Generation Nutrition EU calls for sustained EU political leadership and additional funding to end undernutrition at upcoming Rio Summit
- The European Commission and Member States must show continued leadership before, during and after the Nutrition4Growth Summit in Rio in August 2016.
- Generation Nutrition Europe (EU) campaign to ask for an additional €1 billion to nutrition-specific interventions.
Every year, close to 6 million children die before they reach the age of five. 45% of these deaths are a result of poor nutrition. Heads of States and governments will meet in Rio in August at the Nutrition4Growth Summit to evaluate progress made since the first Nutrition4Growth in 2013 as well as build on those commitments with the necessary financial and political support to ensure the ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals can be realised. It is the biggest global event between now and 2020 to address the devastating burden of undernutrition.
Today, in the European Parliament, the Generation Nutrition EU campaign will launch their new position paper “Nutrition Summit in Rio 2016 – A Call for Sustained EU Political Leadership to End Undernutrition” highlighting specific asks ahead of the Nutrition4Growth Summit. This event, hosted by MEP Davor Stier and MEP Linda McAvan, will bring together various stakeholders from key organisations, namely the Brazilian Mission to the EU, the European Commission, the European Parliament, Action Against Hunger and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN.
Some of the asks addressed to the European Commission and the EU member states include pledging an additional €1 billion in nutrition-specific interventions for the period 2016-2020, continuing to act as a champion among donors in the eradication of undernutrition, develop a roadmap for the disbursement of the €3.5 billion pledge made at the last Nutrition4Growth Summit, engaging actively with civil society organisations to ensure their voices are heard at the summit, and ensuring a place is opened for civil society involvement in the run up to and at the summit.
“The European Commission and Member States should pledge an additional €1 billion to nutrition-specific interventions at the Summit if we are to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and World Health Assembly targets” says Fanny Voitzwinkler, Global Health Advocates’ Head of EU Office, member of Generation Nutrition EU Campaign. “This event is the perfect opportunity to discuss the different stakeholder’s expectations for the Summit”
The Generation Nutrition EU is part of a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of and to prioritise the fight against undernutrition and save the lives of millions of children under the age of five. This informal coalition is composed of a wide range of EU-based civil society organisations working across different sectors and actively engaging with the EU on nutrition-related issues.
ENDS: Press release originally posted on the World Vision website.
The Nutrition Summit in Rio roundtable discussion, hosted by MEP Davor Stier and MEP Linda McAvan, will take place today in the European Parliament, Room JAN 6Q1 from 5.00 to 6.30 PM. For more information, please contact Ludovic Wahis, Policy and Communications Officer, World Vision Brussels & EU Representation, +32 (0) 2 274 18 67, [email protected]
End Water Poverty is a member of Generation Nutrition EU – members include Save the Children, World Vision, ONE, Global Health Advocates, RESULTS UK, WaterAid, End Water Poverty, Action Against Hunger, the Red Cross, People in Need, and Concern Worldwide. We are also a Steering Committee member of Generation Nutrition, the global coalition bringing civil society organisations together to end child deaths from acute malnutrition. Read the Generation Nutrition prevention factsheet we helped develop on water, sanitation and hygiene as a critical element in the prevention of child undernutrition.