African Development Bank Group.

Published: June 18, 2021

Overview

Childhood stunting, driven by inadequate nutrition in the first 1,000 days, affects nearly 40% of African children under five, leading to poor health, cognitive delays, and economic losses of $25 billion annually. Yet, these impacts are preventable through strategic nutrition investments. The African Development Bank is scaling up “nutrition-smart” investments in sectors like agriculture, health, WASH, social protection and education to reduce stunting by 40% by 2025. This effort supports global nutrition targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, unlocking human potential for sustainable development across Africa.