Ministers and senior government representatives from across Western and Central Africa joined development partners and civil society leaders in Lome this week to advance stronger action and increased investments in nutrition and early childhood development across the region.

Africa's potential for human capital development and economic growth is severely undermined by inadequate progress in improving maternal nutrition and early childhood development. Malnutrition robs children of their futures and compromises national productivity and economies. Although the prevalence of stunting in Western and Central Africa has fallen from 40% in 2000 to 33% in 2024, progress is still too slow. Based on these trends, the region will fall short of the global nutrition targets of reducing stunting by 40% by 2030.

“The Government of Togo has made nutrition and early childhood development a priority for action—not just a commitment. We acted, invested, and innovated,” said Martine Moni Sankaredja, Minister of Solidarity, Gender, Family and Child Protection of the Republic of Togo. “While challenges remain, we are determined to learn from our neighbors and share our experience.”

Investments in the early years of life—from pregnancy through age five—generate some of the highest economic and social returns. Such investments are critical to breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty, vulnerability, and inequality. Yet participants stressed that progress remains uneven across and within countries in the region, with persistent disparities linked to poverty, geography, gender, and contexts affected by fragility, conflict, and displacement.

“The evidence is clear: investing in nutrition and early childhood development is among the most cost‑effective investments a country can make to strengthen human capital, drive growth, and secure long‑term stability. UNICEF’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan calls for a renewed focus on high‑impact interventions—scaling what works and delivering concrete, measurable results for children,” said Gordon Jonathan Lewis, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa.