The global food crisis is leaving record numbers of children around the world hungry and malnourished.
The latest UN data shows that close to one-third of the world’s population were moderately or severely food insecure – with children and youth bearing the brunt of hunger.
The short-term consequences of severe malnutrition on children are catastrophic. Chronic food insecurity also has devastating effects including stunting, vulnerability to disease, and long-term physical, social and cognitive deficits.
Good nutrition is the building block of a healthy childhood and a determinant of the kind of future a child will live. We must redouble our efforts to meet the immediate need for children to have enough healthy food to eat every day and for families to have longer-term, sustainable food security.
To alleviate the devastating effects of hunger on children, you helped:
deliver 5,070,448 meals and snacks to 15,913 children and youth in schools and after-school programs
train 3,069 people on nutrition, food use, or cooking
train 4,047 people on agriculture/horticulture to grow more food
support 8,374 students and more than 1,610 families with home, school, and/or community gardens
train 1,161 people on business skills and support 1,772 people to establish 885 businesses to earn more income
provide 2,742 people with access to credit
Updated global estimates point to signs of a decrease in world hunger with an estimated 8.2% of the global population facing hunger in 2024 (down from 8.5% in 2023). Progress in SE and East Asia and South America are offset by rises in hunger in Africa and Western Asia. Women and children in rural areas are hardest hit by rising food costs and food insecurity.
UN, THE STATE OF FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITION IN THE WORLD 2025
The Challenges
RISING CHILD MALNUTRITION
LACK OF DIETARY DIVERSITY
& NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE
Poverty, geography, and cultural factors may limit the amount of food available and the quality and nutritional value of food needed to prevent malnutrition. Many parents lack the knowledge, skills or capacity to feed children an adequate, nutritionally-sound diet that meets children’s development milestones.
WORSENING CLIMATE IMPACTS
The climate crisis disproportionately impacts women and children – they pay the price in the lack of food available today, lack of income to buy food directly or to invest in climate-resilient inputs to improve agricultural productivity, and the burden of greater labour to secure food, water and income during emergencies caused by a changing climate.
Current Initiatives
SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS
Hover or tap to find out moreSchool nutrition programs are one of the most effective ways to help reduce childhood hunger and improve longer-term health and learning outcomes. You can help by supporting:
- Universal, sustainable, comprehensive and culturally-appropriate school food programs
- Nutrition education in schools and communities – teaching parents and students about healthy eating and food preparation
- School gardens – children learn where food comes from, participate in growing it, have greater access to fruits and vegetables in their daily school meals
GOOD LIVELIHOODS FOR WOMEN
Hover or tap to find out moreWhen women earn more money, they spend it to feed, clothe, and educate their children. You can help by supporting initiatives that:
- Encourage women to join credit and savings co-ops, income-generating groups, farm-based organizations
- Offer women skills-building to set up and maintain their own businesses to raise household income
- Target women’s involvement in climate-adaptive agricultural training and practice to increase the amount of food available to consume and to sell
NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS & STUDENTS
Hover or tap to find out moreNutrition education helps parents grow and prepare healthy food and feed children a diverse diet that meets their nutritional needs. Linked to school nutrition programs and school gardens, students learn where food comes from, how to eat healthy, and engages them in food growing and preparation that offer skills that last a lifetime.
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION
Hover or tap to find out moreEducation creates a level playing field for all students to grow up healthy. Girls’ education, which is often undervalued, is critical to support girls’ and women’s rights and reduce harmful traditional practices such as early marriage. Education directly translates to health and well-being for children, both in the immediate term by keeping children safe, nourished and actively learning; and in the longer-term, by breaking the cycle of poverty and improving children’s prospects for a healthy, productive life.
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Join a growing community committed to making long-term changeMembers of the leadership
giving circle
giving circle
School Food
5,070,448
meals and snacks provided to 15,913 children and youth in schools and after-school programs
Food Production
4,047
people were trained to grow food in climate-challenged places
1,082
people received agricultural inputs (seeds, tools, plants, etc.)
3,069
people trained on nutrition, food use, or cooking
8,374
students and more than 1,610 families are supported by home, school, and/or community gardens
Income & Livelihoods
2,742
people participate in 165 credit/savings groups
885
business ventures are benefitting 1,772 people
1,161
people received business skills training
Children's Education
35,267
students supported in 53 primary schools or ECCE centres (Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda)
1,707
parents/caregivers and 350 teachers trained
11,660
students participated in after-school clubs &/or gender awareness events
Hearing from children & parents
About how food-focused programs have made a difference
I no longer sleep in class compared to when I used to doze due to hunger before joining the school feeding program. After having a meal, I am able to understand the lessons that are going on, especially in the afternoon.
In order for your body to feel right and your brain to be healthy, you need to fuel it with healthy food to learn.
My kids used to hate vegetables but now they eat them all. The whole family is more active and we have complete nutrition.
One of the key learnings for me was learning how long to cook food under heat in order to keep nutrition in the meal. Another interesting aspect is that it has helped reduce illness in my family. The children do not get sick as much as before … and I am so happy!
Where your support is needed
To make more food available to more people129 communities in 5 countries
