The World Bank puts a spotlight on nutrition: Unlocking Human Potential

On 22 April 2017, global leaders came together to make the investment case for nutrition at the, “Spotlight on Nutrition: Unlocking human Potential and Economic Growth” event, co-hosted by the World Bank and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). The event included a panel of ministers and leaders, laying out how their countries and organisations plan to scale-up action on nutrition. The event was a follow up to the October 2016 Human Capital Summit on the importance of nutrition as an investment to unlock human capital and economic prosperity.

For $10 per year/child we can prevent stunting, get a return of investment up to $35 for every dollar invested, and bring US$420 billion worth of economic benefits.”

Jim Yong Kim, President, World Bank.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim emphasized that for countries to prosper they will need to invest in human capital, not just hard infrastructure. He called the failure to act unconscionable and cited the successes of Senegal, Peru and Bangladesh as proof of what countries can accomplish and what is needed: urgency, political commitment, and focused plans with resources. Speaking via video message, Melinda Gates said that if the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation could “wave a magic wand and solve any problem we would end malnutrition” because of its affects across all development issues.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, highlighted her country’s increasing focus and commitment on nutrition through a multi-pronged approach, from increasing locally-available fortified foods to addressing cultural habits and Julio Hector Estrada, Minister of Public Finance of Guatemala, shared how his country has put the fight against chronic malnutrition on the national agenda, not just addressing the poorest but across all wealth quintiles and through a focused strategy, with President Morales’s ambitious goal of reducing malnutrition by 10% in 4 years.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka, renowned singer and humanitarian with The Princess of Africa Foundation, closed the panel with a clear to call to action to “do what needs to be done – action and results.”

Other nutrition related side events were held during the Spring meetings including:

• Civil Society Policy Forum, World Bank “I” Building, Rooms I2 210, 220 and 250
• Partners’ Roundtable on Investing in the Early Years: Identifying Synergies and Catalyzing Action WEBCAST / #EARLYYEARS
• Civil Society Policy Forum, World Bank “I” Building, Rooms I2 210, 220 and 250
• Generation Now: How Investing in Adolescents Today Can Change the World of Tomorrow, World Bank Group MC Building, Preston Auditorium WEBCAST / #GENERATIONNOW

Learn more > https://www.imf.org/external/Spring/2017/index.htm