Nutrition in the WHO African Region

Today, nutrition is considered a fundamental pre-requisite to health and well-being, and a primary indicator of future human capital development. The first 1000 days of a child’s life is especially crucial. Physical growth and cognitive development within these days are dependent on maternal and child nutrition, and have a long-term effect on the health and economic prospects of the developing child.  In light of this understanding, the Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Plan was adopted by the 68th World Health Assembly, in which member states committed to achieving six global targets in the sphere of MIYCN by 2025.

The responsibility for reaching these targets lies in the hands of the individual states, and each pathway to accomplish these six targets will differ. Upon the request of the 68th World Health Assembly, the WHO Secretariat developed a global nutrition monitoring framework consisting of 20 indicators to which all countries report on every two years.

This report investigates the nutrition status of African WHO member states in line with the six nutritional targets of 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals. It reviews the current progress that has been made and highlights the areas needing additional focus to achieve the agenda set out for 2025.