Global Leaders Unite to Fight Undernutrition with Historic $500M CNF Donation

Historic Nutrition Pledge at Paris Summit Sparks Momentum to Save Millions of Lives.

At the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris today, world leaders, philanthropists, and development organizations came together to confront one of the most persistent and devastating public health challenges of our time: undernutrition among women and children. Amid urgent calls to action, a transformative funding initiative was announced that could dramatically shift the trajectory of global nutrition efforts.

In a landmark moment, the Bezos family unveiled their intention to donate up to US$500 million to UNICEF USA to support the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF)—a groundbreaking financing mechanism launched in 2023 to scale up life-saving nutrition interventions in the world’s most vulnerable communities. Their pledge includes a dollar-for-dollar match of donations made to the CNF, up to the full half-billion-dollar amount, in an effort to galvanize broader public and private sector participation.

“The need is so great that no one alone can meet the urgent nutrition needs of the world’s women and kids,” said Mike Bezos during the announcement. “But we want to accelerate the change and invite others to join us in donating to the CNF. We will match each dollar donated up to $500 million. The time is now—we have the tools and we know what works. We just need to act.”

Addressing a Global Nutrition Crisis

Undernutrition remains a silent emergency across the globe, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five are linked to malnutrition. According to UNICEF and the World Health Organization, an estimated 148 million children under five are stunted—too short for their age due to chronic undernutrition—while 45 million more suffer from wasting, a severe form of malnutrition that leaves children dangerously thin and at immediate risk of death.

The CNF, led by UNICEF in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the UK government, and other global partners, was created in response to this staggering crisis. With a goal to raise US$2 billion by 2030, the CNF aims to accelerate the implementation of proven, evidence-based nutrition interventions across high-need countries.

“The CNF is not just a fund—it’s a lifeline,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Bezos family, we have a historic opportunity to expand our reach and scale up services that will save lives and build resilience in vulnerable communities. This is a rallying cry to the world: join us now and double your impact.”

Scaling Up Proven Interventions

The CNF is built on a dual approach, targeting both prevention and treatment of undernutrition. It funds critical, high-impact actions such as:

• Micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women and children

• Treatment of acute malnutrition (wasting)

• Promotion of breastfeeding and improved infant feeding practices

• Fortification of staple foods

• Prevention of anemia in women and adolescent girls

These interventions are considered some of the most cost-effective in global health, with proven long-term benefits for cognitive development, school performance, and economic productivity.

Over the next five years, the CNF aims to reach 320 million women and children annually with essential nutrition support—building toward a future where no child suffers from hunger-related diseases.

A $13 Billion Annual Gap

While the CNF represents a powerful tool, the scale of the global nutrition crisis is immense. The World Bank estimates that an additional US$13 billion per year will be required from 2025 to 2034 to fully fund essential nutrition programs globally. The Bezos family’s contribution is expected to catalyze momentum and encourage governments, philanthropies, and private entities to help close this funding gap.

“This is a global challenge that requires a united global response,” said CIFF CEO Kate Hampton. “We now have a powerful financing engine in the CNF—and a massive opportunity to make real progress against childhood malnutrition in our lifetime.”

Matching Challenge Now Open

Effective immediately, donations to the CNF will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Bezos family—doubling the impact of every contribution. The hope is that this match-funding model will inspire a wave of new investment in nutrition, driving forward the shared mission to ensure every child has the chance to survive and thrive.

Organizations, governments, foundations, and individuals are encouraged to take advantage of the matching window, which represents one of the most ambitious philanthropic nutrition challenges to date.

To learn more about the CNF or to make a matched contribution, visit UNICEF USA's Child Nutrition Fund page or contact global nutrition partners leading the effort.

“Every mother deserves the ability to nourish her child. Every child deserves a healthy start in life,” said Catherine Russell. “Let’s seize this moment and make it count—for millions of children who need us now more than ever.”