Donors, including the European Union (EU) and its Member States, play a pivotal role in supporting nutrition efforts globally.
Their involvement is critical in securing increased political and financial commitments to combat malnutrition, a need universally recognized by stakeholders. Nutrition investments yield high returns; every €1 invested results in a €16 gain in GDP. European Official Development Assistance (ODA) aimed at providing nutritious food to families is essential for ending poverty. This investment builds human capital and enhances the productive potential of countries, serving as a foundation for shared prosperity and security.
Despite its importance, ODA for basic nutrition has stagnated around $1 billion annually since the first Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summit in 2012. In 2022, the EU contributed over half of this amount, with significant increases from France, Germany, and The Netherlands. Therefore, it is crucial that donor countries escalate both political action and financial resources for nutrition. Adopting a multisectoral integrated approach will ensure the efficient use of these resources.
As part of its work on nutrition security, the Generation Nutrition Coalition has conducted a study on EU ODA funding for nutrition security-sensitive and specific programs. The report is available here.
