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Development Initiatives have released their annual report on the Department for International Development’s (DFID) spend on nutrition, which shows a 20 per cent decline in funding of nutrition-specific programmes in 2018. In response, Gavin Crowden, Concern’s Director of Policy and Campaigns, said:
“We are concerned to see the recent drop in spending on DFID programmes that specifically address malnutrition. As the world responds to the coronavirus pandemic, now more than ever we need the UK not to drop the ball on investing in proven interventions such as preventing stunting or wasting in children.
Good nutrition is essential for human survival and is one of the most effective investments for development. The UK is one of the most respected donors; they hosted the world’s first Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2013, which raised £17 billion from governments, philanthropists and civil society to prevent malnutrition in the poorest countries.
Despite the delay of the next Nutrition for Growth Summit due to Covid-19, we urge the UK government to make a new pledge by the end of this year before its current commitments end. We are confident the UK will make good on its promise to end the preventable deaths of mothers, new-borns and young children, by protecting their nutrition programmes.”
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