Strong Public-Private Sector Partnerships Can Help to Reduce Undernutrition

Global progress towards reducing undernutrition has been made through enlightened public policies, targeted development assistance, private sector actions and commitments from civil society. Yet every year, the deaths of more than 3.5 million children under the age of 5 can be attributed to undernutrition.Evidence informs us that much more can be done to reduce undernutrition. It is also increasingly clear that well focused, strategic partnerships between the private and public sectors can make these further contributions happen.An emerging area for potentially strong public-private partnerships is the production of Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs). These soft, crushable foods, which can be easily consumed by children from 6 months old, can contribute to the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).