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Over the past 50 years, the United States has been a leader in global health, reducing preventable child deaths around the world by 56%. Despite these victories, 3.1 million children die from malnutrition in an average year — more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to dramatically increase rates of malnutrition around the world, with experts predicting that pandemic-related disruptions to food and health systems could cause global malnutrition to rise by up to 50%, as well as ripple effects continuing for years to come. In many parts of the world, malnutrition related to the pandemic is projected to kill more people, especially children, than the pandemic itself.
Despite malnutrition’s immense toll on child lives, brain development, economies, and global health security, less than 1% of total global development assistance is spent on high-impact nutrition interventions. In 2020, only $150 million of U.S. global health investments were allocated to address malnutrition.
With the Biden administration’s goal of rebuilding U.S. leadership in the world, how are U.S. policymakers approaching these issues? In this Devex Newsmaker conversation, we will explore what it will take to scale up high-impact nutrition interventions in the worst affected countries, as well as the need for increased political leadership on malnutrition and food insecurity.
Join Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar for a conversation with Rep. Joaquin Castro on the role of the U.S. in scaling up the fight against global hunger and malnutrition.
Agenda
12:00 PM ET // Opening Remarks
• Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief, Devex
12;05 PM ET // One-on-one interview
• Speaker: Rep. Joaquin Castro, Congressman for the 20th District of Texas and Chair of the subcommittee on International Development, U.S. House of Representatives
• Moderator: Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief, Devex
12:35 PM ET //Fireside chat
Speakers:
• William Moore, CEO, Eleanor Crook Foundation
• Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank
• Moderator: Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief, Devex
12:45 PM ET// Closing remarks
• Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief, Devex