The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is marking World Food Day on 16 October by highlighting the power of nutrition to transform individuals, societies and economies, and the need to make it central to all development efforts.

“Undernourished girls and boys face barriers in health, in school performance and later, in the workplace, which limit their human potential and their capacity to contribute to the societies in which they live,” said WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin.

“Prioritizing nutrition today is an investment in our collective global future.  The investment must involve food, agriculture, health and education systems,” she said.

Today some 842 million people - more than one in eight people in the world – suffer from chronic hunger. Yet even more – around two billion people - lack the vitamins and minerals needed to live healthy lives.

If the global community invested US$1.2 billion per year for five years on reducing micronutrient deficiencies, the benefits in better health, fewer child deaths and increased future earnings would generate gains worth US$15.3 billion.

“In Nepal, WFP’s nutrition interventions aim at supporting the Government of Nepal in improving the health and nutritional status of mothers and young children. This year alone 110,000 expecting and nursing mothers and their children are being provided with take-home food rations through health posts where they also access essential pre- and post-natal care,” said Nicole Menage, WFP Representative in Nepal.

The theme of this year’s World Food Day is “Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition.”  Providing food assistance to 97 million people worldwide, here are some of the ways WFP focuses on nutrition: Rapidly increasing the number of children and new mothers who receive new nutritionally enhanced food products.

Focusing on the crucial 1,000 day window - from the womb to two years of age – where getting sufficient nutrients and calories is crucial for full growth. Stepping up assistance through cash and vouchers when food is available in markets, so consumers can buy more fresh and varied local foods is another priority.

According to a press release of WFP-Nepal office, emphasizing dietary diversity and fresh foods in its school feeding programs, by working with local communities and farmers, Working with private partners and research institutes to assess the nutritional impact of providing fortified rice in school meals and supporting the creation of a solid evidence base to guide countries in their nutrition policies and strategies, such as the recent Cost of Hunger in Africa survey.

 “WFP in Nepal supports the Government in tackling food insecurity by providing vital food assistance to nearly 500,000 vulnerable people on a monthly basis focusing on social safety nets in the areas of nutrition, education and rural livelihoods support,” said Menage.

WFP celebrates World Food Day with its sister UN food agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  Last year, WFP reached more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance.