The Lancet Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition Progress

On March 8, The Lancet published the latest Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition, including three new papers that build upon findings from the previous 2008 and 2013 Series, which established an evidence-based global agenda for tackling undernutrition over the past decade.

The papers conclude that despite modest progress in some areas, maternal and child undernutrition remains a major global health concern, particularly as recent gains may be offset by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Series reiterates that previously highlighted interventions continue to be effective at reducing stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, and child deaths and emphasizes the importance of delivering these nutrition interventions within the first 1,000 days of life.

The authors conclude the Series with a global call to action to recommit to the unfinished agenda of maternal and child undernutrition.

The Series serves as an important milestone moment to reinvigorate the nutrition community and re-energize champions to propel the nutrition agenda forward into 2021, the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Year of Action, a roadmap of key events throughout the year. The Year of Action will culminate in the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021 and the Tokyo N4G Summit in December 2021.

The following resources are available to advocates, nutrition champions and anyone who is ready to take action: