Sakshi Jain, Sameen Ahsan, Zachary Robb, Brett Cowley, and Dr. Dylan Walters.
Health Policy and Planning

Published: July 18, 2024

Overview

Nutrition International developed the Cost of Inaction Tool, a modelling tool to help users understand the annual costs associated with stunting, low birthweight and anaemia in children, as well as anaemia in women and girls for over 140 countries. The tool generates estimates on the potential health, human capital and economic impacts of the current levels of stunting, low birthweight and anaemia in children, and anaemia in women and girls. With its user‐friendly design, open access availability, and online data‐driven analytics, the Cost of Inaction Tool serves as a powerful resource for governments and nutrition partners seeking timely and evidence‐based analyses to inform policy‐decision and investments towards the scale‐up of undernutrition interventions globally.

This article presents the methodology and results for the Nutrition International Cost of Inaction and Cost of Not Breastfeeding tools, which estimate the health, human capital and economic impacts of inaction on stunting, low birthweight, anaemia and not protecting, promotion and supporting breastfeeding for over 140 countries and regions.