Africa’s potential for human capital development and economic growth is being undermined by slow progress in maternal nutrition and early childhood development. Malnutrition continues to rob children of their futures and weaken national productivity, with stunting rates falling only modestly from 40 percent in 2000 to 33 percent in 2024. At this pace, the region is unlikely to meet the global target of reducing stunting by 40 percent by 2030.
To address these challenges, the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Government of Togo, the Global Financing Facility (GFF), and other regional and international partners, is convening a regional conference in Lomé focused on early childhood nutrition and development in Western and Central Africa.
The conference will explore how countries can scale up early childhood nutrition and development programs, strengthen service delivery platforms, build staff capacity, and create enabling environments. It will also emphasize the importance of sustainable financing and reliable data to support long-term progress.
In addition, the event will promote regional and global initiatives and partnerships, ensuring coherence and country ownership. The goal is to identify and implement concrete actions that accelerate outcomes in early childhood nutrition and development, helping Africa move closer to achieving its human capital and economic growth potential.
