Ahead of G8 Summit, Scaling Up Nutrition Event Highlights Global Commitment to Food & Nutrition Security

On May 17, USAID Administrator Shah joined Members of Congress on Capitol Hill for a high-level breakfast briefing on nutrition, co-sponsored by 1,000 Days, the Alliance to End Hunger, Bread for the World, CARE, ChildFund, Concern Worldwide, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Helen Keller International, Save the Children, World Food Program USA, and World Vision.

Held on the eve of the 2012 G8 Summit, the event showcased U.S. and global efforts to tackle maternal and child nutrition; highlighted Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) country progress; and built support to improve nutrition, particularly for women and children in the critical 1,000 day window from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday.

The SUN briefing featured opening remarks from Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at the U.S. National Security Council, Gayle Smith, as well as panels on SUN’s progress to date and the future of global action on nutrition. Panelists included Jakaya Kikwete, President of Tanzania; Beverly Oda, Minister of International Cooperation for Canada; and Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. Senator Dick Durbin (D–IL) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D–CT) and Jim McGovern (D–MA), also delivered remarks.

The Scaling Up Nutrition movement brings together over 100 organizations and governments committed to work together to fight hunger and undernutrition.

Learn more about how Feed the Future is improving global nutrition or download a fact sheet on U.S. investments to address undernutrition.