Countdown to N4G: Mobilising Action for Global Nutrition

I recently returned from the UN General Assembly, where I was pleased to see hunger and malnutrition prominently featured on the agenda. As we move towards the Nutrition for Growth summit in March next year, I participated in several events that energised key development partners dedicated to saving lives and transforming futures by ending malnutrition. The high level of engagement on this topic was evident, making it a central focus of the sustainable development agenda.

With just six months to go before the next Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), we’ve been thinking about how we best can help galvanise policy and financial commitments in Paris. N4G is personal to The Power of Nutrition. We were established because of commitments made at the very first N4G summit in the UK in 2013. N4G offers a unique platform to share successes and solutions to ending malnutrition. Having reached over 157 million people over the last ten years - by leveraging over $648 million and developing 50+ partnerships - we have learned “what works” to deliver game changing nutrition programming. We are developing a learning series that will showcase our impact and share what we’ve learnt about partnership, innovative finance, localisation, and multisectoral programming.

The truth is, global community still needs convincing to invest in nutrition. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of 50% of all child deaths, and it disproportionately affects women and girls. Over one billion adolescent girls and women currently experience undernutrition, and the gender nutrition gap is growing. Malnutrition drives poor health, reduces learning outcomes and limits the likelihood of earning an income.

This is why the N4G in Paris is needed. The job is not done, malnutrition is one of the world’s most persistent crises that is only set to worsen given increased insecurity around the world and the horrifying effects of climate change in places where there is already food and nutrition scarcity.

The voices at UNGA are right. Nutrition must be front and centre of the sustainable development agenda if the Global Goals are to be achieved. While nutrition interventions directly influence achievement of SDG2 and 3, it impacts the realisation of them all. By tackling malnutrition, we can make significant gains in health, education, climate change, gender equality and many other issues.

Focus on nutrition must not stop at the N4G summit. We need inspiring global leaders to maintain high levels of political and financial engagement. The UK is an established leader in tackling malnutrition, driving evidence-based approaches and expanding the prevention and treatment of stunting through The Power of Nutrition and other partners. It is critical that the UK Government continues to prioritise tackling malnutrition, supports the French Government and collaborates with other global leaders, to help ensure a successful 2025 Summit and beyond.

In 2021, N4G Toyko mobilised more than $27 billion to address malnutrition. Global evidence suggests that when you invest $100 million in programmes to address malnutrition, you get $1.6 billion in GDP. With this kind of return in investment, coupled with the ethical and moral need to respond to our world’s growing malnutrition crisis, I am looking forward to governments from around the world stepping up and making decisive policy and financial commitments that will change lives at N4G Paris.