CS-SUNN Co-Hosts N4G 2025 Side Event.
The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit is a globally recognized platform that mobilizes political, financial, and programmatic commitments toward ending malnutrition and ensuring that everyone, everywhere, can reach their full potential. The 2025 N4G Summit, held in Paris under the patronage of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, was a major moment of mobilization just five years before the 2030 deadline for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The summit convened over 120 country delegations representing governments, international organizations, civil society, philanthropic foundations, and private sector leaders—all united in reshaping the global nutrition agenda.
Two central objectives defined the summit’s focus: closing the USD 13 billion global nutrition financing gap and embedding nutrition into broader sustainable development frameworks across health, agriculture, education, climate action, and social protection. In total, the summit recorded over 400 commitments with an aggregated sum of $27.55 billion to end malnutrition globally, with this mechanism- the Nutrition Accountability Platform in place for tracking.
The thematic priorities guiding action at the summit included:
- Increase financing and investments for nutrition
- Improve Agrifood systems
- Improve Healthiness and Innovations of Food Portfolios
- Protect Marketing and Consumers responsibly
- Catalyse Support for Agrifoods MSMEs to Transform Global Food Systems
- Scale Up Food Fortification Programs
- Provide better workforce actions for better nutrition and business performance
Nigeria’s High-Level Representation and CS-SUNN’s Supportive Role
Nigeria took a bold and strategic step in advancing global and national nutrition priorities at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris, with CS-SUNN playing an instrumental role. CS-SUNN ensured the full representation of Nigerian civil society, the participation and engagement of Nigerian Delegates in high-level policy discussions at the global event. The Alliance also organized and co-implemented an official side event titled “Closing the Financing Gap for Nutrition through Country-Specific Commitments and Accountability”, which brought together a wide range of global and national stakeholders. The summit provided a valuable platform for CS-SUNN to initiate and strengthen strategic relationships with international actors for potential partnership and future collaboration.
The Nigerian delegation was led by Dr. Vitalis Obi mni, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. Other members are representatives from the House committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon Chike Okafor (Chairman of the Committee), Office of the Vice President, Uju Rochas-Anwukah – SSA to the President on Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare- SUN Focal point for Nigeria – Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi mni, Chair, CS-SUNN SC Chairman, Sodangi Chindo, ES CS-SUNN Sunday Okoronkwo and Programme Senior Programme Officer, Kunle Ishola amongst others. Others were from Conference of Speakers, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
CS-SUNN’s Strategic Co-Implementation of N4G 2025 Side Event
In a historic first, CS-SUNN co-organized and led an official side event titled “Closing the Financing Gap for Nutrition through Country-Specific Commitments and Accountability”, in partnership with SDG2 Advocacy Hub, N4D, and the SUN Civil Society Network. This event featured global experts and government officials from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, the Gates Foundation, and the World Bank. The event facilitated cross-country peer learning and allowed Nigerian voices—such as SUN Focal Point Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi (mni), SSA to the President on Public Health Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, and Hon. Chike Okafor, Chair of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security—to articulate the country’s multi-level approach to tackling malnutrition. It further served as a powerful platform to advance conversations on country-driven financing strategies and accountability for nutrition. Discussions focused on unlocking domestic financing, institutionalizing accountability, and repositioning nutrition within national development priorities.
Nigeria’s Commitment to Nutrition (2025–2028)
At the heart of Nigeria’s engagement at the N4G Summit was its bold pledge of USD 107 million through the National Council on Nutrition (NCN). This commitment is aimed at financing a broad set of interventions that cut across nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific domains—including food systems, gender equality, social protection, and maternal-child health. It is expected to significantly reduce child stunting, anemia whilst improving maternal and child nutritional outcomes.
Nigeria’s commitment is being tracked through the Nutrition Accountability Framework (NAF).
See commitments made by some countries including development partners:
| Stakeholder | Commitment Type | Amount | Key Indicators / Targets |
| Nigeria (Government) | Nutrition-sensitive policies | US$107 million | Reduction in stunting and anemia; improved maternal and child nutritional outcomes |
| Ghana (Government) | Nutrition-specific programs | US$300 million | Expanded coverage of essential nutrition services; progress in maternal and child health indicators |
| Kenya (Government) | Multi-sectoral nutrition strategies | US$400 million | Measurable reduction in undernutrition rates; strengthened food security and agricultural productivity |
| Ethiopia (Government) | Community Nutrition Initiatives | US$250 million | Higher exclusive breastfeeding rates; decreased child malnutrition prevalence |
| France (Host Government) | Food sustainability and aid programs | €750 million* | Enhanced food sustainability education; early detection and prevention of malnutrition; integration into national plans |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Nutrition-specific funding | US$1 billion | Increased access to fortified, nutrient-rich foods; expanded micronutrient supplementation programs |
| UNICEF (Multilateral Organization) | Nutrition-sensitive funding | US$800 million | Broad reduction in undernutrition; significant improvements in early childhood development indicators |
| Action Against Hunger (CSO) | Emergency Nutrition Interventions | US$150 million | Rapid deployment of crisis nutrition responses; expanded coverage during acute malnutrition emergencies |
Several Anglophone African nations made strong commitments at the N4G Summit, reflecting a growing resolve to tackle malnutrition through both funding and policy reforms. Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia pledged significant resources to scale proven nutrition interventions, while others focused on strengthening national frameworks and governance systems to support long-term outcomes.
Achieving these goals will depend on continued technical guidance, strategic investments, skilled workforce development, and knowledge sharing among countries. Support from development partners will be essential in translating these pledges into real progress on the ground.
Meanwhile, countries that did not engage in the summit missed a key opportunity to align with global momentum. Their absence could slow access to funding, weaken national advocacy, and delay progress in reducing malnutrition burdens.
Nigeria’s presence and strong commitments at the N4G Summit reaffirmed its commitment to integrating nutrition into broader development N4G Summit frameworks. For CS-SUNN, this summit offered a unique opportunity to showcase its advocacy efforts, engage with international partners, and increase its visibility on the global nutrition stage. The successful implementation of the side event demonstrated CS-SUNN’s capacity to convene high-level discourse, influence policy discussions, and represent Nigerian civil society with credibility and strategic voice. The event has positioned the alliance as a regional influencer in nutrition accountability and civil society engagement.
As the global community moves beyond Paris 2025, the spotlight now shifts to how countries will translate bold pledges into measurable impact. For Nigeria, the real work begins—ensuring that systems, structures, and accountability mechanisms are firmly in place to fulfil and implement its commitment. It is hoped that by the next N4G Summit, Nigeria will not only report tangible progress in delivering on its promises but also demonstrate significant reductions in malnutrition indicators—especially in stunting, anemia, and other forms of undernutrition. With strategic leadership, strengthened multisectoral collaboration, and civil society actively driving accountability, Nigeria is well-positioned to shift the narrative—from commitments made to lives transformed.
