Investing in nutrition to achieve sustainable development

Last updated:

10 June 2013

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Malnutrition is a global problem in all its forms – eating too much, too little, or poor-quality food. Investment in good nutrition is associated with better health and education outcomes, and increased productivity.

Tom Arnold (center), former CEO of Concern Worldwide, and Connell Foley (right), Director of Strategy, Advocacy and Learning for Concern Worldwide, at the event, "Sustaining Political Commitments for Scaling up Nutrition," co-hosted by Bread for the World and Concern Worldwide on June 10, 2013 in Washington, DC. Photo: Rick Reinhard.

Contrary to popular belief, malnutrition is not a problem confined to the developing world. Every country in the world suffers from at least one form of malnutrition:

Stunting – below average height-for-age
Wasting – below average weight-for-height
“Hidden” hunger – vitamin and mineral deficiency.

Good nutrition is key to eliminating chronic poverty and making lasting development gains. This paper and infographic below, bolster the thinking behind the Sustainable Development Goals by showing why investing in good nutrition is the right – and smart – thing to do.