|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Nutrition is at the heart of rural transformation.
Nutrition is at the heart of rural transformation. Far from being an isolated issue, it is intrinsically linked to the resilience of food systems and rural economies – both a driver and a result of sustainable development. Every year, malnutrition costs up to USD 3.5 trillion in lost economic gains, reduced incomes, and health consequences.
Investments that address nutritional challenges – tackling the root causes of malnutrition – therefore represent a major opportunity. Whether through programs that empower small-scale farmers to provide school meals or that promote the production of diverse, nutrient-rich crops, these investments offer significant returns for Member States and donors: every dollar invested in improving nutrition generates USD 23 in economic benefits.IFAD’s long-standing experience working with governments and partners gives it a unique role and comparative advantage in nutrition. The updated version of our Nutrition Action Plan (2026–2031) outlines how IFAD will ensure that its nutrition-sensitive investments are sustainable and aligned with national priorities. By reaffirming IFAD’s commitment to systematically integrating nutrition objectives, this action plan ensures that our investments contribute to productive and resilient food systems.School meals generate local growth
School feeding programs perfectly illustrate how investments that address nutritional issues can stimulate local economic growth. Because schools require a regular supply of food, they create markets that offer predictability for farmers, thus sustainably increasing incomes and anchoring food systems within national economies. In times of crisis, school meals also represent a stability-building investment that protects children while supporting rural livelihoods.IFAD invests in locally produced school feeding programs that strengthen the link between better nutrition for children and stable demand for local producers. The Fund does not directly provide the meals; its investments consolidate local food systems so that small-scale farmers can reliably supply these programs on a large scale.
In the context of increasing climate shocks, these investments simultaneously strengthen resilience, livelihoods, and food security. In Kenya, for example, the Local School Feeding Initiative—led jointly by IFAD, FAO, and WFP—links IFAD-supported cooperatives to participating schools. Nutritious local cereals produced by farmers in the KCEP-CRAL program are now used in the meals served to children.
With its partners, IFAD supports public authorities in scaling up these national programs, generating a triple benefit: better nutrition for children, market stability for farmers, and strengthened local economies.
