Topic: 2026 – Combating Malnutrition
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Kailani Gardner
United Nations Children’s Fund
Combating Malnutrition
Malaysia
Kailani Gardner
City High Middle
The Delegation of Malaysia acknowledges that malnutrition stands as a critical global concern, the addressing of which is essential to cultivate a well-developed and prosperous future generation. Malnutrition is defined as a lack of proper nutrition, something often caused by not eating the right food or not eating enough nutritious foods. Malnutrition remains one of the most pressing threats to child development worldwide, encompassing undernutrition, stunting, wasting, and the rising prevalence of childhood obesity. Despite past efforts to combat this issue, UNICEF found that one-third of children under age 5 are malnourished, with two-thirds at risk of malnutrition due to poor diets. These conditions not only threaten a child’s survival but also create neurocognitive damage, hinder long-term economic productivity, and affect immune system response. The Delegation of Malaysia recognizes the roles that broken food systems, socioeconomic determinants, education, and poverty play in this issue, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive global effort that prioritizes equity and sustainable progress.
Malaysia recognizes the positive impacts of past efforts, such as the Ready to Use Food Program (RUTF), UN Sustainable Development Goal 2, the World Food Programme, and UNICEF’s own evaluations throughout the years. Moreover, the nation of Malaysia has executed various measures to combat malnutrition, most notably the National Plan of Action for Nutrition of Malaysia. The plan combats the double burden of malnutrition, creating dietary promotion, public education, and food security programs. The delegation of Malaysia notes UNICEF’s identification of poverty, food deserts, climate shocks, and poor education as large causes for malnutrition. Addressing this critical issue, therefore, requires a targeted, educated approach that accounts for socioeconomic and geographic disparities while strengthening national food systems and food equity for all.
The delegation of Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to national and international efforts that aim to address and combat the issue of malnutrition through informed programs and reforms that provide impactful, sustainable solutions. The delegation of Malaysia suggests the expansion of community education initiatives on nutrition to address problems of malnutrition surrounding nonnutritive diets. Second, Malaysia emphasizes the importance of expanding or creating programs that create increased access to affordable, nutritious food in underserved areas. Furthermore, Malaysia highly suggests investment in sustainable local food systems to mitigate the impacts of food insecurity, climate shocks, and food deserts. Through coordinated global initiatives that address immediate needs and create sustainable solutions that address the root causes of malnutrition, Malaysia believes the UN can ensure malnutrition is combatted, and it can create a healthier, more equitable future for all.
Work Cited
Children, Food and Nutrition: State of the World’s Children 2019 | Unicef Malaysia, www.unicef.org/malaysia/children-food-and-nutrition-state-worlds-children-2019. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
De Sanctis, Vincenzo, et al. “Early and Long-Term Consequences of Nutritional Stunting: From Childhood to Adulthood.” Acta Bio-Medica : Atenei Parmensis, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 Feb. 2021, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7975963/.
FAO, faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/mal158472.pdf. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
“Malaysia.” Global Nutrition Report | Country Nutrition Profiles – Global Nutrition Report, globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/asia/south-eastern-asia/malaysia/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
“Oxford Languages and Google – English: Oxford Languages.” Oxford Languages and Google – English | Oxford Languages, languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
