France combatting malnutrition at the “Nutrition for Growth” Summit (7 December 2021)

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Malnutrition is a major problem in Sub-Saharan African countries, particularly in the Sahel region. In some of these countries, almost half of children suffer from delayed physical and cognitive development due to malnutrition, which has a significant impact on education, health and development. Inappropriate diets have become one of the primary factors of illness and mortality around the world.

On 7 December 2021, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, took part in the “Nutrition for Growth” (N4G) Summit organized by Japan. During his address at the close of the first day of the Summit, the Minister set out France’s commitments on nutrition for 2024:

  • Allocate 50% of Programmed Food Aid financing to nutrition,
  • Dedicate 25% of the funds allocated by the French Muskoka Fund to nutrition (The French Muskoka Fund is working in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.),
  • Allocate 15% of AFD (French Development Agency) funding to agriculture, health and water, hygiene and sanitation for nutrition in eight priority countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Laos, Madagascar, Mali and Niger)
  • Jean-Yves Le Drian also highlighted France’s commitment to the School Meals Coalition, launched in November 2021. The aim of this Coalition is that by 2030, each child will receive a healthy, nutritional meal at school.

These commitments are in addition to an investment of €2.5 billion by 2024 from the European Commission in the fight against malnutrition.
Finally, the Minister announced that France will host the next edition of the N4G Summit, alongside the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

What is a Nutrition for Growth Summit?
N4G Summits are high-level international meetings which regularly bring together the main global nutrition players to make concrete financial and political commitments to combat malnutrition, a crucial development issue. In its various forms (undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies, excessive weight and obesity), malnutrition affects every country in the world and is worsening.

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