UNICEF and the World Food Programme have long disagreed about how to divvy up the responsibilities when it comes to treating the two forms of malnutrition — severe and moderate — and delivery of the different supplements used. I’ve been reporting on the situation for years, but it’s taken on new urgency in light of the over half a billion dollars USAID helped raise last year for ready-to-use therapeutic foods, or RUTFs, which treat severe acute malnutrition.
NGOs are now urging USAID to push the two United Nations agencies responsible for transforming the money into lives saved to overcome yearslong disagreements that threaten to stymie a rare financial opportunity to save more children from starvation. They argue that USAID’s donor role enables it to get the two agencies to settle their differences over roles and responsibilities and ensure the new funding is as effective as possible.
“They’re probably in the most unique position to help bring everybody to the table because they are the biggest funder,” says Maria Kasparian, executive director of Edesia, a nonprofit manufacturer of RUTFs.
About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
