September 16, 2019
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Combating Malnutrition

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United Nations Children’s Fund

Topic: Combating Malnutrition

As the leading United Nations agency for child welfare, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy and reach their full potential. Combatting malnutrition is central to this mission. Malnutrition remains one of the greatest threats to child survival, responsible for almost half of all deaths among children under the age of five. According to UNICEF data, in 2024 an estimated 45 million children under five suffered from wasting, while 148 million experienced stunting. These figures highlight both the urgency and scale of the crisis.

Malnutrition takes many forms, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight or obesity. Its causes are complex and often interlinked with poverty, climate change, conflict, and inadequate access to healthcare, education, and clean water. In many regions affected by war and displacement, millions of children lack consistent access to food. Short-term emergency interventions save lives in crises, but long-term progress depends on addressing the deeper structural inequities that prevent families from obtaining nutritious food and health education for their children, as well as adequate maternal care.

Delegates in UNICEF should explore both immediate and systemic responses to malnutrition, focusing not only on children’s current nutritional needs but also on the underlying conditions that allow hunger and poor health to persist. Effective international cooperation relies on recognizing the shared responsibility of governments, organizations, and communities to uphold every child’s right to adequate food. Long-term progress requires balancing humanitarian response with sustainable development, ensuring that the fight against malnutrition strengthens resilience, equity, and dignity for all children.

 

Focus Questions:

  • What are the primary causes of malnutrition in your country (poverty, conflict, climate change, limited access to healthcare, etc.)?
  • How has your government previously worked with UNICEF or other international partners to address child nutrition?
  • How can efforts to combat malnutrition uphold the rights of children across diverse global contexts?

 

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