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.”