Issued at “Our Children Cannot Wait: Leadership, Solidarity and Action for Child Survival and Nutrition” UNGA High-Level Side Event, New York, September 24th, 2026

Preamble

Gathered on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, we — co-hosts, champion governments, international organizations, development partners, philanthropies, and advocates for child survival and nutrition —

Recognizing that child survival represents one of the clearest measures of human dignity, equity and national progress, and that a child who is fully protected across the critical stages of life — from maternal health, through a safe birth, a healthy newborn period, early childhood and into adolescence — is a child able to survive and thrive;

Deeply concerned that nearly five million children under the age of five continue to die each year from preventable causes, that close to two million babies are stillborn and that malnutrition contributes to almost half of all under-five deaths;

Alarmed that hard-won gains in reducing newborn and child mortality are slowing and, in some contexts, reversing due to the combined effects of declining global health financing, conflict, climate shocks, food insecurity and persistent inequality;

Recognizing that small and vulnerable newborns — babies born too small, too soon or both — account for more than half of all newborn deaths, even though proven solutions exist. Many who survive face a lifelong risk of poor nutrition and chronic disease. Reducing the number of small and vulnerable newborns is one of the most important investments a country can make to strengthen the foundation of its future health and development;

Affirming that the nutrition and health of adolescent girls and women before and during pregnancy lays the foundation for the right start in life, and that breaking the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition begins well before a child is born;

Acknowledging that investments in maternal nutrition, safe birth and the first 1,000 days of life, alongside investment in adolescent girls’ health and wellbeing, deliver some of the highest returns for health, human capital and economic prosperity;

Recognizing the disproportionate burden borne by countries in sub-Saharan Africa and other high-mortality settings, while affirming the critical importance of their leadership and agency in shaping and financing solutions;

Recalling the Sustainable Development Goals, the World Health Assembly Global Nutrition Targets, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and commitments made through the Nutrition for Growth process;

We unite around the following principles and issue this call to action.

Our shared principles

1. Every child has an equal right to survive and thrive

Every child, regardless of where they are born, should have an equal chance to reach their fifth birthday and realize their full potential.

The persistence of stillbirths and preventable newborn and child deaths is neither inevitable nor acceptable. Ending these deaths is both a moral imperative and the soundest investment in the future of nations.

2. Protecting children is the goal

Children are protected not by single interventions but by a continuous package of proven, low-cost measures delivered across the life course: maternal health and nutrition, a safe pregnancy and childbirth, care for the small and vulnerable newborn, and nutrition, immunization and primary care through early childhood and into adolescence. A child who receives the full package, without gaps, is positioned to survive and thrive.

3. Nutrition is the foundation of child survival

Nutrition underpins every stage of child survival and development. Preventing malnutrition — including low birthweight, prematurity, stunting and wasting — and reducing the number of small and vulnerable newborns should be integral to child survival strategies, with benefits that extend throughout life and across generations.

4. Prevention must be at the centre of health systems

Systems that prioritize prevention, primary health care and early intervention deliver better outcomes, greater equity, stronger long-term value and lower costs.

Investing upstream — before illness and crisis — is what makes progress affordable and durable.

5. Sustainable progress requires country ownership and domestic leadership

Now, more than ever, the urgency of the global child mortality crisis must be met with strengthened country ownership, leadership and action. Lasting gains in child survival depend on nationally led strategies, domestic investment and strong public institutions. Countries should define and drive sustainable financing approaches that align with their national priorities and needs.

6. Partnerships should strengthen national priorities, and solidarity should follow leadership

International support is most effective when it aligns with country-led costed plans and complements domestic efforts.

All development partners — including donors, philanthropic organizations, development finance institutions and private investors — should lean in behind the countries that choose to lead, resourcing not only programs but the sustained technical assistance that enables country-led delivery.

7. Accountability drives results

Progress depends on measurable goals, transparent reporting, shared learning and sustained political attention.

Countries and partners should continue to strengthen accountability mechanisms that track outcomes and identify gaps and opportunities for accelerated action.

Call to action

Guided by these principles, we call upon governments, international organizations, financing institutions, civil society organizations, philanthropies and private sector partners to:

1. Elevate child survival as a national political priority

Place child survival and nutrition at the centre of national development strategies, recognizing that no investment yields greater returns than ensuring children survive and thrive.

Uphold the responsibility of governments as the primary duty bearers for safeguarding the health, nutrition and well-being of every child.

2. Accelerate action for maternal, infant and child nutrition

Expand and scale evidence-based interventions across the life course to improve health and nutrition. This includes maternal health and nutrition, quality care during pregnancy and birth, breastfeeding support and care for small and vulnerable newborns, and access to essential nutrition and primary health services for children under five and adolescents. These efforts should focus on preventing malnutrition, reducing the number of small and vulnerable newborns, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to survive, grow and thrive.

3. Strengthen prevention-oriented health systems

Invest in primary health care, community health systems, prevention and early interventions while integrating nutrition across health, social protection and food systems to ensure children receive a comprehensive package of services before illness occurs and crises take hold. This investment is essential to ensuring every child survives, develops to their full potential, enters school ready to learn and has the opportunity to become an educated and productive member of society.

4. Finance what works and finance it sustainably

Move beyond aspirational targets to concrete and practical country-led financing that protects investments in nutrition and child health, increases and strengthens domestic revenue through measures such as fair and effective taxation, and uses external financing instruments to complement — not substitute for — domestic efforts.

5. Align partnerships behind country-led plans

Support government-led child survival and nutrition plans by coordinating financing, technical expertise and implementation support around agreed national priorities. Partners should align behind country objectives, measure progress against shared results and hold themselves accountable for delivering impact.

6. Reach the most vulnerable children first

Prioritize children and communities most affected by poverty, conflict, displacement, climate-related shocks and unequal access to services. 

From a call to a lasting anchor

This is a beginning, not a ceremony. To ensure it endures beyond a single day in New York, we have identified four areas for continued action.

1. We form a Community of Leaders.

A voluntary coalition of countries that choose to lead on child survival and nutrition, alongside partners aligned behind their priorities. Defined by action rather than signature, this coalition will bring leaders together to drive high-level political commitment, strengthen mutual accountability, share practical solutions and catalyze action to accelerate progress for children. Partners will help mobilize technical assistance, financing and advocacy in support of country-led plans and priorities.

2. Where there is leadership for children, we stand in solidarity.

Where there is leadership for children, solidarity must follow. We call on donors and partners to align behind country-led priorities and costed national plans, and to sustain the technical assistance their implementation requires.

3. We sustain momentum and define our destination.

This Call to Action is not an endpoint but a platform for continued leadership. We will use regional and global opportunities to advance child survival and nutrition, strengthen political ownership and mobilize the resources needed to deliver results. By bringing together leaders and partners on a regular basis to review progress, share lessons and champion solutions, we will ensure that momentum extends beyond individual moments and drives lasting change for children.

4. We measure progress and promote accountability.

Through existing national, regional and global mechanisms, we will track and publicly share progress toward child survival and nutrition goals. Transparent reporting, mutual accountability and regular review of results will help sustain political attention, strengthen implementation and ensure that commitments are translated into measurable gains for children.

Measuring success

Our responsibility is not to declarations, statements or institutions, but to the children whose lives depend on the decisions we make today. Our success will be measured not by the promises we make, but by the number of lives saved, the futures secured and the countries that rise to lead.

Our children cannot wait. We see them, we hear them, we will not let them fall.

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