On the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the African Union Commission, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the African Development Bank (AFDB) - Africa Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Initiative, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Nutrition International convened a High-Level Side Event titled: “Recommit Africa to Child Survival through Strategic Investment in Prevention of Malnutrition.”

The dialogue brought together Heads of State and Government, Ministers, development partners, philanthropies, civil society, and the private sector to confront Africa’s deepening child survival crisis and renew political commitment to prevention-focused nutrition action

The meeting underscored that malnutrition is not inevitable; it is the result of policy, financing, and implementation choices. Leaders emphasized that proven, cost-effective interventions exist, including maternal nutrition, micronutrient supplementation, exclusive breastfeeding, and integrated WASH-nutrition systems.

Africa remains the only region globally where the absolute number of stunted children continues to rise. Nearly 59 million children under five, more than one in three, are affected by stunting. Anaemia among women of reproductive age exceeds 30% in at least 38 countries, and child wasting remains above global thresholds in most Member States

Delivering a powerful keynote address, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho, African Union Champion for Nutrition and African Leaders for Nutrition Champion, described child survival as a test of political leadership rather than a technical issue.

He stressed that nearly five million children under five die globally each year from preventable causes, with malnutrition contributing to almost half of those deaths. Scaling a defined package of maternal and child nutrition interventions across Africa would require an estimated USD 3.5 billion annually, a modest investment compared to the economic cost of inaction.

He called upon African leaders to align budgets, policies, and accountability systems around prevention-focused action, declaring that child survival must sit at the centre of Africa’s development agenda under Agenda 2063.

In her remarks on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Amb. Amma A. Twum-Amoah emphasized that investing in child survival is the most strategic capital investment any nation can make. She reaffirmed the inseparable link between nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), aligning the dialogue with the African Union Theme of the Year 2026 on sustainable water and sanitation systems.

Dr. Joy Katikegwa, representing the President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted nearly USD 5 billion in nutrition-smart investments mobilized to date through the African Leaders for Nutrition initiative, with a target of USD 9.5 billion by 2030.

Mr. Joel Spicer, President and CEO of Nutrition International, warned that preventable child deaths are increasing for the first time this century, calling the situation a moral and economic crisis requiring unified African leadership.

Mr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, representing the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, emphasized prevention through agrifood systems transformation, food safety, and climate-smart agriculture as essential pillars for child survival

The event concluded with the adoption of a Communiqué reaffirming:

1. Nutrition as the most powerful and cost-effective investment for child survival
2. The nutrition-WASH nexus as central to sustained outcomes
3. The need to increase and protect domestic nutrition financing
4. Strengthened governance and accountability through Continental Nutrition Accountability Scorecard
5. Enhanced alignment between Member States and development partners

The Communiqué committed Member States and partners to translate political declarations into measurable, budgeted, and time-bound national actions.

A key milestone of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and Nutrition International, witnessed by His Majesty King Letsie III. The agreement formalizes strengthened cooperation to elevate nutrition advocacy, mobilize political leadership, and support increased domestic investment in maternal and child nutrition

The dialogue also celebrated major flagship investments, including:

• The Ending School-Age Hunger Fund, a USD 100 million partnership with the African Development Bank
• The NOURISH project, a USD 54 million multi-country investment strengthening antenatal care platforms and expanding access to lifesaving micronutrients for pregnant women across Africa.

These initiatives reinforce Africa’s commitment to building what partners described as the continent’s “grey matter infrastructure,” protecting cognitive development and long-term economic transformation.

The High-Level Dialogue reaffirmed that child survival is not charity, but a strategic economic and moral imperative. Leaders emphasized that:

• The economic cost of malnutrition is enormous
• Nutrition investments must be protected even amid fiscal pressures
• Domestic ownership, accountability, and multisectoral coordination are decisive
• Africa must not outsource the survival of its children

The event marked a decisive recommitment to prevention-led child survival, integrated nutrition-WASH systems, and sustained domestic financing in line with Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

For further information, please contact: 

Mr. Derrick Ochuot | Strategic Communication Expert | Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs | Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition Division | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchuotD@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.