Nutrition

Good nutrition is essential to the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, and entire nations. Nutrition is core to the development objectives USAID works to achieve every day. Almost half of deaths for children under five years of age are attributed to malnutrition, and those children who survive malnutrition have compromised cognitive and physical development.

USAID and its partners work with countries to equip  people with the skills, tools, and resources to improve their families’ health, diets, and nutrition, especially early in life when it matters most. 

USAID has 60 years of global leadership in nutrition, and through strong partnerships the Agency accelerates impact by bringing investments in health and food systems and humanitarian response together, in addition to helping partner governments drive effective multi-sectoral coordination. 

Our evidence-based Agency goals for nutrition prioritize action to:

• Increase access to and consumption of affordable, safe, and nutritious foods,  particularly in the first 1,000 days from pregnancy through a child’s second birthday
• Strengthen community and facility-level health systems to deliver high-quality nutrition services
• Ensure access to quality nutrition services in humanitarian response
• Facilitate an enabling environment that supports sustainable food and health systems

Learn more about how we are boosting nutrition in food systems, health systems, and humanitarian assistance