CARE and our partners help ensure children and their families have access to all nutrients they need to live full lives.
Malnutrition has long-lasting effects on people’s lives. Nearly half of deaths among children under 5 years of age, globally, are linked to undernutrition. Poor nutrition weakens immunity, increases child illness, and lowers school performance.
These effects continue into adulthood, limiting families’ incomes and even countries’ economies.
We know what works to prevent, reduce, and treat malnutrition. This requires an integrated approach – from improving the quality, diversity, and safety of diets to influencing changes in health systems, food markets, and education.
Investing in children’s nutrition also pays off. According to the World Bank, every $1 invested in child nutrition returns up to $35 in economic benefits.
Healthy, well-nourished mothers and good diets for young children lead to strong growth and development. The first two years of life are especially important. When children receive nurturing care and diverse foods, their learning and productivity improve for life.
Even with strong evidence, building the right systems for good nutrition remains challenging. CARE and our partners work for a world where every child grows up with access to good nutrition (body getting the nutrients it needs) and healthy diets (eating a balanced variety of nutritious foods).
We focus on:
Strengthening food systems
This helps people find affordable and nutritious foods.
Increasing access to health systems
This improves access to quality maternal and child nutrition care.
Preventing and treating acute malnutrition
Our main focus is children under 5, who suffer irreversible impacts without the proper nutrients.
Our programs prioritize:
- Healthy diets for children and families by supporting year-round access to diverse, safe, and affordable foods.
- Women-centred solutions empowering mothers and caregivers as leaders in nutrition and resilience
- Bridging food and health systems by integrating agriculture, water, sanitation, hygiene, and social protection to fit local needs and have lasting contributions to women's and children’s nutrition.
- Community-driven change by applying methods developed by local organizations and communities that build the skills of mothers, families, and local service providers to sustain progress over time.
