Improving Child Nutrition:The Achievable Imperative for Global Progress

UNICEF’s 2009 report Tracking Progress on Child and Maternal Nutrition drew attention to the
impact of high levels of undernutrition on child survival, growth and development and their
social and economic toll on nations. It described the state of nutrition programmes worldwide
and argued for improving and expanding delivery of key nutrition interventions during the
critical 1,000-day window covering a woman’s pregnancy and the first two years of her child’s
life, when rapid physical and mental development occurs. This report builds on those earlier
findings by highlighting new developments and demonstrating that efforts to scale up nutrition
programmes are working, benefiting children in many countries.