1,000 Days Joins Launch of DevEx Future of Food Systems Content Series

Every year, malnutrition kills more children than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

COVID-19 related disruptions to global food and health systems have caused rates of malnutrition to rise substantially. We know that the science stands strong on the 1,000-day window as a game-changing moment. If we can get that time between a woman’s pregnancy and her baby’s 2nd birthday right, we can change the trajectory of a family, their community, our societies, and our world.

Food and health systems are critical to solving major global challenges – and to end malnutrition in all its forms, we must recognize the power of these systems working together. That’s why 1,000 Days is pleased to join with Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and other sponsors for the launch today of the DevEx Future of (Healthy) Food Systems content series.

The series will tackle food production and environmental sustainability, as well as food consumption and utilization. We must challenge ourselves to question:

  • How can the access, availability, and distribution of healthy food be fairer?
  • What role does policy, legislation and behavioral norms play in determining who gets to decide what we eat, who eats what, and what is considered “nutritious” and “enough”?
  • How can food systems deliver on nutrition outcomes and be climate smart and gender equitable?

Throughout the series, 1,000 Days and our colleagues within FHI Solutions will help lead discussions about the role of food and health systems to nurture our most vulnerable families in their 1,000-day window, and importantly highlight the innovative, proven solutions to end preventable deaths.

This series is timed to the lead up of the 2021 U.N. Food Systems Summit, where a key focus is ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all. And this year, the Nutrition Year of Action, milestone events throughout the year will focus on mobilizing new policy and financial commitments with the potential to transform the way the world tackles the global challenge of malnutrition, culminating in the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Japan in December 2021.

Malnutrition has many root causes including poverty, lack of education, erratic seasonal crop cycles, climate change, women’s inequality, and more. The world is ready to end malnutrition-related child deaths. Join us by following the series on social with #DevexSeries and @1000Days and visiting the Future of Food Systems for new articles and resources.