Khadijah Aliyu Nigeria
In a landmark event in Cotonou, UNICEF, in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Government of Benin Republic, officially launched the First Foods Africa Initiative a continental effort to address child food poverty and malnutrition by strengthening nutrition-sensitive food systems.
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Speaking at the launch, Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, AUC’s Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs, emphasized that “nutrition is a right for every child, regardless of their geographic or economic background.”
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He described the programme as “a decisive step towards eradicating child malnutrition and building resilient food systems across Africa.”
“With the launch of First Foods Africa, we affirm that good nutrition is a right. Hunger is preventable,” Rakotonirina added, noting that the AU will work with UNICEF, member states, regional bodies, and the private sector to ensure success.
According to UNICEF, one in four children under five around 181 million worldwide live in severe food poverty.
of these, about 57 million are in sub-Saharan Africa, where diets often lack diversity and vital nutrients. Severe child food poverty is a key driver of stunting and wasting.
While Africa has reduced stunting rates from 41.5% in 2000 to 32.3% today, population growth has pushed the total number of affected children from 55.1 million to 62.3 million.
An estimated 11.4 million African children also suffer from wasting, and most countries are not on track to meet the 2030 SDG nutrition targets.
Traditional food security programmes tend to focus on staple crops, yields, and incomes, but often overlook the unique nutritional needs of children.
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UNICEF stresses that infants and young children require not only sufficient calories but also diverse, nutrient-rich, and safe foods.
Children need foods from at least five out of eight key food groups for healthy growth.
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In much of sub-Saharan Africa, diets are restricted to just two groups typically breastmilk or milk plus a staple cereal leaving millions of children in severe food poverty.
The initiative is grounded in UNICEF’s Nutrition Strategy 2020–2030 and aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063. Its three pillars are:
Boosting local production of nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable foods for children under five.
Strengthening policy environments to protect and expand access to those foods.
Stimulating demand through large-scale social marketing, behavioural change campaigns, and community engagement.
The programme will launch in 14 priority countries across West, Central, East, and Southern Africa. Partnerships will extend to governments, African food companies, and global agencies such as FAO, WFP, WHO, UNIDO, IFAD, UNCDF, and the World Bank.
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To mobilize resources, UNICEF is also creating the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) a financial mechanism to pool investments, provide technical support, and encourage private-sector participation.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi hailed the initiative as “a transformative moment for Africa’s children.”
Benin’s Minister of State for Government Action Coordination, Abdoulaye Bio Tchane, reaffirmed his country’s commitment, stating: “Child nutrition is essential to building a resilient continent.”
Other regional leaders, civil society representatives, and private sector actors echoed support for reshaping food systems to prioritize children’s needs.
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If effectively implemented, First Foods Africa could significantly reduce child food poverty and undernutrition, improving the lives of millions of children under five.
By addressing the structural roots of malnutrition, the initiative aims to ensure that Africa’s future is built on the health, growth, and potential of its youngest citizens.