Endorsements

Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General, CIVICUS: World Alliance For Citizen Participation and SUN Movement Lead Group member

This report underlines two priorities that I see as key: breaking down silos and investing in new data. We are not going to make progress on nutrition or indeed wider sustainable development goals unless we address these two issues. I hope that those of us involved in the SUN Movement, especially the civil society networks, will use this valuable data and analysis in the report.

Dominic MacSorley, Chief Executive Officer, Concern Worldwide

Malnutrition is one of the biggest threats to human and economic progress, but it is both preventable and treatable. While the recent rise in global hunger is extremely worrying, evidence of its concentration in fragile and conflict-affected states motivates us to work harder in these contexts. Understanding the problem better equips us to identify more solutions and to improve our learning.

Concern values the Global Nutrition Report as a unique resource that synthesises data from a vast range of sources and at multiple levels to guide us towards evidence-based action, and enables greater accountability for efforts undertaken by donors, governments and ourselves as civil society. The report shows us that even though progress against malnutrition has been slow, it is very much possible.

Dr Gunhild Stordalen, Founder and Executive Chair, EAT and SUN Movement Lead Group member

The 2018 Global Nutrition Report reminds us why taking action against malnutrition is of immense urgency. The report offers a sobering overview of the global situation, but more importantly, it offers the necessary measures needed to speed up progress. Providing healthy and sustainable food is key to ending global hunger and transforming the global food systems is necessary to do so.

José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The world is witnessing a significant rise in overweight, obesity and other forms of malnutrition. The 2018 Global Nutrition Report shows that poor diets are driving the current nutrition situation. Under the umbrella of the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016–2025, there is an urgent call to reform our food systems from just feeding people to nourishing people. This requires action on all fronts. FAO is keen to work effectively with all stakeholders to ensure everyone has access to adequate, diverse, healthy and safe diets.

Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

Ending malnutrition is a choice. The 2018 Global Nutrition Report supports all of us – whether in government, business, civil society or international organisations – to make bold and informed decisions. Even more importantly the report makes it uncomfortable to persist with indifference, complacency and inaction when it comes to ending malnutrition. The fostering of dissatisfaction with the status quo and the generation of a flow of solutions for the future are the fuels of change. The 2018 Global Nutrition Report provides both of these in abundance. Read it, share it – and act on it.

Dr Beatriz Marcet Champagne, Director, InterAmerican Heart Foundation and Healthy Latin America Coalition (CLAS)

The region of Latin America has been at the forefront in efforts to enact policies to reduce obesity in childhood and adolescence. With support from the Pan American Health Organization, academics and civil society, governments have made strides forward to reduce obesogenic environments. The effective sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Mexico; the strong front-ofpackage labeling in processed foods in Chile, Peru and Uruguay; the Nutrition Guidelines in Brazil that encouraged other countries to follow suit; the restrictions to advertising and promotion of processed foods in Chile and Brazil.

In spite of these hard-won advances, the magnitude of the problem, as shown in the 2018 Global Nutrition Report, requires a persistent and consistent effort in all countries to apply specific, cost-effective measures, in the face of powerful headwinds from the unhealthy products industry. With about 360 million people overweight and 140 million obese in Latin America, with 3.9 million obese children facing diabetes, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases, it is not the moment to be timid.

Shinichi Kitaoka, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency

Malnutrition is far more diverse and complex than originally believed; the challenges faced by each country demonstrate this complexity. For example, many African and South Asian countries continue to suffer from multiple forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, significant micronutrient deficiencies and rising levels of obesity. While Japan is overcoming undernutrition and striving to increase longevity by addressing the key issues, it also faces new challenges in ensuring its citizens lead healthier lives. This year’s edition of the Global Nutrition Report gives an in-depth analysis into malnutrition in all its forms and calls for action from a multitude of stakeholders.

In light of the complicated nature of malnutrition, Japan calls for a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to improving nutrition in developing countries, focusing specifically on agriculture and food systems. Japan will work with countries that are committed to confronting the challenges of overcoming malnutrition. I have no doubt that the report will benefit all stakeholders who intend to proactively address all forms of malnutrition.

Henrietta H Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF

The 2018 Global Nutrition Report offers forward-looking steps to strengthen the ability of global and national food systems to deliver nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets for children. This paradigm shift – food systems that contribute to prevent malnutrition in all its forms – will be critical for children’s growth and development, the growth of national economies, and the development of nations.

Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever

The 2018 Global Nutrition Report provides a stark reminder that progress in tackling malnutrition remains unacceptably slow. Companies must take the learnings from the report and redouble efforts to support food system transformation. Applying business expertise to nutrition challenges – in areas such as data collection, product reformulation and behaviour change communications – can contribute to positive outcomes. Here, organisations such as the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network and Food Reform for Sustainability and Health (FReSH) provide a useful entry point for corporate engagement in delivering the 2030 nutrition targets.

David Beasley, Executive Director, World Food Programme

The information in the Global Nutrition Report goes far beyond facts and figures. What is really behind these tables and graphs are stories of potential: the potential of more babies seeing their first birthday, of children achieving their potential in school, and of adults able to live healthy and productive lives – all on the foundation of good nutrition. The information collected, analysed and shared in the Global Nutrition Report is never an end in itself, but a means that allows us to save lives, change lives and ensure that nobody is left behind.

Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization

Malnutrition is a root cause of many of diseases, both communicable and non-communicable. This year’s Global Nutrition Report shows that although there are encouraging signs, progress is too slow. The Sustainable Development Goals and the Decade of Action on Nutrition give us the political mandate for action. To realize their vision, we must do more, and we must do it now.

Endorsements do not indicate financial support for the Global Nutrition Report from the institution represented.