February 6, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

One in three people globally are malnourished, the vast majority in low- and middle-income countries. Women and girls, who tend to eat least and eat last, are particularly affected, being twice as likely to suffer from malnutrition. This crisis is causing illnesses, preventable deaths and lost economic potential. By some estimates, poor health and lost potential costs the worldwide economy over a trillion dollars each year.

Today, at an event at the MaRS Centre in Toronto to mark International Development Week, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced a contribution of $360.6 million over six years (2025-2031), for Nutrition International.

The funding announced today will support Nutrition International in providing life-changing nutrition resources to people in need, with a particular focus in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This includes key vitamin A supplementation, which reaches approximately 150 million children twice a year, and is one of the greatest nutrition successes in history.

The results of Nutrition International’s efforts speak volumes. Over the course of 30 years, their programs have helped to avert 7 million deaths and prevent millions of people from suffering from anemia and childhood stunting. Better nutrition has also meant that more than 5 million children have gained an additional year of education.

Their interventions also help break intergenerational cycles of poverty, paving the way for the kind of economic growth that has ripple effects across communities, and entire countries.

Canada is proud to be a global leader in fighting malnutrition, and of its decades-long partnership with Nutrition International. Canada will continue to support the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people and take action on global hunger towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.