US Government commits US$138 million through the Child Nutrition Fund to tackle child wasting
Part of a broader US$218 million contribution to UNICEF, the investment will expand life-saving nutrition services for millions of children and women affected by humanitarian crises
As part of a contribution of more than US$218 million to UNICEF, the United States Government is directing US$138 million through the UNICEF-led Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to prevent and treat child wasting and improve maternal and child nutrition in 16 countries facing severe humanitarian challenges.
These countries, selected based on the severity of their nutrition crises, are home to children and women facing some of the highest risks of undernutrition globally.
The largest share of the 12-month partnership, supported by the US Department of State's Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, will be channelled through the CNF to expand access to proven nutrition interventions for women and children in communities where conflict, displacement, food insecurity and disrupted health services are putting children's lives at risk. The broader partnership also supports emergency preparedness and response to humanitarian crises.
A lifeline for families facing nutrition crises
The US$138 million investment will support nutrition programmes in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan and Sudan.
Working with governments and partners, UNICEF aims to deliver a comprehensive package of prevention, early detection and treatment services, including:
- Screening more than 5.5 million children for wasting, helping identify those at risk before their condition deteriorates.
- Treating nearly 980,000 children affected by wasting with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), including children with severe wasting and those with moderate wasting at higher risk.
- Providing small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements to 256,500 children to support healthy growth and prevent undernutrition.
- Supporting 4 million women and caregivers through nutrition counselling, improved feeding practices and micronutrient interventions.
The contribution will also strengthen the systems needed to deliver these services, including health worker capacity, nutrition monitoring and supply chains that help ensure life-saving products reach communities in need.
Turning financing into greater impact
Through the CNF, the contribution will support a coordinated response that combines immediate assistance with stronger national nutrition services.
The investment is also expected to unlock at least an equal amount of additional financing for nutrition services and supplies, extending its potential impact beyond the initial contribution.
This builds on an earlier US$5 million given by the United States Government to UNICEF in March 2026, also channelled through the CNF. That investment supports the procurement and delivery of life-saving RUTF in 16 countries.
