In the effort to improve maternal and child nutrition, both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive actions are essential. The latter improve nutrition through other sectors, such as health and agriculture.
The United States is a leader in scaling up nutrition, particularly among young children. A “whole-of-government” strategy could effectively support country-led nutrition efforts and strengthen global momentum.
With the right policies, part of the estimated $10 billion annually sent home to Central America by people working in the United States could help support development projects in migrant-sending communities.
U.S. leadership on global hunger and food security has been instrumental in raising additional resources and reversing decades of falling agriculture funding. The G-8 summit is a key upcoming opportunity.
Gender inequality is linked to higher rates of child mortality and malnutrition. Improvements in women’s access to resources, education, and ability to make independent decisions are critical to nutrition.
Good nutrition in early childhood is critical to human health and development. Increased global efforts on child nutrition reflects more consensus on a set of evidence-based, cost-effective nutrition actions.
Reducing malnutrition in the 1,000 days between pregnancy and age 2 is critical. The United States, the largest provider of food aid, can improve its quality and better reach malnourished women and children.
Is aid being delivered in a more effective way? Experience shows that the principles of the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action are important to development and should be more fully implemented.
Nearly three-fourths of all U.S.-hired farm workers are immigrants, most unauthorized. They fill low-wage jobs that citizens are reluctant to take. U.S. fruit and vegetable production depends heavily on them.