A child eating.PHOTO;Courtesy
The Aga Khan Foundation has pledged $100 million over the next five years to address malnutrition, joining a global coalition of philanthropists, governments, and development organisations supporting the “11.5: Edge of Life” campaign.
The initiative, led by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), aims to save over 35 million children from preventable hunger and malnutrition worldwide.
“Malnutrition remains one of the greatest barriers to human development, undermining the health, potential, and dignity of millions of children and families,” His Highness the Aga Khan said.
“Addressing this challenge requires sustained commitment and collective action across sectors and societies. I am honoured to join partners around the world in supporting efforts to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and contribute to their communities.”
Addressing a Global Challenge
Malnutrition continues to pose a pressing global development challenge.
According to UNICEF and the World Health Organization, nearly 45 million children under five worldwide suffer from wasting, while over 149 million children are stunted, limiting their physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term health outcomes.
Experts note that child malnutrition undermines education, economic productivity, and social stability in countries with high food insecurity.
The “11.5: Edge of Life” campaign targets regions with the most acute malnutrition indicators, including Afghanistan, Gaza, Mali, Sudan, and Yemen, where children face immediate threats due to conflict, displacement, and food shortages.
The initiative aims to prevent malnutrition among millions more children at risk of stunting or undernutrition, working in partnership with organisations such as UNICEF, Save the Children, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and Action Against Hunger.
The campaign has a goal to mobilise approximately AED 1 billion (US$272 million) to scale interventions that save lives and strengthen community-level nutrition systems.
Global Impact and Multi-Sector Collaboration
The Aga Khan’s pledge highlights the role of multi-sector collaboration in tackling malnutrition.
“Efforts to prevent malnutrition cannot succeed in isolation. They require coordinated action across governments, international organisations, and local communities,” he said.
By aligning resources with high-impact organisations, the funding supports targeted interventions including maternal and child health programs, fortified foods, nutrition education, and emergency feeding initiatives in crisis-affected areas.
Experts emphasise that addressing malnutrition is also a strategic investment in human capital, contributing to better education outcomes, workforce productivity, and long-term economic growth.
The global focus aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 2, which calls for ending hunger and achieving food security by 2030.
The pledge was recognised at the Edge of Life fundraising ceremony hosted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai on 11 March 2026, alongside other major donors supporting global action against child malnutrition.
The pledge represents a significant expansion of the Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) long-standing nutrition work across Asia and Africa.
Since the start of his Imamat, His Highness has more than doubled AKDN’s commitment to nutrition, including the expansion of the Central Asia Stunting Initiative in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Tajikistan.
These programmes aim to prevent malnutrition in vulnerable communities by strengthening local nutrition systems, improving access to essential services, and supporting sustainable food security measures.
His Highness the Aga Khan’s commitment underscores the urgent global imperative: malnutrition is not confined to one region, and addressing it requires coordinated action across countries, sectors, and communities, reinforcing international solidarity in securing the health, growth, and potential of the world’s children.
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