Nutrition as an Economic Multiplier: Financing Better Food Systems for Sustainable Development

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), are intrinsically linked to the quality and accessibility of nutrition. Despite growing recognition of nutrition’s role in development, undernutrition and food insecurity remain critical barriers to economic growth, especially in Africa.

Nutrition is not only a health issue but a foundation for human capital development. Poor nutrition impairs educational outcomes, lowers productivity, increases healthcare costs, and undermines resilience to shocks. Conversely, targeted investments in nutrition offer one of the highest returns in development economics, with every US dollar invested yielding up to $16 in economic benefits.

This side event will frame nutrition as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable economic development, aligning it with broader financing goals under the FfD4 agenda. It will explore how innovative financing mechanisms and partnerships can mobilize the capital necessary to transform food systems through systemic change and ecosystem strengthening, not through product endorsement.

Objectives

1. To elevate the role of nutrition within the financing for development agenda by demonstrating its cross-cutting impact on economic productivity, education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods.
2. To explore and propose innovative financing strategies—including public-private partnerships, blended finance, and capital market instruments—that can scale nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food system interventions across Africa.