Resources

The COVID-19 crisis is creating shocks across multiple sectors and systems essential to improving and safeguarding nutrition. In a vicious cycle, shocks to nutritional status will increase morbidity and mortality and are likely to increase populations’ vulnerability to adverse outcomes. This document, developed under the auspices of USAID’s Nutrition Leadership Council (NLC), summarizes the likely impact of COVID-19 crisis on nutrition and proposes guiding principles for priority actions during the response and recovery phases. It outlines the immediate priorities which include safeguarding access to safe, nutritious foods, particularly for young children and pregnant and lactating women; continuing to promote and protect breastfeeding; and maintaining delivery of life-saving nutrition interventions through health systems and humanitarian responses, while minimizing the risks of transmission. Recovery priorities highlighted in this document include ensuring food systems are delivering safe, affordable, nutritious foods and that health and community systems mainstream delivery of critical nutrition interventions. This is a useful resource for policy makers.  Click here to read the guiding principles.