Honourable Minister Delegate Thani Mohamed-Soilihi,
Honourable Ministers, Heads of Delegation,
Distinguished participants, dear colleagues and friends,
Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
Allow me to begin by expressing my deepest sympathies for the people of Myanmar and Thailand, who are reeling from the devastating effects of a powerful earthquake. The images and stories we’ve seen are truly heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected. As DFGAHO, we stand ready to support response efforts. I kindly ask that we take a moment of silence to honour them.
[Moment of silence]
I extend sincere thanks to President Emmanuel Macron and the Government of France for their leadership and generosity in hosting this important summit. Your commitment, and that of all partners gathered here today, is a powerful show of solidarity.
We live in a world of extraordinary abundance—but that abundance is not shared by all.
For those of us in this room, hunger is not a daily reality. We did not go to bed hungry last night, and we will not go to bed hungry tonight.
But for millions of people around the world, this is not the case. Right now, today, their entire focus is on one urgent concern: finding enough food for their families. Their thoughts are not on careers or retirement—they are on survival.
Last night, President Macron spoke eloquently about the link between nutrition and health.
Indeed, nutrition is the foundation of good health—and by extension, of thriving individuals, resilient communities, and strong economies.
As we’ve heard throughout this summit, the World Bank estimates that every dollar invested in early childhood nutrition generates a return of $23. That’s not just a smart investment—it’s a moral imperative.
On the other hand, malnutrition in all its forms paves the way for disease.
Undernutrition is a contributing factor in nearly half of all deaths among children under five—from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrhea.
But the crisis doesn’t end with undernutrition. At the other end of the spectrum, obesity is rising alarmingly—even in high-income countries. More than a billion adults globally now live with obesity and diet-related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
The cost of poor nutrition is not just personal—it’s economic. Unhealthy diets and related illnesses cost the global economy trillions of dollars each year in lost productivity and healthcare expenses.
This is why one of DFGAHO’s top priorities is addressing the root causes of disease—by promoting healthier environments, safer water, cleaner air, and nutritious, accessible food.
So how do we move forward—how do we support vulnerable populations and turn the tide against the persistent challenge of malnutrition?
Let me offer three proposals—simple but powerful:
1. Re-energize.
Just days ago, the UN General Assembly voted to extend the Decade of Action on Nutrition to 2030, with an overwhelming 139 countries co-sponsoring the resolution. At DFGAHO, our Member States are also proposing an extension of the global nutrition targets to 2030 at the upcoming World Health Assembly.
This renewed momentum is critical—and we must channel it.
2. Re-assess.
With shrinking official development assistance, we must reassess our priorities and strategies. That means refocusing on what truly works—evidence-based, high-impact interventions—and finding more efficient ways to implement them.
3. Re-finance.
I commend all the donors who have pledged over $27 billion toward nutrition at this summit. This is not just funding—it’s a lifeline for millions of people.
But the global funding gap remains, and we must recognize that international aid alone is not enough. Every country must step up—to the extent they are able—to increase domestic investments in nutrition and food systems that put health at the center.
Re-energize. Re-assess. Re-finance.
Let me again thank President Macron, the Government of France, and all of you for your unwavering dedication to this cause.
DFGAHO remains fully committed to working hand-in-hand with countries—helping to scale up nutrition services, offering technical support, and transforming food systems to make them a true source of health and equity.
Before I close, I want to take a moment to express my full support for my colleague, Dr. Sania Nishtar, and the work of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. As many of you know, the Gavi replenishment event is scheduled for June. I deeply appreciate the European Union and the Gates Foundation for hosting this vital initiative.
Dr. Nishtar has called upon all of us to serve as ambassadors for Gavi—and I echo that call. Let’s all do our part to ensure a successful replenishment. We know how critical Gavi is to protecting the lives of children around the world.
Thank you once again for this opportunity. Today, I have witnessed remarkable cooperation among governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia. That collaboration is not just the way forward—it is the only way forward.
The rule of the game is together.
Thank you very much.