Team Europe pledges €6.5 billion at N4G Paris Summit to fight global malnutrition

As the Nutrition for Growth Summit draws to a close in Paris today, Team Europe is reinforcing its leadership and commitment to fighting the global malnutrition crisis. Taken together, the Team Europe commitments amount to at least €6.5 billion between 2024 and 2029.

As hunger and malnutrition in all its forms continue to escalate due to rising inequalities, economic shocks, conflict, climate change, and biodiversity loss, the N4G Summit is a pivotal moment to take immediate and decisive actions at a time when there is increasing disengagement from the multilateral scene. Stemming multilateral efforts from being undermined means Team Europe working together with all partners at the N4G Summit to ensure inclusive gender-responsive and equitable nutrition ecosystems prevail in partner countries - from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, from Ukraine and the EU Neighbourhood to Central Asia, and from the Caribbean to the Pacific.

Good nutrition is the foundation of sustainable development; it impacts health, education, gender equality, and economic stability. That is why, through the Global Gateway strategy and other mechanisms, Team Europe will continue to address the root causes of malnutrition in all its forms, by investing in essential infrastructure, improving access to public services, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

Acute undernutrition remains a major concern in many countries especially those affected by humanitarian emergencies and protracted crises. It arises from underlying factors, such as inadequate dietary intake, limited access to nutritious food and safe water, and lack of access to health care and social services, all of which are exacerbated by disaster, conflict, disease outbreak and forced displacement. As such, the EU is addressing this through emergency assistance in humanitarian, fragile and violence-affected settings, focusing on providing lifesaving interventions for the prevention and treatment for severe acute malnutrition, mostly targeting children under five years old, as well as adolescence and pregnant and lactating mothers.

Today, the EU and its Member States are reiterating their commitment to tackling all forms of malnutrition with the announcement of internal and external interventions that range from national food policies to new and bold commitments in the humanitarian and development spheres.

On behalf of the EU, the European Commission has pledged €3.4 billion for the period 2024-2027. The EU's investment will focus on supporting partner countries facing high levels of child malnutrition, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will target children under five and young pregnant and lactating mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Denmark has pledged €127 million for food and nutrition support for the period 2024-2027.
France, the host of N4G Summit, committed over €750 million by 2030 to fight malnutrition, notably through contributions from the AFD and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs through its food assistance programme.
Germany committed €870 million for the period 2022 to 2027 to be used in the field of global nutrition security and as such contribute to ending hunger and malnutrition globally and to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 “Zero Hunger”.
Ireland will spend €250 million annually for nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions between 2026 and 2029. Ireland will work with its partners delivering programmes that address hunger and malnutrition globally with a focus on humanitarian contexts. This commitment includes dedicated funding to address child wasting.
Netherlands has reaffirmed its pledge of €400 million until 2030, as announced at N4G Tokyo 2021. With this pledge the Netherlands remains fully committed to contribute to ending malnutrition in all its forms. The pledge is part of a broader food security budget and will help 32 million women and young children gain access to healthy diets all year round.
Slovenia announced its intention to commit €0.5 million. As part of broader food security efforts, Slovenia remains committed to contributing to ending malnutrition nationally and globally. These efforts will be enhanced in the framework of School Meals Coalition as well as by supporting multilateral partners, notably UNICEF and WFP, in helping fight malnutrition in Gaza.
Spain has committed to channel at least €400 million in grants into nutrition for the period 2024-2027.

New publication highlights Europe's commitment to tackling malnutrition and enhancing its coordination efforts

Since the 2021 Tokyo N4G Summit, Team Europe has not only honoured but exceeded its €4.3 billion pledge. It has invested in transformative, locally driven solutions to ensure that good nutrition is not a privilege, but a right for all. Today, as Europe reaffirms its commitment to combating malnutrition, it is also showcasing its work in the Team Europe Compendium of External Nutrition Action ‘Many Pieces, One Goal’. This publication is a joint effort by the European Commission and 14 EU Member States that underlines the global impact of EU-supported nutrition initiatives, across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and in fragile contexts. It reflects Team Europe’s firm commitment to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to healthy and sustainable diets and good nutrition. Moreover, it provides an insight into how, since Tokyo, EU and Member States’ investments in nutrition initiatives are driving sustainable agri-food systems, healthy diets, and better nutrition outcomes worldwide.

Background

Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summits accelerate progress towards ending malnutrition in all its forms. Since 2013, by hosting these global events, the governments of the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and now France have each stepped up to mobilise N4G nutrition commitments against the backdrop of the Olympics, a symbol of health, strength, and human potential. With the support of governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector, the result has been unprecedented, coordinated, and impactful commitments that improve global nutrition.