Ask the new Foreign Secretary to take urgent action on rising malnutrition

Malnutrition is on the rise due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before, it was responsible for nearly half of deaths in children under 5. Children need access to nutritious food in order to develop into healthier adults and to learn better at school.

We need donors to step up and tackle this problem, and the upcoming Nutrition for Growth Summit on 7–8 December is a crucial opportunity to do so. The UK Government is yet to make a commitment and ensure the future of programmes that support communities to improve their nutrition. With the summit just around the corner, the UK needs to announce funding now!

Official Development Assistance or ‘UK aid’ spent on improving nutrition in lower- and middle-income countries has been disproportionally cut this year, by up to 70%. This is unacceptable, especially during the pandemic, and makes the need for new commitments more urgent.

Help us reiterate the importance of good nutrition and call for a funding commitment from the Government as soon as possible.

Write to the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss now! We've prepared a template email, but you can personalise it or add your own message too. Start by entering your postcode:

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Dear Foreign Secretary
 
Congratulations on your appointment to your new office. I wish you every success in your role as the Secretary of State responsible for the UK’s international development work.
In your dual role as Foreign Secretary and Minister for Women an Equalities, I’m sure you are aware of the disproportionate impact malnutrition has on women and girls, especially in lower- and middle-income countries. Malnutrition is linked to 45% of the deaths in children under 5 and is the single biggest risk factor in the deaths of women globally. Prioritising the importance of good nutrition is an effective way of tackling poverty and boosting human development, especially for women and adolescent girls. 
Under-nourishment in the first 1,000 days of a child's life has drastic consequences for children’s life chances, including the ability to grow and develop normally, to learn at school, and to earn a living later in life. This obviously has huge economic consequences for the countries in which they live. 
As you mentioned in your recent speech, the UK has an excellent record on combatting poor nutrition through its long-term support for the Nutrition for Growth agenda. The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Japan in December is a crucial opportunity to pledge financial commitments, and the UK must take this seriously again in 2021 – especially given that UK funding for nutrition has already been reduced by 70% as part of cuts to the ODA budget.
By taking action on nutrition now, the UK can maximise the impact of its investments in other development efforts, help address the rise in malnutrition caused by the pandemic, save lives, and help give millions of children the best possible start in life.
I therefore urge you to urgently recommit the UK to the Nutrition for Growth agenda, promising to reach 50 million women and children with nutrition programmes, pledging at least £120 million per year on ‘nutrition-specific’ programmes, and at least £680 million per year on nutrition-sensitive programmes that tackle the underlying causes of malnutrition.

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