Children are better fed, nourished and resilient
A world where every child enjoys ENOUGH nourishing food and thrives
Asia Pacific is home to an estimated 155.2 million people living in extreme poverty. Challenges faced by poor families in meeting their basic needs and securing their livelihoods are exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, conflict, and rising cost of living. Stunting still affects 21 million children. More than 69 million people were considered acutely food insecure in 2022, an increase of 7 million people from 2021.
A life of plenty for every child has always been possible, but that’s not reality. We must take action immediately.
World Vision is working to address food security issues sustainably and holistically in East Asia through our integrated nutrition, livelihoods, climate change adaptation and resilience-building programmes, as well as close engagement with policymakers to strengthen policies and systems that affect food security.
An alarming state of nutrition
Malnutrition in all its forms is a persistent problem across Southeast Asia.
Our concentrated effort
Over the next three years, World Vision will unite with like-minded partners and supporters to intensify its efforts in an unprecedented global campaign to mobilise citizens and powerholders to create a world where there is enough to end hunger and malnutrition.
Child hunger and malnutrition are universal yet look different in different contexts. There are places where children lack food, while there are other situations where children get only poor-quality food. Food poverty or micro-nutrient deficiencies are proven to undermine the long-term development of children.
To effectively address malnutrition and food insecurity, we will push the boundaries further in the following 3 frontiers:
Child hunger data and reports
Our research agenda will review existing child hunger measurements and gaps to identify where new/better data can help spur strategies to address the challenges at hand. This will include a particular focus on measurements for children ages 5-12 as current measurement approaches for this age group have significant limitations. With more precise data on child health and nutrition, a broad range of global stakeholders can better understand patterns, prevalence, and key problem areas with greater clarity.
Children's voices and agency
Empowering children and ensuring that their voices are heard is a fundamental pillar of a compassionate and effective response to hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. Children are not passive recipients of aid but active participants in their own destinies. Their perspectives and experiences must shape decisions and policies at all levels. We will bring their stories, aspirations and demands to the forefront of future-shaping dialogues.
Child nutrition in global policies and national funding
To address child hunger and malnutrition comprehensively, it is essential that relevant global policies and national funding mechanisms prioritise child nutrition-sensitive approaches. These approaches must go beyond short-term relief to build resilience and ensure that future crises are prevented. Through our advocacy work, World Vision stands in partnership with decision-makers and governments to ensure children are well-nourished and able to access opportunities to grow.
Our progress in East Asia
751,880 children and caregivers
benefitted from nutrition programmes that address the root causes of malnutrition and poor maternal and newborn health outcomes.
58,295 people
were assisted to improve food security through sustainable natural resource management and contextualised climate-resilient agricultural practices.
110,640 children
including 56,034 boys and 54,606 girls from 316 primary schools in Cambodia were reached between 2017 and 2023 through our School Feeding project.
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