A joint letter from Action Against Hunger and Bread for the World
This week is another test of U.S. leadership on the world stage, and we are hopeful that we will not only get a passing grade, but we will also get high marks. The Nutrition for Growth Summit is a global convening where nations pledge support to end malnutrition. It’s an urgent issue, and one of enlightened self interest.
Even before the pandemic, malnutrition contributed to nearly half of all deaths of children younger than five. Now, by the end of this year, COVID-19 could result in an additional 168,000 child deaths largely due to malnutrition, and those who survive are likely to face lifelong health problems and lower incomes as adults. Malnutrition is one of the main mechanisms of intergenerational poverty. The dynamic plays out in lost global productivity and an increased threat of conflict. Not only are nutrition programs relatively inexpensive to implement, they also have an extremely high return on investment, with every $1 invested yielding up to $16 in economic returns.
Those are among the reasons why support for nutrition is a strongly bipartisan issue. According to a 2019 poll, more than 80% of Americans think their government isn’t doing enough on global hunger.
Thankfully, some Congressional members have stepped up to address what is a growing global hunger crisis. In April, 135 bipartisan members of Congress signed a letter calling for increased nutrition funding under Global Health Programs. In July, Ranking Member McCaul (R-TX) and Chairman Meeks (D-NY) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee introduced the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 (H.R.4693). In October, Senators Coons (D-DE), Wicker (R-MS), Kaine (D-VA) and Boozman (R-AK) introduced the companion bill (S.2956) in the Senate. This bill would:
Now, we urge Congress to make more rapid progress on the bill. We call on President Biden to pledge $1 billion for new nutrition investments for FY23-25.
This $1 billion in new funding is critical to achieving global goals and can amplify the role of the United States as a global leader, potentially inspiring investments from other nations. By coming together with our partners and making a strong financial commitment at this year’s Nutrition for Growth Summit, the U.S. can save lives and lay the foundation for an equitable, safe, and healthy post-COVID world.
Samantha Power, Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), observed that this week’s summit is “an excellent opportunity for governments, donors, and the private sector to ‘double down’ on financial commitments to end malnutrition.” We couldn’t agree more. And, the world’s children are waiting for us all to make the grade.
