Nutrition

Through its Nutrition thematic area, the Agri-PDB Platform supports Agricultural Public Development Banks (Agri-PDBs) in integrating nutrition objectives into their financing strategies and operations. Building on growing global recognition that food systems must deliver not only economic and agricultural outcomes but also improved nutrition, the Platform provides a space for dialogue, learning, and collaboration among Agri-PDBs and partners.
The thematic work explores how Agri-PDBs can contribute to healthier diets, reduced malnutrition, and more resilient food systems through nutrition-sensitive investments. It also facilitates knowledge sharing, identifies challenges and opportunities, and promotes practical tools and innovative approaches to strengthen the nutrition impact of agricultural finance.

What is Nutrition?

Nutrition, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is the intake of food in relation to the body’s dietary needs. Good nutrition is fundamental to health, well-being, and human development and is essential for building resilient and productive societies.

Despite significant progress in agricultural production, malnutrition remains one of the world’s most pressing development challenges. Millions of people continue to experience undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight, and obesity, often simultaneously within the same communities and countries.

Agriculture and food systems play a critical role in shaping nutrition outcomes. While food production has increased globally, many food systems continue to struggle to provide affordable, safe, and nutritious diets for all. As a result, there is growing recognition that agricultural investments should contribute not only to productivity and economic growth but also to improved nutrition outcomes.

Agricultural Public Development Banks (Agri-PDBs) have significant potential to drive food systems transformation through their financing, technical assistance, and policy influence. By integrating nutrition considerations into investment decisions, Agri-PDBs can help improve access to diverse, safe, affordable, and nutritious foods while strengthening livelihoods, resilience, and sustainable development outcomes.

Why Nutrition Matters for PDBs

Public Development Banks (PDBs) play a strategic role in transforming food systems and advancing nutrition outcomes by mobilizing finance, technical assistance, and partnerships.

Financing nutrition-sensitive agriculture: Supporting investments that improve the availability, accessibility, affordability, and consumption of nutritious foods.
Promoting diversified and resilient food systems: Encouraging production systems that go beyond staple crops to include fruits, vegetables, legumes, livestock, and other nutrient-rich foods.
Supporting smallholder farmers and agri-food SMEs: Facilitating access to finance for actors that contribute to healthier diets and improved food environments.
Strengthening nutrition impact measurement: Integrating nutrition considerations into project design, monitoring systems, and investment evaluation frameworks.
Providing technical assistance and capacity building: Enhancing the ability of clients and stakeholders to incorporate nutrition objectives into agricultural investments and business models.
Building partnerships across sectors: Collaborating with governments, development agencies, research institutions, and private-sector actors to scale nutrition-sensitive solutions.
Contributing to national and global nutrition goals: Aligning investments with national nutrition strategies and international commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nutrition for Growth agenda.

Platform in Action

15 January 2025

Webinar: Nutrition-Sensitive investments in Agriculture
27 February 2025

FiCS Nutrition Side Event (Cape Town, South Africa)
27-28 March 2025

Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit (Paris, France)
April 2025

Collaborative Partner Meeting
8 April 2026

Mainstreaming Nutrition in Public Development Banks Investments: Entry Points and the NutrInvest Tool
26 May 2026

Rome Nutrition Week: From Commitment to Investment: Aligning Private Sector Engagement and Nutrition Outcomes

View All Nutrition News

Agri-PDB Platform Activities on Nutrition

The Agri-PDB Platform has introduced nutrition as a cross-cutting thematic area to strengthen the contribution of Agricultural Public Development Banks to healthier, more resilient, and inclusive food systems. Through partnerships, knowledge exchange, and technical support, the Platform seeks to help Agri-PDBs better understand and integrate nutrition into their operations and investment portfolios.

Current activities include:

Organizing webinars, workshops, and peer-learning exchanges on nutrition-sensitive finance.
Conducting case studies with Agri-PDBs to assess current practices and identify opportunities for strengthening nutrition integration.
Developing tools, guidance, and methodologies to support nutrition-sensitive investments.
Facilitating engagement with global initiatives such as Nutrition for Growth (N4G), Finance in Common (FiCS), and Rome Nutrition Week.
Providing technical assistance to Agri-PDBs interested in strengthening nutrition outcomes across their portfolios.