Brussels, 27 March 2025
Today, at the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris, the European Commission announced a new pledge of €3.4 billion until 2027 to combat malnutrition globally. This commitment builds on the EU’s ongoing efforts to reduce all forms of malnutrition and drive progress in nutrition-related interventions worldwide.
The EU’s investment will focus on supporting partner countries facing high levels of child malnutrition, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will target children under five and young pregnant and lactating mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The support will be tailored to address the specific needs of each country, with a strong emphasis on the most vulnerable populations in least developed and fragile settings.
The EU’s engagement will also continue at global and regional levels, where the EU is successfully promoting initiatives to strengthen nutrition governance and international collaboration on research and development.
Today’s pledge follows the EU’s previous commitment of €2.5 billion for 2021-2023, announced at the N4G Summit in Tokyo. The EU even exceeded its initial pledge by nearly €1.9 billion, ultimately contributing a total of €4.4 billion for 2021-2023.
To maximise its impact, the EU invests through its Global Gateway strategy in essential infrastructure, improving access to public services, supporting local agri-food value chains, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Background
The European Union supports global, regional, and country-level initiatives that strengthen nutrition governance, foster international collaboration on data, and advance nutrition research and technology development. Additionally, the EU provides humanitarian assistance to address severe acute malnutrition, delivering life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children in remote, fragile or country-affected areas.
By integrating nutrition into its programming, the EU reinforces the link between humanitarian and development actions, recognising that multi-sectoral approaches are essential to tackle the root causes of malnutrition.
Results on the ground are promising: EU investments have significantly improved maternal and child nutrition, with partner countries on track to reduce the number of stunted children under five by at least 7 million by 2025.
The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summits have been instrumental in accelerating progress towards a malnutrition-free world. Since 2013, host countries, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and now France, have leveraged these global events to mobilise commitments and coordinate efforts with governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector, yielding impactful results and improved global nutrition outcomes.
Further information
- 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit
- Many Pieces, One Goal – A Team Europe Compendium of External Nutrition Action
- EU Action plan on nutrition – 8th progress report
- Nutrition – humanitarian aid
- Council Conclusions on stepping up Team Europe’s support to global food security and nutrition
Quote(s)
The EU has been a long-standing partner in combatting malnutrition because food and health security underpin all other development initiatives. Today’s EU pledge will contribute to addressing malnutrition in a comprehensive manner by supporting sustainable and resilient food systems globally and reaching the most vulnerable with malnutrition treatment.
Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships
Since the first Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2013, the EU has turned bold pledges into bold action, leading the fight against malnutrition. Today’s pledge is a renewed testament to our unwavering commitment to ensure better nutrition for mothers and children, stronger food systems, and better health and social protection where they are needed most. The European Union will continue to lead by example, leaving no one behind. We will work with partners to move closer to a world where every child wakes up nourished, grows strong, and dreams without limits.
Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management
Source – EU Commission
Speech by Commissioner Lahbib at the Nutrition for Growth Summit
Paris, 27 March 2025
“Check against delivery”
Today we come together with a shared vision: a world free from malnutrition in all its forms. This is an immense responsibility because we have enormous power when we act together.
Nutrition is not just a matter of survival. It is dignity, it is opportunity, it is life. The European Union believes in this today more than ever. Since the first Nutrition for Growth initiative in 2013, the EU has turned bold pledges into bold action, leading the fight against malnutrition.
I am proud to highlight that between 2021 and 2023, the European Union not only respected its initial pledge, but we surpassed it by nearly €1.9 billion, for a total of €4.4 billion. This funding has made a real difference in the lives of the most vulnerable on this planet.
We support initiatives that help to significantly reduce child stunting. This brings us closer to our pledge of reducing the number of stunted children under five by at least seven million by 2025. Even in crises, the EU’s multifaceted approach has delivered vital support in fragile contexts. This proves that with fairness, inclusion, and resilience as our guiding compass, we can make real progress.
Today we are taking more bold action. I am pleased to announce a new commitment of €3.4 billion for the period 2024-2027 to reinforce our global fight against malnutrition. This pledge is our European promise because we are determined to ensure better nutrition for mothers and children, stronger food systems, and better health and social protection where they are needed most.
When we put nutrition first — across all sectors — we save lives, giving hundreds of thousands of children a healthier future. Young kids living in remote areas, humanitarian settings or fragile environments. Victims of war, violence, or climate change, such as extreme draught or floods.
I have met these children in the past few months, during my visits to Ukraine, Syria, Jordan, Türkiye, and Bangladesh. I have seen first-hand what EU aid means in their daily lives – a hot meal, clean water, a shelter, a rebuilt school. These are all sparks of hope for someone who has lost everything.
As European Commissioner for Equality, I would also like to say a word about women and girls. During my visits to refugee camps and countries in crisis, I have seen that hunger often has a woman’s face. Women and girls are often the last to eat and the first to suffer. When there isn’t enough food, women and girls often don’t eat, so others have enough. Ending malnutrition is not just about delivering meals — it is about restoring dignity and ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind.
We can be proud of our strong commitment. But there is still so much to do. That is why we continue to adapt our approach to tackling malnutrition — to do more and to get better. We are combining urgent humanitarian aid with longer-term support for development. This includes research to develop smarter and adapted solutions.
Through Horizon Europe, for example, the EU is fostering innovation and collaboration. We invest €113 million every year in research dedicated to food systems and nutrition, with a special focus on preventing non-communicable diseases. We also want to maximise the unique potential of local communities, so we are working to empower them by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing access to nutritious foods.
We also need the private sector on board. Through our Global Gateway, we support businesses in partner countries to develop locally produced food and therapeutic foods. This empowers communities to fight malnutrition. Our financial pledges and policies are certainly important. But alone, they are not enough. Powerful partnerships — between governments, civil society, and the private sector — are the best way to succeed.
Our Team Europe approach embodies this collective spirit, harnessing the expertise of our Member States to fight malnutrition from every angle.
Malnutrition is not just a number. It is a child too weak to hold a pencil, a mother skipping meals so her child can eat, a future slipping away before it even begins. We have the power to change this. And above all, we have the responsibility.
The European Union will continue to lead by example, keeping nutrition at the heart of global development. We know what we have to do, but it will take courage and solidarity. Together, we can move closer to a world where every child wakes up nourished, grows strong, and dreams without limits.
We can do it. Let’s make it happen.
Source – EU Commission