Afghanistan has been in the grip of one of the world’s most severe nutrition crises for five consecutive years. Nearly 3.5 million children under the age of five are affected annually, 10.3 per cent of whom are severely malnourished. With projections for 2025 indicating that the situation will deteriorate further, this initiative responds to the urgent need for more sustainable and community-based solutions.

“This is a turning point in our response to the malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “By prioritizing prevention and treatment of child wasting, we aim to stop child wasting in Afghanistan. And by putting community-based solutions at the heart of our efforts we empower these communities to save children’s lives and give them a better future.”