Good nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life — from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday — is critical, not only for a child’s health and development, but also for economic prosperity.
A well-nourished child is more likely to thrive in school, avoid illness, and escape poverty, bringing long-term benefits to families, communities, and economies. In contrast, nutrient deficiencies during early childhood can lead to stunting and lower lifetime earnings.
“Every $1 invested in nutrition brings a $23 return,” said Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, senior technical adviser, policy and advocacy, at FHI360’s Alive & Thrive project in Nigeria.
Despite some progress, food insecurity is rising, and the world is not on track to meet any of the six global nutrition targets set for 2025, with some indicators worsening. Nearly 1 in 4 children are stunted, anemia rates among women aged 15 to 49 have risen, and progress on low birthweight and childhood overweight has stalled.
With malnutrition threatening future generations, urgent investment is needed in maternal and child nutrition to break the cycle of poverty.
In this video explainer, Devex explores the crucial role of nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life — not only for a child’s future, but also for the prosperity of their country.
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