The Economics of Reducing Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa
Reducing malnutrition in Africa has intrinsic and instrumental value as better nourished populations are more economically productive
Abstract
Children better nourished during the first 1000 days will be more productive as adults, increasing country GDP. Malnutrition costs African economies between 3 and 16 percent of GDP annually. For an illustrative set of 15 African countries, meeting the 2025 World Health Assembly target for stunting will add 83 billion dollars to national incomes. Interventions that prevent malnutrition are excellent investments; for a typical African country, every dollar invested in reducing chronic undernutrition in children yields a $16 return. Reductions in malnutrition will occur most rapidly when countries undertake investments in both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions
This output is funded under the Department for International Developments Global Panel on Agriculture & Food Systems for Nutrition Programme
Citation
Hoddinott, J (2016), The Economics of Reducing Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa, Global Panel working paper. London: Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, 21pp
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