Church Donates US$5 million to Benefit UNICEF’s Global Malnutrition Program

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a US$5 million donation to UNICEF’s newly launched “No Time to Waste” global malnutrition campaign. The contribution will help malnourished children who are five years old and younger in up to 24 countries in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Middle East and the Philippines.

“We are pleased to support UNICEF’s efforts to assist children experiencing malnutrition since this program closely aligns with the Church’s global focus on early childhood nutrition,” said Bishop L. Todd Budge, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Up to 41 million children currently suffering from malnutrition could be impacted in the first year of programming.

“This support represents a significant new stage of our partnership, building on nine years of impact for children and investments towards lifesaving programs. The time for action on child wasting is now, and together we won’t stop until every child is healthy,” said Michael J. Nyenhuis, president and CEO of UNICEF USA.

The Church’s donation will include materials to assist with the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, including wasting, the most immediate, visible and life-threatening form of malnutrition.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is pleased to expand our long-term collaboration with UNICEF and pledge $5 million in support of the No Time to Waste malnutrition campaign,” said Sharon Eubank, director of the Church’s Humanitarian Services.

“This funding comes in small increments from hard-working families and from widows who have limited incomes and from little children themselves,” Eubank added. “It was given by Latter-day Saints so that mothers will have healthier pregnancies and births and they can offer therapeutic food and micronutrients to their children who might be at risk.”

Sister Eubank’s recorded remarks were shared in New York City at a United Nations General Assembly side event held on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, with other nonprofit and private sector leaders engaged in the fight to end the cycle of child malnutrition.

The Church’s contribution may benefit:

• thousands of children with ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF), vitamin supplements, micronutrient fortification, early detection screenings and related treatment
• thousands of women with nutrition counseling, weight-gain monitoring, multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) and related treatment
• dozens of healthcare workers with trainings to treat uncomplicated wasting while also significantly reducing financial burden on parents

UNICEF is planning to work with ministries of health, local organizations and community health systems to implement the program and provide direct family education, training and resources.

Other organizations participating with UNICEF in the global malnutrition program are the Gates Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund, and the Eleanor Crook Foundation, combined with local government funding. USAID will also increase production of therapeutic foods.

The Church of Jesus Christ most recently worked with UNICEF on its global COVID-19 response and other initiatives.