The future of nutrition financing: How governments can take charge to tackle malnutrition amid a looming crisis
Editor’s note: R4D hosts the Finance Capacity Development Platform (FCDP) for Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) countries. FCDP aims to reshape the nutrition financing landscape by inspiring and igniting government leaders to elevate nutrition financing as a priority and accelerate impact across sectors.
On March 27 and 28, under the chairmanship of the Government of France, leaders from G28 countries and world nutrition leaders will gather in Paris to accelerate the fight against malnutrition at the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit 2025. There is an immediate need to finance the scale-up of essential nutrition actions to prevent a worsening nutrition crisis. But in today’s climate, the big question on everyone’s mind leading up to this summit is “What does the future of nutrition financing look like?”
It is no secret that countries with high rates of malnutrition have relied heavily on external funding to effectively deliver critical nutrition services, especially for nutrition commodities (e.g., supplements, treatment of wasting with RUTF). As such, it is unfortunately not uncommon for nutrition programs to be delayed, paused, or stopped due to external forces like fluctuations in donor funding cycles, contracting issues, political shifts etc. The current USAID funding halt is perhaps the most extreme case in history where so many countries at the same time experienced abrupt stops to large programs that have left people stranded from essential health and nutrition services and put them at heightened risk of malnutrition and food insecurity.
Country governments know that a reliance on external financing from a small set of donors is unsustainable and incongruent with national goals of fiscal independence. Country leaders are already working hard to change this. But much more is needed.
Regional trends in Africa indicate government nutrition expenditure remains low across African countries and has stalled recently. Across most Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of Africa, trends in government nutrition spending as well as donor aid for nutrition interventions have been decreasing.
Some countries are taking bold steps forward.
For example, Nigeria launched the Nutrition 774 initiative to tackle malnutrition comprehensively by focusing on grassroots impact, aptly named to recognize all 774 local government areas (LGAs) of the country encouraged and supported to take part in the holistic effort to combat malnutrition. The National Economic Council launched the Nutrition 774 initiative as a collaborative effort to foster political commitment at all levels of government, improve funding and elevate the profile of nutrition across sectors. This is a game-changer in Nigeria and has the potential to unlock significant funding for nutrition.
“[This initiative] is a pledge to the people of Nigeria that we will not stand by while our children suffer the preventable consequences of malnutrition”
–Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria
In Pakistan, the government-led Pakistan Nutrition Initiative (PANI) is helping to coordinate and align resources from domestic sources and external development partners to one plan in order to efficiently address malnutrition in 36 high-burden districts across the country. PANI launched in 2023 under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives to anchor the plan’s multi-sectoral implementation. Additionally at the sub-national level, provinces have developed pathways to address nutrition financing challenges, focusing on strengthening decentralized tracking and accountability systems for nutrition.
“Nutrition is the heart of the SDGs. Twelve out of 17 are linked with nutrition. Without improving the nutrition status, we cannot achieve the SDGs 2030 agenda. Pakistan loses approximately $7.6 billion every year due to malnutrition.”
–Dr. Nazeer Ahmed, Chief of Nutrition, Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives and SUN Focal Point
In Senegal, the government is committed to financial sovereignty and nutrition leaders are making significant progress to mobilize resources to support the country’s Multisectoral Nutrition Strategic Plan (PSMN) for 2024-2028. For example, in 2024, the National Nutrition Development Council reviewed public expenditure on nutrition to pinpoint under-funded interventions and develop a resource mobilization strategy to fill funding gaps.
“Nutrition is a strategic lever for human development, the basis of the National Transformation Agenda – Senegal 2050. To overcome the challenges associated with funding nutrition, the country will continue diversifying funding sources and setting up innovative mechanisms, while continuing to advocate for greater commitment to mobilizing internal resources in order to ensure the sustainability of specific and sensitive nutrition interventions.
In addition, budget tagging and expenditure planning as part of the PSMN’s Sector Action Plans financing will be materialized in order to guarantee a transparent and efficient allocation of resources dedicated to nutrition. This approach will ensure better visibility of investments, optimize their impact and make nutrition a sustainable priority in Senegal’s development policies.
Nutritional resilience strategies adapted to the local context will be put in place, and local authorities will be given considerable responsibility for funding them.”
–Aminata Ndoye, Executive Secretary, National Nutrition Development Council
In Somalia, despite constrained resources and competing priorities, the government has shown strong dedication to the fight against malnutrition. Recently, the Government of Somalia convened a workshop of national stakeholders to discuss practical steps to strengthen financing for the country’s national nutrition plan marking an important step forward towards resource mobilization. And they are taking action.
“Somalia recognizes that malnutrition claims the lives for Somali children more than the conflict and other human made disasters, hence the endless efforts of the government to advocate for increased funding for nutrition both internationally and domestically.”
–Dr. Mohamed Abdi Farah, Senior Advisor for Food Systems, Nutrition and Climate Change Council, Office of the Prime Minister and SUN Focal Point
Call to action: Review and innovate
To make progress in sustainable financing for nutrition we, as a global community, must first and foremost stop the fragmentation of efforts and follow government leadership. We must also be innovative around how investments are designed to support long-term government development plans.
High malnutrition burden countries must move quickly to improve their nutrition funding situation. A recently published Africa regional brief for SUN countries recommends three simple yet impactful actions:
- Review nutrition financing trends under every sector and checking if each sector budget has fulfilled their commitments to nutrition
- Review the immediate funding need and funding gap, and set financing targets for underfunded priorities that need support
- Maximize government programs by integrating nutrition actions and identifying new and innovative sources of financing
Donors, including regional and country development banks and the private sector, play a critical role in supporting government development plans and can help by focusing on grant-making strategies that boost nutrition gains by integrating explicit nutrition actions across sectoral investments. Not all grants will be relevant for nutrition, but it’s important to review investments to ensure no opportunity is lost to boost nutrition. Some members of the SUN Donor Network use the OECD nutrition policy marker tool to define nutrition actions. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has gone a step further with their Nutrition Investment Toolkit, which is designed for economists who design investments in any sector with the potential to influence nutrition.
While achieving sustainable financing for nutrition is a long-term effort requiring time and dedication, these first steps are achievable: we must review financing opportunities and innovate how funding is used. In November 2025 SUN countries will come together in Rwanda for the SUN Global Gathering. This is a milestone by when every country is expected to demonstrate progress towards sustainable nutrition financing.
FCDP for SUN Countries will support countries through this journey and will help facilitate regional learnings. Contact us to learn more.
