Hunger and malnutrition still persist at high levels. Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has a mandate to fight hunger an poverty and promotes a systems approach.
Food Security and Nutrition
Transforming Communities With Sustainable Solutions
Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and its local partners tackle malnutrition at its root by combining emergency response with long-term, community-based solutions to address both acute and chronic malnutrition, linking nutrition with agriculture and WASH, as well as global advocacy.
The Global Nutrition Crisis
Adequate nutrition is not just a goal—it's a fundamental human right. Yet the reality remains stark:
- 148 million children under five suffer from stunting
- 45 million children experience severe malnutrition
- 37 million children struggle with overweight conditions
- Undernutrition contributes to nearly half of all deaths in children under five
These challenges have only intensified with climate change, growing inequality, conflict, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such conditions perpetuate a cycle of poverty and impaired physical and cognitive development that can last generations.
Our Nutrition Smart CommUNITY (NSC) Approach
Through a community-led approach, local families are empowered with the knowledge, tools, and services they need to sustainably improve their health, nutrition, and livelihoods. By working with master trainers and lead farmers, these efforts build local capacity and ensure that solutions are owned and maintained by the community itself.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Community members receive garden tools and a variety of seeds to establish home and communal gardens. Guided by lead farmers, these communities also establish seed banks and seed multiplication systems. Gardens enhance food diversity and year-round access to nutritious produce, improving household diets and food security.
- Nutrition Education: Practical cooking sessions—led by trained community facilitators—demonstrate how to prepare balanced meals using locally available ingredients. These sessions celebrate traditional knowledge while encouraging more diverse and nutritious eating habits.
- Health Monitoring: Community volunteers train parents in using the Family MUAC tape to measure their children’s upper arm circumference. This simple yet powerful tool allows families to monitor and respond to early signs of malnutrition, helping children progress from the "red" and "yellow" zones to the healthy "green" zone.
- Essential Health Practices: Communities learn about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate infant feeding, and personal hygiene. These practices, promoted through peer educators, result in healthier children with fewer infections and better nutritional outcomes.
- WASH Improvements: Households are introduced to simple, affordable hygiene solutions like tippy taps for handwashing, raised drying racks for dishes, and clotheslines. These locally sourced innovations reduce the spread of disease and contribute to a cleaner, safer environment for all.
This integrated model strengthens community resilience by equipping families with practical skills and resources they can continue to use and share—laying the foundation for lasting improvements in health and nutrition.
Gender Equality as a Foundation for Food Security
Using the Gender Model Family (GMF) concept, WHH and its partners have transformed household dynamics across communities we serve:
- Women report increased involvement from husbands in household responsibilities, including childcare, cooking, and physically demanding tasks
- Men describe more peaceful households and greater appreciation for their partners' contributions
- Families enjoy more transparent financial management and joint decision-making
- Community members overcome harmful traditional practices like food taboos and diet restrictions
Combined with Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), these programs empower families to invest in their nutrition and well-being without external dependency.
Measurable Impact
WHH's nutrition-focused approach delivers remarkable results:
- In 2024, our nutrition-related programming in 28 countries directly impacted three million people worldwide
- Our flagship Southeast Asia program reached over 500,000 people across 486 villages, including 35,000 young children. For data analyzed in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal:
- Households achieved a 100% increase in improved sanitation practices
- For women ages 15-49, their minimum dietary diversity improved by over 100%
- All this at just $12.57 per household—a cost-effective model for sustainable change.
The below graphics are based on information from WHH's Impact Report. They show some of the positive outcomes for people participating in WHH projects.
Join Our Mission
WHH places the human right to food at the center of all our activities. Emergency assistance and development programs aren't acts of charity—they're fundamental rights.
- By supporting WHH, you're investing in proven, community-driven solutions that address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition. Together, we can transform food systems and ensure healthy, sustainable diets for all, even in the face of climate change and global uncertainty.
