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Nutrition

Poverty reduction through nutritious foods

Worldwide, approximately three billion people have poor-quality diets and more than two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Nearly 25 per cent of children under the age of five are chronically undernourished.

Malnutrition causes health problems and losses in economic productivity, including GDP losses. Over the course of their lifetimes, malnourished individuals can earn 10 per cent less than those who are well-nourished.

Without access to adequate, affordable, nutritious food, generations remain trapped in poverty, unable to take advantage of educational and job opportunities to fulfil their potential.

Investing in nutrition through agriculture is not only socially responsible, it is sound development policy and good economics. Its impact is multi-generational, allowing children to reach their full physical and intellectual potential, so that they can grow into healthy adults and lift themselves out of poverty.

At the forefront of nutrition-sensitive agriculture

Improving food security through better food production systems is at the heart of IFAD’s work. We design our projects through a nutrition- and gender-sensitive lens, helping rural people to improve their diets by growing and consuming diverse, nutritious, safe and affordable foods.

To combat malnutrition, we combine our solid technical knowledge with investments in nutrition- and gender-sensitive agriculture, through unique food-based approaches. We finance nutritional education and support actions that reshape food systems and improve nutrition security.

We also pay special attention to the role of women and adolescent girls, who make up a large percentage of the workforce in agriculture and food systems in developing countries. They are also the safeguards of nutritious diets in their households.

Empowering women by improving their knowledge of nutrition, as well as promoting maternal nutrition and nutrition of adolescent girls, dietary intake, and hygiene behaviours, can reduce undernutrition for entire generations.

Gender-sensitive agricultural projects help ensure women have more control over resources and that both rural men and women understand the important role that they can play in supporting good nutrition.

Climate change exacerbates the already vast burden of malnutrition and undermines current efforts to reduce hunger and promote nutrition.

As a result, IFAD has increased its commitment to providing resources for issues related to nutrition and is mainstreaming nutrition, gender and climate change actions across all of its programmes and projects.

We promote dialogue among concerned partners, including ministries of agriculture and health, as well as between other areas of government and civil society. This strengthens understanding, brokers collaboration, and promotes new pathways for nutrition- and gender-sensitive agriculture.

IFAD also taps into other reservoirs of knowledge and collaborates with institutions with specialized research skills such as national agricultural research centres and international institutes.

Worldwide knowledge-sharing and collaboration

Governments and development partners around the world are increasingly focused on nutrition-enhancing agricultural investments.

More than 50 countries have now committed to the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement, a clear demonstration that nutrition is high on the global agenda.

IFAD plays an active role in the United Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN), a platform dedicated to an open, substantive and constructive dialogue on global nutrition strategies and initiatives.

Food and nutrition security is both an indicator and a driver of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. It is also an investment in the future.

For this reason, the scope of global malnutrition demands a robust and collaborative approach, driven by the local realities of smallholders and rural food systems.

Spotlight

Spotlight

Transforming Africa’s Food Systems – Episode 68

In this episode, we dive into the innovations farmers are using to transform East and Southern Africa's food systems for the better.

Projects

Projects

Benin

The Market Gardening Development Support Project

Niger

Food Security and Development Support Project in the Maradi Region

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Southern Laos Food and Nutrition Security and Market Linkages Programme

Experts

Asset Publisher

Nomindelger Bayasgalanbat

Senior Technical Specialist - Nutrition

[email protected]

Solange Heise

Senior Technical Specialist

[email protected]

Stories and news

Stories and news

Transforming Africa’s Food Systems – Episode 68

September 2024 - PODCAST

In this episode, we dive into the innovations farmers are using to transform East and Southern Africa's food systems for the better.

Sustainable development takes a village. This community in Lao PDR proves it

September 2024 - STORY

Thanks to a new participatory planning process, Mang village has become an example of sustainable, inclusive development in action – and its people have renewed reason for hope. 

Building a more nourished future – Episode 67

September 2024 - PODCAST

Travel from the flourishing school gardens of Tajikistan and Tunisia to the farms of Iraq and Moldova, where a brighter, more nutritious future is taking root.

Sophie Grigson on how diversifying crops in Malawi cultivates sustainability and resilience

February 2024 - VIDEO

IFAD Recipes for Change chef Sophie Grigson travelled to Malawi to meet local small-scale farmers who are fighting back against climate change by diversifying their crops.

Related publications

Related publications

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024

July 2024

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report 2024 presents the latest updates on the food security and nutrition situation around the world, including updated estimates on the cost and affordability of healthy diets.

Photobook: Nurturing rural livelihoods in the Niger Delta

July 2024

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project in southern Nigeria helps unemployed rural youth and women make a living from agriculture by developing entrepreneurial skills.

Investing in Livestock for Improved and Resilient Livelihoods, Nutrition and Climate Action

July 2024

This position paper outlines five recommendations for livestock investments to deliver better climate outcomes while supporting livelihoods and nutrition.

Related documents

Related documents

IFAD Action Plan Nutrition 2019-2025

August 2019 - CORPORATE
policies_and_strategies   strategy  
This Nutrition Action Plan (NAP) 2019 2025 sets out the framework to guide IFAD’s actions to accelerate mainstreaming of nutrition into its investments.