In 1,000 days, we can change the future

The 1,000 day window of opportunity between pregnancy and two years of age... is the time when a childs cognitive, intellectual and physical development is at most risk. A healthy 1,000 days changes the course of a childs life, and I would argue it also significantly benefits communities and even countries. - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

The Issue: Early Nutrition

Poor nutrition, specifically undernutrition, is one of the worlds most insidious, yet least addressed, health and development challenges. It contributes to more than one-third of all deaths of young children globally, and keeps families, communities, and countries locked in a cycle of poverty. It is early in lifebefore birth and before a childs 2nd birthdaywhen undernutrition poses the greatest threat to long-term health and economic development. Children who are poorly nourished in the womb or before the age of 2 can suffer serious, often irreversible, physical and cognitive damage. Undernutrition early in life can result in a diminished capacity to learn, lower educational performance, and a lifetime of lost earning potential. It can also increase susceptibility to infections and illness and magnify the impact of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. Ultimately, the damage done to young children by undernutrition has implications not only for the well-being of individuals, but also for that of entire communities and societies.

The Opportunity: 1,000 Days

The 1,000 days from the start of a womans pregnancy until her childs 2nd birthday offer a unique window of opportunity to shape healthier and more prosperous futures. The right nutrition during this 1,000 day window can have an enormous impact on a childs ability to grow, learn, and rise out of poverty. It can also have a profound effect on the long-term health, stability, and development of countries. The potential is significant, yet untapped. Focusing on improving nutrition during the 1,000 day window can: Save millions of lives each year Reduce the human suffering and economic strain caused by infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and chronic diseases such as diabetes Save billions of dollars in lost productivity and avoidable health care costs Increase a countrys GDP by 2-3 percent annually Proven, cost-effective solutions to improve early nutrition exist. The time to take them to scale is now.
We now know that the [minus] nine months to the first two years are the critical periodThe results are absolutely stunning. If you think about the cost-effectiveness of an investment, early level nutrition is probably the best investment you can make. - World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick
Photo: Kimberly Flowers

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What We Do
1,000 Days is a partnership working to: Promote action and investment to improve nutrition during the critical 1,000 days between a womans pregnancy and a childs 2nd birthday as a way to achieve long-term progress in global health and development. Build 1,000 days champions within the U.S. business, government, and civil society communities. Encourage support for the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement which seeks to coordinate and accelerate international efforts to combat undernutrition. Achieve measurable benchmarks in the 1,000 days from September 2010 through June 2013.

Partners include:
ACDI/VOCA Action Against Hunger ActionAid USA Africare Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development Alliance to End Hunger African Medical and Research Foundation USA The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bread for the World BreedLove Foods Inc. CARE USA Catholic Medical Mission Board Centre for Development and Population Activities ChildFund International Childrens Nutrition Program Haiti Christian Reformed World Relief Committee Church World Service Coalition for Improving Maternity Services Concern Worldwide Congressional Hunger Center The Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development Edesia Global Nutrition Solutions Fabretto Childrens Foundation FHI 360 Food for the Hungry Freedom from Hunger Future Generations Peru Global Action for Children GAIN - Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition Global Health Action Haitian Health Foundation Heifer International Helen Keller International The Hunger Project Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights InterAction International Center for Research on Women International Medical Corps International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization International Relief & Development International Rescue Committee IntraHealth International Irish Aid John Snow, Inc. Land OLakes, Inc. International Development Lutheran World Relief Mercy Corps Micronutrient Initiative Millennium Water Alliance NepalNUTrition ONE Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa PATH Pesinet PhotoPhilanthropy Plan USA Plan International Planet Aid Project Concern International PSI RegioDev Africa RESULTS Salvation Army World Service Office Save the Children Self Help Africa Stop Hunger Now Trickle Up U.S. Coalition for Child Survival U.S. Fund for UNICEF U.S. Government Valid Nutrition Vitamin Angels Walmart WaterAid Wellshare International Wellstart International World Concern World Food Programme USA World Relief World Vision Winrock International

www.ThousandDays.org
@ThousandDays

facebook.com/ThousandDays