Action Against Hunger welcomes the UK Government’s latest Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitments for 2025 but believes progress falls far short of what is needed. The Government has announced positive plans to integrate nutrition across development programmes and to support the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration. This will help drive greater impact for every pound spent on nutrition.
We also welcome the commitment to a reach target and look forward to its publication. This target must be backed by funding and must prioritise quality as well as scale, ensuring that measuring reach does not replace delivering impact. We will watch this space carefully.
Despite this, the lack of financial backing to deliver life-saving nutrition support is a devastating blow to millions of people around the world who are facing extreme hunger. Without clear funding, these new pledges risk being little more than words on paper. Instead of investing in a world free from hunger and malnutrition, this Government has cut aid to its lowest level in over 25 years.
Severe global funding shortfalls could force around 14 million people already facing severe hunger into even worse conditions. At a time when extreme hunger is at record levels, starvation is being used as a weapon of war, and humanitarian crises are escalating, this lack of commitment to aid undermines the UK’s credibility and leadership on global nutrition.
If the Government is serious about tackling hunger and malnutrition, it must match its words with resources — including renewed and transparent investment in nutrition to ensure support reaches those most in need and provide at least £1 billion for humanitarian assistance each year — ensuring nutrition is prioritised across emergency responses.
Now is not the time to step away, it’s the time to step up and end hunger for good. The UK Government must play its part.