THOUSANDS OF YOUNG ACTIVISTS CALL FOR LEADERS TO ADDRESS MALNUTRITION WORLDWIDE
Friday March 28 – Young activists fighting hunger and malnutrition across the globe have called on political leaders to drive up family incomes, improve school feeding programmes and warned against ultra-processed foods.
The declaration made at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris on Friday, 28 March, aims to encourage decision makers to commit to a range of improvements to nutrition in support of the most marginalised and vulnerable families.
They also noted there is a significant crisis is occurring in developed countries with increasing carcinogenic products.
This is the fourth global summit to tackle hunger and malnutrition globally, and follows summits in London, Rome and Toyko. The Paris summit has seen a record number of young people and grassroots activists in attendance.
Messeny Bafouro Camara, from Guinea, an engineer and Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Network youth coorindator, said: “Malnutrition and food insecurity know no borders and affects everyone. The Nutrition for Growth Summit 2025 is a critical opportunity for countries to come together and emphasize the equity and justice in their actions, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
Finian Ali, from Nigeria, a nutritionist and Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Network youth coorindator, said: “We need countries to improve their nutrition programmes, especially school feeding programme and food aid and nutrition sensitive agricultural support for local communities.”
The French Government has supported the summit, and financial pledges from a range of institutions and foundations so far total over $28 billion.
Medical-student Nana Yohari from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who helped open the summit in the French capital and attended by the French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, said: “Young people need greater mobilisation in the fight against malnutrition. Participating in the opening ceremony was an incredible opportunity to advocate for youth nutrition directly to decision makers.”
Many of the young people attending in Paris have spent several months leading a series of grassroots community dialogues in their home countries about the challenges faced and potential solutions to address malnutrition. This local evidence is then used to inform decision-making processes at the local and national level.
Between August and December 2024, over 10,000 people took part in the Nutrition Dialogues initiative, as a result of a partnership between the SUN Civil Society Network, World Vision International and the 4SD Foundation across 54 countries; the majority were women, children and young people.
From the conversations 80% of communities reported economic barriers preventing good nutrition while 59% said that limited access to drinking water, sanitation and health service impacts the food and nutrition security of households.
Alexandra Newlands, head of the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Network, said: “Young people provide a critical voice in the fight against malnutrition. They have the solutions and the vision for the next generation and their views should be taken seriously. Young people from across the globe had a unique opportunity this week to join the high-level talks in Paris and to speak directly to world leaders.
“Those in power must now listen to the youth declaration at the summit which calls on action on supporting families to earn a decent income, improve nutrition in schools, ensure access to clean water and avoid proceeded foods, carcinogenics and chemicals.”
Notes to editor:
More information about the Nutrition Dialogues: http://nutritiondialogues.org/news
The full Call to Action is here and is signed by Salome, Colombia – Sunischita, Nepal – Williams, Sierra Leone – Finian, Nigeria – Messeny, Guinea – Arsène, France – Chemsedine, France – Chloé, France – Séléna, France
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