Malnutrition in all forms is directly or indirectly responsible for approximately 3 million of the 6 million deaths of children under the age of 5 each year, making it one of the largest causes of child mortality. The impacts of malnutrition have been exacerbated further by the pandemic, with economic stresses and closure of school meal programs putting struggling families at greater risk of food insecurity.

Looking specifically at the physical impact on children under five years old, challenges related to COVID-19 are predicted to cause an additional 9.3 million victims of wasting, 2.6 million victims of stunting (much lower than normal growth rates for children, indicating chronic malnutrition), and 168,000 deaths due to malnutrition over the next three years alone.

Coupled with the agricultural challenges to food security associated with climate change, these factors are already increasing the likelihood and severity of malnutrition, particularly for women and children who are particularly vulnerable under present circumstances. The populous Asia-Pacific region is a particular concern; consider the issue of childhood malnutrition in Papua New Guinea and the ongoing nutrition crisis in Afghanistan.
 

Results has a significant track record of impact on nutrition. Our organisation has its origins in the movement to end hunger in the 1970s. For decades, Results has concentrated on the nutrition of children in the earliest stages of life, with the goal of reducing stunting and wasting. When children have access to nutritious and sustainable food sources, this serves as the basic building block for their overall health and wellbeing. Nutrition gives young people the strength and capacity to take part in learning and employment opportunities into the future. For adults, under-nutrition weakens the body's ability to fight disease and prevents people from thriving at work.

 

Our advocacy on this issue has led to a $10 million commitment from the Australian Government to the International Fund for Agricultural Development, a United Nations agency specialising in reducing rural poverty, and a $40 million commitment for nutrition programs in the Asia-Pacific region at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2013.

With 811 million people around the world struggling to find food, Results is committed to ensuring the Australian Government stand in global solidarity with the world's poorest nations. We encourage Australia to contribute to an established global partnership devoted to tackling malnutrition that particularly affect women and children (such as the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents).