UNICEF, together with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Benin government, has launched First Foods Africa.

This is a program designed to combat child food poverty and malnutrition by rethinking how Africa feeds its youngest citizens.

The launch, held Monday in Cotonou, brought together policymakers, development partners, and nutrition advocates who share one belief: no child should go hungry, and no child should be deprived of the nutrition needed to grow, learn, and thrive.

“Nutrition is a right for every child, regardless of their geographic or economic background,” said Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, AUC’s Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs.

“Investing in children’s first foods means we are investing in Africa’s first and greatest wealth; its people.”

The numbers paint a sobering picture. Globally, one in four children under five lives in severe food poverty.

Africa shoulders a third of this burden, with 57 million children consuming diets too poor to support healthy growth.

Stunting rates on the continent have dropped from 41.5% in 2000 to 32.3% today, but rapid population growth means the actual number of affected children has risen to more than 62 million.

Eleven million others suffer from wasting. At this pace, most African countries will miss the 2030 nutrition targets set under the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Part of the problem, experts argue, lies in outdated approaches that prioritise food quantity over food quality.

While increasing staple crop yields boosts food security, it does not address whether children are actually receiving diverse, nutrient-rich diets.

First Foods Africa aims to flip the script. Built on UNICEF’s Nutrition Strategy 2020–2030 and aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063, the initiative seeks to boost local production of safe, affordable, and nutritious foods for children under five, strengthen policies to protect access, and shape demand by using social marketing, community engagement, and behaviour change programs to make healthy eating a shared cultural priority.

The rollout will begin in 14 African countries, with partnerships spanning governments, local food producers, and international organisations like FAO, WFP, WHO, and the World Bank.

UNICEF will also launch a Child Nutrition Fund to attract investment, provide technical assistance, and reduce risks for private sector players.

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi called the launch “a transformative moment for Africa’s children.”

Benin’s Minister of State for Government Action Coordination, Abdoulaye Bio Tchane, added: “Benin reaffirms its commitment today to champion child nutrition.

Child nutrition is essential to build a resilient continent.” Civil society groups and private sector representatives echoed the call, stressing that Africa’s food systems must be redesigned with children at the centre.

If implemented successfully, First Foods Africa could reshape the future of child nutrition across the continent.

Millions of African children under five stand to benefit from better diets, stronger policies, and healthier growth. For UNICEF and the AU, the message is clear: building a prosperous Africa starts with nourishing its youngest citizens.