through this holistic program.”

Watch the announcement again here: 

The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a further £42 million for The Power of Nutrition, an innovative financing mechanism established in 2015 to raise new money for global nutrition in countries with the greatest need. This funding will match new investment in programmes to stop the cycle of undernutrition and give children the best start in life.

Laying out her vision for Britain’s global role in international development at the Wellcome Collection last week, DFID Secretary of State, Penny Mordaunt MP, said:

“In global Britain, we will take a stronger lead to ensure global health security, protecting humanity from pandemic disease, and tackling the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, and we will work also to tackle undernutrition. Today I can announce that, together with funds raised from the private sector and foundation funds, we will extend our programme with The Power of Nutrition to a further five million people.”

DFID was one of The Power of Nutrition’s founding partners, providing funding to match new investment in nutrition programmes globally since 2015. This announcement marks DFID’s second tranche of funding for this innovative approach to generating more funding to invest in nutrition around the world.

Martin Short, CEO of The Power of Nutrition, said “DFID have been our valued partner at The Power of Nutrition since day one. Thanks to their investment in our innovative model, we have been able to catalyse further investments from the private sector and beyond, reaching nine million mothers and children with vital nutrition interventions so far. We look forward to continuing this great work with DFID in future, as we work towards raising a $1 billion to end the cycle of undernutrition around the world.”