The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA): the Social and Economic Impact of Child Undernutrition on Lesotho Vision 2020

The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA): the Social and Economic Impact of Child Undernutrition on Lesotho Vision 2020

Rome (Italy): World Food Programme (WFP), 2016.

English

76 p.

WFP045

The Government of Lesotho is committed to the eradication of hunger and undernutrition. Lesotho is among the seven countries in the world that have shown progress in improving child nutrition outcomes, as evidenced by the 6 percent reduction in stunting in the past five years. However, the stunting rates still remain unacceptably high at 33.2 percent among children under five years, which is an indication that chronic food and nutrition insecurity are still prevalent. The high prevalence of malnutrition has impacted greatly on education and health outcomes. The Cost of Hunger in Africa study, which was commissioned by the African Union and supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the World Food programme, in which the Kingdom of Lesotho participated has confirmed the magnitude of the consequences that child malnutrition has on health, education and the national economy. The study has highlighted that the country has incurred huge economic losses associated with undernutrition, the highest being the cost in loss of potential productivity. The study findings have clearly shown that adequate nutrition is critical for one’s physical and intellectual development and work productivity, and hence an integral element for socio-economic development. It is in this context that we are determined as a Government that, moving forward, we need to channel adequate resources towards nutrition interventions. The Government will also strengthen institutional and human capacities for effective delivery of nutrition services, as well as support sustainable social-protection programmes that promote resilience-building for communities.

Public

WFP/E 045

eng

MON-015833