New website shows us where we need to invest in nutrition

In support of ambitious goals for women and children around the world, Results for Development together with the World Bank and 1,000 Days developed financing scenarios for the required investment of $70 billion above current spending over the next 10 years.

On 13 March 2017, the new website InvestInNutrition.org, was launched by Results for Development (R4D) together with the World Bank and 1,000 Days. It brings together the fresh thinking that is needed about how countries can deliver and finance ambitious nutrition targets.The new website shows how much it would cost for each region and income group to achieve the global nutrition targets, as well as where the money could come from. It also allows users to download data and powerful images to support nutrition advocacy and communication.

Malnutrition is a pervasive issue that affects the health and development of millions of children and women globally, and prevents communities and countries from reaching their full economic potential. In 2012, the World Health Assembly (WHA) endorsed the first set of global nutrition targets focused on six areas: stunting, exclusive breastfeeding, wasting, anemia, low birth weight, and overweight.

We know what’s at stake: If we’re able to meet the global nutrition targets, 3.7 million child lives could be saved, at least 65 million fewer children would be stunted, 265 million fewer women would suffer from anemia, and 91 million children would be treated for severe wasting. Now we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Augustin Flory, Managing Director for Nutrition.

In 2016, world leaders enshrined the WHA targets within the second Sustainable Development Goal, committing to end malnutrition in all its forms by the year 2030. Yet, currently, only $3.9 billion dollars is spent on nutrition annually. The World Bank, R4D and 1,000 Days have led a first-of-its-kind analysis of the global resources needed to achieve four of the six WHA targets (stunting, breastfeeding, anemia, and wasting). The analysis found that an additional $7 billion per year for the next 10 years is needed to reach these four targets.

Visit http://www.investinnutrition.org/ to find out more.