Action on Plan Nutrition Fifth Progress Report April 2019 – March 2020

Action on Plan Nutrition Fifth Progress Report April 2019 – March 2020

© European Union 2020 Published by Directorate-General International Cooperation and Development Directorate Planet and Prosperity, September 2020, 44 pages

This fifth progress report provides an update on achievements with respect to the European Union’s (EU) two ambitious commitments on nutrition: to support partner countries to reduce the number of stunted children under the age of five by at least 7 million by 2025; and to allocate EUR 3.5 billion to nutrition between 2014 and 2020.

The fifth progress report demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to deliver tangible results for people’s lives and accelerate progress towards ending malnutrition, in line with SDG 2 . Building on the four previous progress reports8 , this report emphasises again on the two key commitments that underpin the strategic and operational focus of the Commission’s work on nutrition within the context of development cooperation and international partnerships: (i) the 2012 commitment to support partner countries to reduce the number of stunted children under the age of five by at least 7 million by 2025 ; and (ii) the 2013 commitment to ensure the allocation of EUR 3.5 billion between 2014 and 2020 to improve nutrition in partner countries.

The focus of the fifth progress report is on a clear and concise analysis of recent advances regarding the Commission’s two international pledges on nutrition. The report includes an in-depth look at selected programmes and how they are transforming resources into results to inform discussions on future nutrition interventions. Section 2 of the report provides an updated overview and analysis of progress on reducing stunting, while Section 3 offers an updated overview of progress with regard to annual financial commitments and disbursements. Section 4 presents evidence from diverse countries and contexts, demonstrating that EU investments in nutrition are making a measurable difference to people’s lives – particularly women and children, with a focus on infants, children under five and adolescent girls. These insights are particularly timely for informing policy directions, given the new multi-annual financial programming phase 2021-2027.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result of the far reaching socioeconomic impacts associated with this crisis, the requirement for a transformative agenda is ever more pressing, underscoring the urgent need for effective investment to end hunger and malnutrition in all its forms. Enhancing sustainability, resilience and capacities at every level in order to provide healthy and nutritious diets for all will be a key condition for achieving a more stable and equitable world.